Iligan City is unbelievably a place full  blend of uncorrupted nature and hardcore industrial enterprise.  The city is considered Northern Mindanao’s diamond in the rough.  Under-searched by both local and foreign tourists, Iligan City is an unmatched urban center which assures to charm its first-time visitors. Its natural endowment of nature, blended with regulated marks of industrialization,  Iligan City offers a solid investment in prime real estate.

Known as the City of Majestic Waterfalls, there are around 23 waterfalls in and around Iligan. Premier among them is the majestic Maria Cristina Falls, perhaps the country’s highest falls and home to Mindanao’s primary hydroelectric power station.

Iligan is also the Industrial Center of the South. It produces hydroelectric power for the Mindanao region through the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), the site of the Mindanao Regional Center (MRC) housing Agus IV, VI and VII hydroelectric plants. It also houses industries like steel, tinplate, cement and flour mills. The National Steel Corporation, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the Southeast Asian region, now Global Steelworks International Incorporated was re-opened in 2003 after heavy setbacks resulting to its closure in 1999. Iligan along with its neighboring city, Cagayan de Oro City, are the two major components for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor, the fastest developing area in Northern Mindanao.

The economy of Iligan was largely based on heavy industries. After the construction of Maria Cristina (Agus VI) Hydroelectric Plant by National Power Corporation (NPC, NAPOCOR) in 1950, the city experienced rapid industrialization and continued until the late 1980s. The largest steel plant in the country, National Steel Corporation (NSC), was also established during that period (Specifically in 1962).
During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the city experienced severe slowdown in terms of economic growth. A good number of industrial plants are closed, notably the National Steel Corporation. Its closure also created a domino effect on its anxillary industries, causing some companies to close shop while putting others in grave financial distress.

The city made its economic revival on the reopening of the National Steel Corporation, named Global Steelworks Philippines, Inc on 2004. Thus, putting the city back on its track. The current industrial plants in operation and their locations are:

*Treasure Steel Corporation (Formerly National Steel Corporation                   Billet Plant) — Barangay Suarez
*Global Steelworks Philippines, Inc. — Barangay Suarez
*Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation — Barangay Maria Cristina
*Granexport Manufacturing Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. — Barangay Dalipuga
*Pilmico Foods Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Pilmico Iligan Feedmill – Barangay Kiwalan
*Platinum Group Metals Corporation (Formerly Maria Cristina                   Chemical Industries, Inc.) — Barangay Maria Cristina
*San Miguel Corporation-Iligan Coconut Oil Plant — Barangay                             Santa Filomena
*Refractories Corporation of the Philippines — Barangay Dalipuga
*Iligan Cement Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Mindanao Portland Cement Corporation — Barangay Kiwalan
*Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Formerly Alsons Cement Corp.) —   Boundary of Barangay Dalipuga and Lugait, Misamis Oriental

It is a city truly blessed and nurtured by Mother Nature.  It is protected by typhoons by natural barriers as with most places in Mindanao. Its terrain is hugged by a long stretch of shoreline along Iligan Bay.  The rich soil, even rainful distribution, and ideal topography provide suitable conditions for diverse agricultural ventures.

Yet with all the natural wonders and blessing bestowed upon the city, the most prized asset of Iligan is still the warm culture and vibrant hospitality of its people.  Both natives and people of different ethnicity with a long history all come together to make Iligan their home.