In Nueva Vizcaya the seat of government is Bayombong, a beautiful and historic municipality founded in the early 18th century. Solano, on the other hand, is the main commercial and financial center of the province. I love going to Nueva Vizcaya, partly because of its beauty and cool climate but also because of its people. I remember as Senate President I would be invited by my good friend and fellow Nacionalista, the late great Governor Carlos Padilla to join the Panagyaman Festival, a yearly festival of the Novo Vizcayanos to give tribute for the bountiful harvest of the province. I was always greeted by the hospitality of the people there and would go home with gifts like the “pasiking,” a hand-woven native bag designed like a backpack.

If I remember correctly, it was the late Governor Padilla, the “Legend of the North,” who explained to me that Solano used to be called Lumabang, a mere barrio of Bayombong until around the middle of the 19th century when Governor General Ramon Solano Y Landeral decreed its full separation to become a municipality. Not surprisingly, the new municipality was renamed in honor of the Governor General.

I was reminded of these things because we just recently launched Camella Solano, six-hectare community features gorgeous Spanish Mediterranean homes that present the perfect blend of style, functionality, and efficient space planning. Just like the municipality of Solano which effortlessly blends natural beauty, community spirit, and accessibility, making it one of the vital players in the region.

In fact, the entirety of Nueva Vizcaya plays a crucial role in the emergence of Northern Luzon as one of the country’s hottest new development hubs. Investments in modern infrastructure projects, a boom in tourism, and a surge in real estate development are coalescing to make Northern Luzon an exciting hotspot, attracting investors, tourists, and locals looking for new opportunities.

Solano is situated strategically as it provides access to neighboring cities and thereby developing into a cosmopolitan area. Its cool climate (it is sometimes referred to as 'lowland Baguio',) scenic mountains and undulating rivers complement its strong sense of community and cultural traditions fostering a welcoming atmosphere for tourists and guests. It is now recognized as the major growth center as it has seen a major influx of enterprises doing business in the locality coming from various places not only from the neighboring municipalities but also those coming from the Region and Metro Manila.

Good governance play an important role too as Solano Mayor Atty. Philip Dacayo has demonstrated a commitment to effective governance and public service. We thank the hardworking Mayor Dacayo for his support and we assure him that we will work with him on his strategic initiatives aimed at improving the local economy and achieving prosperity for the people he faithfully serves.

As a province, Nueva Vizcaya, has also shown remarkable economic growth and development in recent years. It became a first-class province this year after reaching an income north of ₱2 billion. Its economy grew by 4.4 percent in 2024, powered by important sectors such as mining, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. Nueva Vizcaya is home to the largest agricultural trading post in the Cagayan Valley region, the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, which handles massive volumes of produce daily, further boosting the local economy.

Infrastructure developments such as the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), and Cagayan Valley Road have helped in this development boom. This is what I have been advocating ever since I started serving in government — only genuine decentralization can solve the many urban problems being experienced by Metro Manila. And at the heart of this development is infrastructure.

Nueva Vizcaya plays an important role in ensuring equitable regional development as it serves as a strategic link between the highlands and lowlands of Northern Luzon. The rise of the province, and Solano, in particular, as a development hub brings a fresh wave of opportunity. For Novo Vizcayanos, this translates to more jobs, improved services, and a higher quality of life. A growing tourism sector will definitely help small businesses to flourish even as real estate growth will provide more housing options thereby stabilizing property values and helping families build wealth.

As the country’s largest homebuilder, we remain committed to fulfilling our mission of providing forever homes to every Filipino. And as the country, the Northern Luzon region, the province of Nueva Vizcaya and the municipality of Solano grow, we will continue to build homes in beautiful spaces in order to elevate the quality of life of our people. As I have said even before I built the first home in my career in real estate, every Filipino deserves to live their dream life.