Isabela is one of the most progressive provinces of the Philippines having been adjudged as the most outstanding province on food security in the "Gawad Sapat Ani Awards 2000". For corn production, Isabela ranks first among the top ten corn producing provinces for cy 2004, contributing 15.70% to national production. In 2013, the Department of Agriculture declared Isabela as the "Best Corn-Quality Awardee". Ilagan City was proclaimed as the "Corn Capital of the Philippines" for being the top corn producer among the 34 municipalities and 2 cities of the province as well as in the whole country.