Benguet

Seal	Municipality or city	Land area (km2)[15]	Population (2010)[16]	Pop. density (per km2)	No. of barangays	ZIP code	Income class[15]	Location
	Atok	214.99	19,242	89.5	8	2612	4th
	Baguio City	57.51	318,676	5541.2	129	2600	1st
	Bakun	286.91	13,587	47.4	7	2610	3rd
	Bokod	274.96	12,648	46	10	2605	4th
	Buguias	175.88	39,271	223.3	14	2607	3rd
	Itogon	449.73	55,960	124.4	9	2604	1st
	Kabayan	242.69	13,588	56	13	2606	4th
	Kapangan	164.39	20,084	122.2	15	2613	4th
	Kibungan	254.86	16,850	66.1	7	2611	4th
	La Trinidad †	70.04	107,188	1530.4	16	2601	1st
	Mankayan	130.48	35,586	272.7	13	2608	1st
	Sablan	105.63	10,511	99.5	8	2614	5th
	Tuba	295.97	42,874	144.9	13	2603	1st
	Tublay	102.55	16,555	161.4	8	2615	5th
	Benguet Total	2,769.08	403,944	145.9	140	2601 – 2614	2nd[A]
	including Baguio City	2,826.6	722,620	255.6	269	2600 – 2614

^A includes the independent city of Baguio^[3]

Barangays

The 13 municipalities of the province comprise a total of 140 barangays, with Pico in La Trinidad as the most populous in 2010, and Anchokey in Kabayan as the least.^[16]

Demographics

In the May 2000 census, Benguet had a total population of 330,129. This figure is up by 16,296 from 313,833 persons recorded in the 1995 census, giving an annual growth rate of 1.09% during the 5-year period—much, much lower than the national average of 2.43%. The province registered at 63,123 households, an increase of 4,588 households over the 1990 figure. This gave an average household size of 5.2 persons, a little higher than the national average of 4.99.

At the 2010 census, the population excluding the independent Baguio City was 403,944, which makes it the most populous province in the region. If Baguio City is included, the population is 772,620.^[4]

Inhabitants

The native inhabitants of Benguet province comprise three ethnic groups. Kankanaeys dominate the northwestern municipalities of the province, Ibalois are concentrated on the southeast, and Kalanguyas are mostly found in the east.^[5][17][18] Migrants from lowland provinces have fused with the local populace to form a melting pot in some areas.^[12][18][19]

According to the 2000 Philippine census, Kankanaeys comprised 43% of the entire provincial household population at the time, while 29.2% were identified as Ibalois. Resident lowland ethnic groups included Ilocano at 13.4%, Ikalahan at 3.7% and Tagalog at 2.4%.^[20]

Languages

Benguet residents generally speak their own languages in addition to Ilocano, Tagalog, and English, which are used for trade and commerce. The Ibaloi tribe speak Ibaloy, which is similar to Pangasinan, while the Kankanaey have their eponymous language, which is related to the Bontoc language.

The SIL Ethnologue database classifies the languages under the South-Central Cordilleran branch. Nabaloy (named in the database as Ibaloi) is part of the Southern Cordilleran branch which also includes Pangasinense. The Kankanaey language is under the Central Cordilleran branch, which also includes Bontoc and Ifugao.

Economy

Benguet is a major producer of highland vegetables in the country.

Agriculture, mining, and tourism are the major industries in Benguet. Because of its temperate climate and high altitude, Benguet is an ideal place for producing vegetables. Benguet is often called the Salad Bowl of the Philippines.^[2][5][18] The La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in the municipality of La Trinidad serves as the hub of vegetable trading in the province, attracting farmers, merchants and traders from the local community and the Philippines' different provinces. ^[21] Major crops produced include potatoes, Baguio beans, peas, strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and carrots.^[5][22]

Horticulture and floriculture are practiced in the province.^[23] The province supplies flowers to the different municipalities, including Baguio City. ^{[24] [25]} Apisang (scientific name: Pittosporum resiniferum), a plant endemic to the Philippines, is grown in the municipalities of Kapangan and Kibungan as a potential alternative source of fuel and energy, rivaling the jatropha biofuel plant.^[26][27]

Other agricultural-related activities are monggo processing, fruit preservation, peanut brittle manufacturing, broom making and basket weaving.^[5][28]

The province suffers from crop damage resulting from seasonal frost during the cold months of December to March, especially in high-altitude towns such as Atok, Buguias, Mankayan and Kibungan.^[29][30] On February 2007, Benguet suffered crop damage due to freezing temperatures in the area, reaching as low as 7 Celsius and even lower in some areas, and important crops like cabbages were damaged.^[31]

Mining is a major industry in Benguet, which is one of the country's leading gold producers.^[5] The Benguet Corporation, the first and oldest mining company in the Philippines has been extracting gold, copper and chromite in Itogon since August 12, 1903.^{[32] [33]}

A gold ore from Mankayan copper mines.

