Nueva Ecija is in the eastern section of the central plains of Luzon and is landlocked. Encircling the province are the provinces of Pangasinan in the northwest, Tarlac in the west, Bulacan in the south, Aurora in the east and Nueva Viscaya in the north. The land rises gradually from the swampy regions of the southwest and levels off as one moves towards the east and north. The plains break into rolling hills as one approaches the Caraballo Mountains and the Sierra Madre Mountains in the north and east. In Nueva Ecija there exist three climate types. In the province’s southwest, a pronounced dry season occurs from November to April while rains fall during the rest of the year. In the east, close to the Sierra Madre Mountains, rain falls evenly throughout the year while in the north and northeast; there is no pronounced seasonal variance although it is relatively dry between the months of April and November.

Nueva Ecija is sowing the seeds of development based on its key strength as the hub of agricultural research and production in the country. Nueva Ecija is the largest of six provinces in Central Luzon covering an area of 5, 284 square kilometers and is richly endowed with some the most productive agricultural lands in the country.

The mountains that seal the province in the north and the east are covered with forests that comprise almost 25 percent of the province’s land area. These mountains also hold deposits of copper, manganese, gold, marble, and while clay. With a population of 1.5 million (1995), the province provides a large pool of highly trained, innovative and hardworking workforce that has been instrumental in making the province the country’s agricultural trail blazer.The province is linked to the main highway system of Luzon, the Maharlika Highway, through a system of roads that interconnect the various municipalities. This road system makes Nueva Ecija easily accessible from all from any of the surrounding provinces and from Manila as well. Communications facilities are provided by major telephone companies and telegram service providers. The province is home to one of the largest hydro-electric dams, the Pantabangan Dam, and is connected to the Luzon Electric Grid. These facilities provide ample power supplies and irrigation and potable water to all the towns of the province. Commercial, rural and government banking institutions operate within the province and extend financing facilities for business and agriculture. The province has been the traditional agricultural top performer and its strategy for development is grounded on this advantage. Nueva Ecija is taking the initiative to greatly improve agricultural production and at the same time develop a vibrant agro-processing sector. There are two anchors on which this initiative is centered: the Munoz agro-science development area and the Palayan center for strategic agro-processing activities. Munoz is home to the Central Luzon State University and the center of rice and agricultural technology development in the country. The Philippine Carabao Center, the Bureau of Post Harvest Research and Extension and the Philippine Rice Research Institute lie nearby. The concentration of these research centers have given the province an important tool in increasing crop yields and developing new technologies for use in agriculture. The national government is encouraging more agricultural research institutions to bring their centers to the area. On the other hand, the Palayan City Economic Zone is encouraging investments in food processing and is providing potential investors the facilities and amenities to support their activities.

Besides agriculture, there are other markedly vibrant economic potentials to Nueva Ecija. The large population and its location along the main highway of Luzon makes it an important trade and commercial center. Cabanatuan City boasts of modern establishments serving a large consumer market that can absorb further commercial development. The province is also building a reputation as a center for handicrafts, furniture, garments and paper manufacture that locate in the province to take advantage of the availability of raw materials and these industries continue to attract more investors.

Land area: 5,639 sq. kms.; Major Dialects/ Languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan; No. of Barangays: 849 City/ies: Cabanatuan, PALAYAN, San Jose; Municipalities: (29) Talugtug, Quezon, Penaranda, Nampicuan, Gen. Natividad, Llanera, Licab, Aliaga, Bongabon, Gabaldon, Jaen, Laur, Pantabangan, Lupao, Rizal, San Isidro, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Sto. Domingo, Zaragosa, Cabiao, Carrangalan, Cuyapo, San Antonio, Gen. Tinio, Guimba, Munoz, Talavera, Gapan