Agriculture

San Mateo is primarily an agricultural economy. This is shown by the fact that about 90% of the population depends on agriculture as the main source of livelihood and income. The crops grown are rice, corn, munggo, vegetables, root crops and fruit trees. Rice is its major crop.

Rice

The municipality has a total area of 9,385 hectares of cropland devoted to rice production. Effective irrigated area totaled to 18,770 hectares, meaning there are two cropping in a year. The average annual production of palay per hectare is 120 cavans per cropping.

Corn

Corn is the secondary source of cereal requirements in the municipality. Area devoted to corn production is 712.5 hectares, 33.5 hectares for white corn and 679 hectares for yellow corn. 80-100 cavans per ha. is the average annual production of corn.

Munggo

Known to be as the Black Gold of San Mateo and the primary OTOP of the municipality. The alternative cropping of munggo as additional source of income of farmers has restored the fertility of the soil. 78% of the total land area devoted to agricultural crop production is utilized for munggo production.

High Value Commercial Crops

Numerous high value commercial crops are planted in the municipality. Different vegetables and fruits are being planted by the farmers because it provides additional income for them. To name few, vegetables like string beans (sitaw), okra, gabi, ampalaya, squash, eggplant, and fruits like mangoes, papayas and watermelons are planted by the farmers.

Cutflowers

Brgy. Sinamar Norte in San Mateo is known for its cutflowers. Different variety of chrysanthemum and Baby's breath are being grown here. People from San Mateo and other neighboring towns need not go to Baguio for their floral needs.

Fish Production/Livestock/Poultry

1. Fish Production: San Mateo is endowed with rivers and creeks which make fishpond development very rich source of livelihood. As per data gathered, there are 75 has. fishponds in the municipality. Eight (8) hectares of these are hatcheries, raising tilapia fingerlings. 284 MT is the annual fish production.

   Recent technological advancements have been employed to improve the culture of tilapia species and the introduction of prawn or "ulang", pangasius and catfish industry.

2. Livestock: The commonly raised livestock in the municipality are carabao, cattle, swine, and goat.
3. Poultry: the commonly raised are chicken, duck, goose, quail, turkey and others.

   Duck raising is the secondary OTOP of the municipality. The dispersal of ducks to farmers brought forth another sprawling industry – the egg production.

4. Other Agricultural Activities
   1. Organic Production thru vermi-composting of every barangays and other National Government Organizations.
   2. Vacant lots vegetable production in some barangays thru BAFC
   3. Goat Raising by 4H Club members in the municipality.
   4. Munggo Processing by the Rural Improvement Club members. Munggo products are butchi, empanada, munggo pulvoron, pancit balatong, etc.
   5. Salted Egg Industry by the Pag-Asa Bayanihan Association (PBA)

Commerce, Trade and Industry

No. of Registered Bus. Establishment as of 2010: 1,160

Comparative Local Revenues (2006-2010)

Labor and Employment

Reference: Isabela QUICKSTAT as of April, 2003.

Education

Housing

Based on the 2007 NSO data, there were 12,832 dwelling units regardless of the type of structure or construction materials used. This indicates that there are 211or 1.62% homeless households or sharing with other households in one dwelling unit from the total number households of 13,043.

Water

Agriculture Use

San Mateo is one of the few municipalities of Isabela where all its agricultural lands are irrigated. The situation is attributed to its proximity to the Magat Dam, and as such farmers can till their lands at least twice a year.

Domestic Use

All households within the municipality are depending on ground water as their main source of domestic water supply. The LGU Urban Water System and Sanitation Project started its operation in January 2001, serving the Poblacion and the four (4) nearby barangays. There are 10,928 shallow wells serving 12,878 households and there are 1,798 households that get their water from other sources of water supply (Level 2 &3).

Communication

Telephone Services

Telephone line is provided by DIGITEL for domestic and international services. There are 1, 193 existing lines which is enough for the 1, 063 existing subscriber. To support the deficiency telephone services, cellphones are penetrating the lines of modern communication. SMART, GLOBE & SUNCELLULAR services are available with a relay station located at Barangay Malasin and Barangay Old Centro 1, San Mateo, Isabela.