Other mineral deposits are silver, copper, pyrite, and limestone. Silver smithing is a large industry in Benguet, and many entrepreneurs sell silver works at lower prices in Baguio City, compared to Manila. In 2006 alone revenues from mining reached a stunning four billion pesos, and yet this figure comes from just two-Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation and Philex Mines- of the many mining firms operating in the province. Nevertheless, the province's mining vigor has never translated into better quality of life of the Benguet people, simply because a bulk of the mining firm's taxes are not paid directly to the province. The two mining corporations, like many others around the country, have principal offices in the City of Makati, a set-up that makes Makati the prime mining tax beneficiary.

The presence of Baguio City in Benguet draws many tourists from the lowlands. Often, people who go to Baguio also explore the province, especially the strawberry and vegetable plantations in La Trinidad. Accommodations is sparse in the province of Benguet this is why many tourists opt to stay at different Hotels in Baguio City whereby Baguio City will be their starting point to their Benguet adventure (See also the Tourist Attractions section below.)

Education

Universities

• The Benguet State University (BSU) is the only university in the province, with its Main Campus at La Trinidad. It has eight colleges, two academic institutes, and a graduate school. The university has two satellite campuses in two municipalities; the Buguias Campus at Loo, Buguias, and the Bokod Campus at Ambangeg, Bokod.^[34]

• Aside from BSU, the independent chartered city of Baguio hosts a number of higher education institutions. These universities and colleges attract students from across the Philippines.

Colleges

High Schools

The Cordillera Regional Science High School is located in La Trinidad. The Benguet National High School has several annexes distributed in the capital town of La Trinidad.

Tourist attractions

The province is a major tourist destination in the country,^[1] with most of its tourist spots centered on culture and nature.^[35] Baguio City's location within the province provides a boost to the tourism industry of the province.^[36] Interesting places in the province include Kennon Road, Binga Dam, strawberry and flower farms in La Trinidad, the Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, and the Palina and Naguey rice terraces in Atok.

Tuba and Tublay hot springs are usually flocked by local tourists from the neighboring provinces. Vegetable terraces can be seen along the Halsema Highway, especially during the growing season, while the mist-covered "Man-asok" River is another destination. Kabayan is known for its centuries-old mummies, while Buguias is visited for its hot springs and the Apo Anno.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benguet.

• The Official Website of the Provincial Government of Benguet
• 2007 Philippine Census Information

		Ilocos Sur	Mountain Province
	La Union		Ifugao Nueva Vizcaya
	Benguet
		Pangasinan

Province of Benguet La Trinidad (capital) Municipalities Atok Bakun Bokod Buguias Itogon Kabayan Kapangan Kibungan La Trinidad Mankayan Sablan Tuba Tublay Highly urbanized city Baguio (Administratively independent from the province, but grouped under Benguet by the National Statistics Office) Barangays See: List of barangays in Benguet

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Center Baguio Provinces Abra Apayao Benguet Ifugao Kalinga Mountain Province Metropolitan Area Metro Baguio Highly Urbanized City Baguio Component City Tabuk Provincial Capitals Bangued Bontoc Kabugao (de jure) La Trinidad Lagawe Luna (de facto) Tabuk Municipalities Aguinaldo Alfonso Lista Asipulo Atok Bakun Balbalan Banaue Bangued Barlig Bauko Besao Bokod Boliney Bontoc Bucay Bucloc Buguias Calanasan Conner Daguioman Danglas Dolores Flora Hingyon Hungduan Itogon Kabayan Kabugao Kapangan Kiangan Kibungan La Paz La Trinidad Lacub Lagangilang Lagawe Lagayan Lamut Langiden Licuan-Baay Luba Lubuagan Luna Malibcong Manabo Mankayan Mayoyao Natonin Paracelis Pasil Peñarrubia Pidigan Pilar Pinukpuk Pudtol Rizal Sabangan Sablan Sadanga Sagada Sallapadan San Isidro San Juan San Quintin Santa Marcela Tadian Tanudan Tayum Tineg Tinglayan Tinoc Tuba Tublay Tubo Villaviciosa Luzon, Republic of the Philippines

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