CAR at a Glance

Population (As of May 2010) 1,616,867

Population Growth Rate (2000-2010) 1.73%
Land Area (sq.km) 18,293.7
No. of LGUs 86
Per Capita GRDP (2011) Php 74,359
GRDP (2014) 128.58 B
GRDP Growth Rate (2013-2014) 3.2%
GVA in AFF (2013-2014) -0.4%
GVA in Industry (2013-2014) 2.7%
Investments (2015) Php 28.13 B
Consumer Price Index (Nov 2015) 140.9
Inflation Rate (2015) 1.5%
Labor Force Participation Rate (2015) 67.1%
Unemployment Rate (2015) 4.8%
Underemployment Rate (2015) 20.8%
Poverty Incidence (2012) 17.5%
Poverty Threshold (2012) Php 19,483
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines consists of the
provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao
where Baguio City is the regional center. The Cordillera Region encompasses
most of the areas within the Cordillera central mountain range of Luzon, the
largest range in the country. This region is home to numerous indigenous
tribes collectively called the Igorot.

Cordilleras Pride

The Cordillera is the Philippines' Premiere Highland Region, adorned with

breathtaking sights, cool climate, and best of all, a unique culture and
people.

The region prides itself with abundant agriculture, a rich heritage, and most
of all, a unique culture. Living amidst the rough terrain is a people whose
way of life existed even before any Spaniard stepped foot in the country.

Cordillera, ("Knotted Rope"), refers to the jumbled rolls and dups of this
long-range traversing the northern part of the Luzon Island. Living amidst
the rice terraces that tower over Northern Luzon are a people whose way of
life existed long before any Spaniard or other foreigners stepped foot on the
Philippines. The Igorot, Tinguian, Apayao, and the Kalinga Tribes reign over
Luzon's Mountain Terrain. It is generally cool throughout the year in the
region.

Almost the whole region is situated in the mountainous Cordillera Central

range. Located in the region is the majestic Mount Pulag, the second highest
mountain in the country, rising at 2,922 meters. Various rivers start here,
like the Cagayan River and the Agno River.

Economy

Cordillera has abundant mineral reserves. These include metallic ores such
as gold, copper, silver, zinc, and non-metallic minerals like sand, gravel and
sulfur. Mineral reserves are found in all the provinces. However, mining is
concentrated in Benguet.

Tourist Attractions

The world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces in the province of Ifugao that

is supposedly considered as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

Natural attractions of the region include the Sumaguing Cave in

Sagada and the mummy caves of Benguet and Mt. Province.

There are four National Parks: Cassamata Hill, Mount Pulag (the second
highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,922 meters
above sea level), Mt. Data and Balbalasang-Balbalan, located in the
province of Kalinga.

The Cordilleras: Watershed cradle of the

Philippines
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Lynda B. Valencia
Date: 2002-08-12

BAGUIO City (PNA) Dubbed as the Watershed Cradle of the

Philippines, the Cordilleras 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.

Owing to the regions land-locked topography, fishery resources consist

mainly of inland water.

To preserve its cultural uniqueness and fertility, its ethnic solidarity, the
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is carved out 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, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province
and the chartered city of Baguio.

It consists of 76 municipalities and 1,172 barangays. The regions land area

of 18,294 sq. kilometers account for seven percent of the total land mass of
the country.

The regions climate is endowed with abundant mineral reserves. These are
metallic ores such as gold, silver, copper, zinc and nonmetallic reserves
which are found in Abra, Benquet, Kalinga, Apayao and Mountain Province.

However, mining operations are still concentrated in Benguet where almost

100 percent of the regions mineral production in 1998 was registered. In
addition, the region has untapped geothermal energy resources and
undeveloped hydroelectical power resource.

The region is the least populated in the country despite its vast land area. The
total population in 1990 was 1,146,191 and grew to 1,388,220 in 2002
reflecting an average growth rate of 1.76 percent for the past decade.
Consistently, it has bested the other regions in terms of employment rates
indicating a vibrant and potential-laden economy. Agriculture remains to be
the primary pre-occupation which employs more than one-half of the regions
workforce.