Telegraph Services

The Telecommunication Office (TelOf) serves the urgent needs on telegraph and telegraphic transfer services of the area within and outside the region with a capacity of 160-180/day for telegraph and a capacity of 27-180/day for telegraphic transfer via telephone.3. Postal ServicesPostal services within the municipality are provided by the Philippine Postal Corporation based at the municipal compound, manned by one (1) postmaster, three (3) letter carriers and one (1) postal teller. The services rendered are processing and delivery of both foreign and domestic mails which include registered mail/check, express ordinary printed matter, package, money order and others.

Broadcast Media/Local TV

Television reception has improved through the television network operated by a private entity. There is a cable station named Bonggao operating in the municipality which is located within the Poblacion and the area of coverage is the whole municipality.Radios are found in all houses as a means of entertainment and source of news or information of the people especially those at the rural barangays. Commercial radio broadcasting stations in Manila, Tuguegarao, Ilagan, and in the City of Cauayan and Santiago can be received in town.

Print Media

Media publication is available in the municipality. A semi-annually local newspaper which is named as UGNAYAN Today was launched last June 2005. It was later named as Agro-Ecological Hub launched last March 2007 and now published semi-annually. This is a very good project of the LGU which serves as a vehicle of information to what the LGU is doing and to what extent of participation our constituents is extending for the development of our town. It is also used to publish articles of good practices to be emulated by interested parties, thus contributing to the progress and the quality of life of our people.

Power and Electrification

Electrical power in the area is being supplied by Isabela-I Electric Cooperative (ISELCO-I) whose power generating plant is located at Victoria, Alicia, Isabela.Of the total potential households of 14,176 there were 13,242 households served. Households not served with power use kerosene for lighting facilities.

Transportation

Roads and Bridges

A total road network spanning 205.125 km. traverses the municipality. It consists of 26.1 km. of national road; 2.5 km. of provincial road; 13.061 km. of the municipal streets and 163.464 km. of barangay roads.The classification of roads by type of construction shows 79.466 km. are paved (concrete); 125.659 km. are gravel and earth roads.San Mateo has 19 bridges with the total length of approximately 505.5 linear meters.

Health, Nutrition and Sanitation

There are ten (10) private hospital/clinics operating in the municipality, one (1) RHU, six (7) dental clinics, two (2) diagnostic laboratory, thirty-three (33) Barangay Health Stations (25 BHS & 8 Multi-Purpose Building as BHS) and three (3) ambulance operating in the municipality.There were eighteen (18) doctors, six (6) dentists, forty-seven (47) nurses, nineteen (19) midwives, two (2) medical technologists, four (4) optometrists, one (1) physical therapist, one (1) nutrition officer and one (1) sanitary inspector in our municipality.The table below will show the result of the OPT conducted to 7,611 children from 0-71 months old using the IRS.

Nutritional Status of School Children (Public Schools) 2010

Health Indeces

Leading Causes of Infant Mortality-2010

Ten Leading Causes of Morbidity-2010

10 Ten Leading Causes of Mortality-2010

Sports and Recreation

The Rizal Park now called Freedom Park, the Children's Park, Municipal Eco-Park and the Eco-Parks in the different barangays are the beautiful spots for recreation, picnicking and unwinding. Sports facilities include one (1) oval/playground, thirty-five (35) basketball courts, nineteen (19) volleyball courts, one (1) table tennis court, one (1) function hall for taekwondo and three (3) billiard halls.

Protective Services

There are two (2) officers and nineteen (19) Police Non-Commissioned Officers in the Philippine National Police (PNP) contingent. The police have a police law enforcement communication system, one (1) patrol car, one (1) altiz car, one (1) motorcycle and one (1) radio base. The jail has only two (2) cells.The fire fighting facilities of the municipality include a fire truck, a number of hoses and fire extinguishers. There are nine (9) firemen manning the fire station.