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Philippines Luzon Cordillera Region

Cordillera Region - Islands of Luzon, Philippines

THE CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

Basic Facts:
6 Provinces: Abra - Apayao - Benguet - Ifugao - Kalinga - Mt. Province
1 City: Baguio City
Barangay: 1,172
Land Area: 18,294 sqm.
Population: 1,563,381 (1995)

To preserve its cultural awareness and fortify its ethnic solidarity, the Cordillera Administrative Region was carved of the predominantly Ilocano Regions of Ilocos and Cagayan. Located in the north central part of Luzon, the region is composed of the six provinces of Abra, Benguet, Kalinga Apayao, Mountain Province and Ifugao, and the chartered city of Baguio. It consists of seventy-six municipalities and 1,172 barangays. The regions land area of 18,294 square kilometers account for 7 percent for the total landmass of the Philippines. Based on land use opportunity, aggregates of 4,540 square kilometers are classified as agricultural lands and majorities of the 13,350 hectares are for forestry purposes. How ever, only 40 percent of this agricultural potential are under cultivation as of 1988 leaving and remaining 60 percent untapped.
Dubbed as the "Watershed Cradle of the Philippines", the Cordillera has a mountainous topography characterized by towering peaks, plateaus, and intermittent patches of valleys. Such topography makes accessibility between and among the provinces, municipalities, barangays, and even sitios in the region difficult. Owning to the region's land-locked topography, fishery resources consist mainly of inland water.

The region's climate generally falls under types III and IV characterized by the dry season from November to April and rainy season for the rest of the year. The provinces of Kalinga and Apayao, however, fall under types II and III. The people in the region enjoy a cool climate throughout the year particularly in highly elevated places like Benguet, Mt Provinces and BaguioCity.

The Cordillera is endowed with abundant mineral reserves. These are metallic ores such as gold, copper, silver, zinc and non-metallic reserves are found in Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao and Mt. Province.

However, mining, operations are still concentrated in Benguet where almost 100 percent of the region mineral production in 1988 were registered. In addition, the region has untapped geothermal energy resources.

The region is the least populated in the country despite its vast land area. The total population in 1980 was 914,432 and grew to 1,563,381 in 1995 reflecting an average annual growth rate of 2.3 percent for the past decade. Consistently, it has bested in the other regions in terms of employment rates indicating a vibrant and potential-laden economy Agriculture remains to be the primary preoccupation, which employs more than one-half of the region's workforce.

In the first quarter of 1991, the region attracted investments totaling P297 million the bulk of which was poured into the province of Benguet, particularly in the Philippines Economic Zone Authority located in Baguio City. Replete with 80 unparalleled tourist attractions, the region remains to be an irresistible tourist destination north of Metro Manila.

Affirming its location as the geographic pinnacle of the Philippines, the budding Cordillera Administrative Region truly stands out as the incomparable frontier for development.

North and Central Luzon
* Baguio City
* Cagayan Province
* Cordillera Region
* La Union
* Laoag
* Olongapo, Subic, Zambales
* Pampanga
* Tarlac

* Metro Manila - NCR
* Makati City, Metro Manila
* Manila City, Metro Manila
* Pasay City, Metro Manila
* Pasig City, Metro Manila
* Quezon City, Metro Manila

Southern Luzon
* Batangas
* Cavite
* Bicol Region
* Corregidor
* Laguna
* Palawan * El Nido
* Mindoro
* Rizal, Antipolo
* Romblon
* Tagaytay - Taal
* Quezon Province

Cordillera - Abra - Benguet - Ifugao - Kalinga - Mount Province