In the first quarter of 1991, the region attracted investments totaling R297
million, the bulk of which was poured into the province of Benguet,
particularly in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) located in
Baguio City.

Replete with 80 unparalleled tourists attraction, the region remains to be the

irresistible tourist destination north of Metro Manila.

The pride of place in Abra includes the Abra Festival, bamboo crafts, Ikat
weaving, Karerakit along Calaba River, Casa Real Ruins, Tayum Church,
Victoria Park, and Mary Babereo Park.

In Baguio City, one can see the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga, the
city market, PMA, Baguio Cathedral, Burnham Park, The Mansion, Wright
Park, Camp John Hay, Lourdes Grotto, Tam-awan Village, Baguio Botanical
Garden and Mines View Park, among others.

In Apayao, one can see the Marag Valley, Agamata National Park and
Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalabigan Falls, Lizardo Brooks, and Apayao River.

In Benquet, one can see the Kabayan mummies, Mt. Pulag, Vegetable
terraces, Balatoc Mines, strawberry picking, Asin Hot Spring, Wood carving
Village, Kennon Road, Ambuclao & Binga Dams, La Trinidad cut flowers
and Opdas Cave.
In Kalinga, one can see the Ullalim Festival, Sleeping Beauty Mountain,
Balbalasang National Park, Sungang Viewpoint, Pasil Natural Dam, Palan-ah
Falls and Hotsprings, Mt. Binaratan, Aguinaldo Hill, and Aguinaldo Watch
Tower.

Several terraces can also be seen in Ifugao, such as the Banaue, Bangaan,
Gotad Ad Hingyon, Amlong Ad Hungduan, Mayoyao and Hapao; Imbayan
Ethnic Sports Festival; Philippine War Memorial Shrine and the Ifugao Rice
Harvest Festival.

In the Mountain Province there is the Sagada Caves, Hanging Coffins, Loom
weaving, Mainit Hot Spring, Samoki Weaving Village, Inodey Waterfalls,
and Agricultural Stone Calendar.

Baguio/Banaue
A mountainous topography of towering peaks, plateaus, and intermittent patches of valleys, the
Cordillera mountain range has a history as vast and as beautiful as its mountainous curves.
Populated by the Ifugaos, a gentle yet fiercely proud ethnic community, the Cordillera enjoys
abundant mineral reserves. Metallic ores such as gold, silver, copper, zinc, and non-metalic
reserves are found in Abra, Benguet, Kalinga Apayao, and Mountain Province.

Dubbed as the Watershed Cradle of the Philippines, the Cordillera Administrative Region was
carved out 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, Apayao, Benguet,
Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and the chartered city of Baguio. The Cordillera consists of
76 municipalities and 1,172 barangays. Total land area of 18,294 square meters account for seven
percent of the total land mass of the Philippines.

The people in the region enjoy a cool climate throughout the year, particularly in highly elevated
places like Benguet, Mt. Province, and Baguio City. General climate, though, is the dry season
from November to April and the rainy season for the rest of the year.

Summer Capital

In the summer months of March, April, and May, Baguio lives up to its title as the "Summer
Capital of the Philippines when thousands of local and foreign visitors take their annual exodus
to the city to cool off. From November to May, Baguio becomes a tropical paradise, a refreshing
break from the hot and humid Philippine Climate. Christmas Season is when Baguio denizens
enjoy the nippy winter air.

Rice Terraces
Ifugao is home to a thriving ancient culture and host to the famous rice terraces. Carved from the
base of the mountainsides to the top, the rice terraces seem to be a massive green stairway
reaching to the sky. The rice terraces were formed by the Ifugao tribespeople using primitive
implements over a period of 2,000 years. The famous terraces had been inscribed in UNESCO's
World Heritage List in 1995 as a "continuing cultural landscape and likewise considered by the
U.S. Association of Civil Engineers as an engineering marvel built by unschooled and free men
not of slave labor.

Weaver's Paradise

Mountain Province is known as the "Weaver's Paradise with the presence of various weaving
centers and different weave designs that reveal the province's cultural heritage.