Mountain Province

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search

Mountain Province

Province

Overlooking the Maligcong Rice Terraces in Bontoc

Flag

Seal
 Location in the Philippines

Coordinates: 17°05′N 121°10′ECoordinates: 17°05′N 121°10′E

Country Philippines
Region Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Founded 1908

Capital Bontoc

Government
• Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr.
• Vice Governor Francis O. Taulif
• Representative Maximo Y. Dalug Jr.

Area
[1]

• Total 2,157.38 km2 (832.97 sq mi)

Area rank 58th out of 81

Highest elevation 2,717 m (8,914 ft)

(Mount Singakalsa)

Population
 (2015 census)[2]
• Total 154,590
• Rank 76th out of 81
• Density 72/km2 (190/sq mi)
• Density rank 75th out of 81

Divisions
• Independent cities 0
• Component cities 0
• Municipalities 10[show]
• Barangays 144
• Districts Lone district of Mountain Province

Time zone UTC+8 (PHT)

ZIP code 2616–2625

IDD : area code  +63 (0)74
ISO 3166 code PH

Spoken languages  Bontoc

 Kankana-ey
 Ilocano
 Tagalog
 English

Website mountainprovince.gov.ph

Mountain Province (Filipino: Lalawigang Bulubundukin) is a landlocked province of

the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc.
Mountain Province was formerly referred to as Mountain in some foreign references. The name is
usually shortened by locals to Mt. Province. The province was named so for being in the Cordillera
Central mountain range found in the upper realms of Luzon island.
Mountain Province was also the name of the historical province that included most of the current
Cordillera provinces. This old province was established by the Philippine Commission in
1908,[3][4][5] and was later split in 1966 into Mountain Province, Benguet, Kalinga-
Apayao and Ifugao.[6][7][8]
The province is also known for its mummy caves, which contain naturally mummified bodies, and for
its hanging coffins.[6]

Contents

 1History
o 1.1Spanish period
o 1.2American period
 o 1.3Post-war era
 2Geography
o 2.1Administrative divisions
o 2.2Barangays
 3Demographics
o 3.1Religion
 4Tourism
 5Government
o 5.1List of former governors
 6References
 7External links

History[edit]
Spanish period[edit]
The area of the Cordillera mountains proved difficult to control by the Spaniards. From 1566 to 1665,
they sent expeditions to conquer the land but the rugged terrain and hostile indigenous population at
the time were major obstacles to complete subjugation.[9]
Formerly called La Montañosa by the Spanish colonizers due to its mountainous terrain,[6][10] the area
was subdivided into 6 comandancias politico-militar.[11]

The 6 former Comandancias Politico-Militar of La Montañosa [11] hide

Comandancia Year established Comandancia Year established

Benguet 1846 Amburayan 1889

Lepanto 1852 Kayapa 1891

Bontoc 1859 Cabugaoan 1891

American period[edit]
On August 19, 1908, during the American rule, the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 1876,
which organized the entire area of the Cordilleras into one large province, named Mountain
Province.[3][5][6][12]
The first governor was Samuel Cane, and the town of Bontoc was made the capital. It was originally
composed of the sub-provinces of Amburayan, Apayao, Benguet, Lepanto-Bontoc, Ifugao and
Kalinga.[5][10]
Amburayan was later abolished in 1920 and its corresponding territories were transferred to the
provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union. Lepanto was also reduced in size and its towns were
integrated into the sub-provinces of Bontoc and Benguet, and to the province of Ilocos Sur.[9][13] [14]
 Historical sub-provinces of Mountain Province under Act No. 1876[3][5][11][14] hide

Sub-province Abolished? Notes

Amburayan Yes, in 1920 Territories annexed to Ilocos Sur and La Union[5][14]

Apayao No

Benguet No Eastern towns annexed to Ilocos Sur and La Union in 1920[14]

Ifugao No

Kalinga No

Lepanto-Bontoc Yes, in 1920 Territories annexed to Ilocos Sur, Bontoc and Benguet[5][14]

Bontoc sub-province in 1918

The province in 1918

Post-war era[edit]
Effective on April 7, 1967, Republic Act No. 4695 abolished the old Mountain Province, converting its
sub-provinces into 4 independent provinces: Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and Mountain
Province (corresponding to the former Bontoc sub-province).[6][8][10] On June 15, 1987, the Cordillera
Administrative Region was established upon the issuance of Executive Order 220 by then-
President Corazon Aquino, and Mountain Province was made one of its provinces.[9][15][16]

Geography[edit]
The Chico River with the capital town of Bontoc in the background

Mountain Province covers a total area of 2,157.38 square kilometres (832.97 sq mi)[17] occupying the
central section of the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. The province is bordered on the
north by Kalinga, south by Ifugao, southwest by Benguet, west by Ilocos Sur, and northwest by Abra.
Situated within the Cordillera Central, Mountain Province is 83% mountainous while 17% make up
hills and levels. The province has many rivers, waterfalls, mountains, and caves. The central and
western areas of the province are characterized by rugged mountains and steep cliffs, while the
eastern portion has generally sloping terrain.[6][10]
Administrative divisions[edit]
Mountain Province comprises ten municipalities, all encompassed by a lone legislative district.[17]

Political divisions

Munici Population ±% Area[17] Density  Bara

pality [i p.a. (2015) ngay
]

(2 sq / /s
k   q 
(2015)[2 01 k
]
0)[1 m m m
8]
2 m
2
i i
4, 88
3.1 5,83 −3.5 228. 5
Barlig 81 .2 21 11
% 8 9% 64 4
9 8
31 59 5
20. 30,1 +0.5 153.
Bauko ,0 .0 200 2 22
1% 72 6% 00
65 7 0
 7, 67 1
4.6 7,81 −1.9 173.
Besao 04 .0 41 1 14
% 8 8% 62
0 4 0
24 15 1
Bonto 15. 23,9 +0.5 396.
† ,6 2. 62 6 16
c 9% 80 2% 10
43 94 0
10 97 1
6.6 10,0 +0.4 252.
Natonin ,2 .3 41 1 11
% 48 2% 00
72 0 0
28 22 1
18. 26,4 +1.1 570.
Paracelis ,1 0. 49 3 9
2% 76 5% 16
21 14 0
9, 27 3
6.0 8,74 +1.2 72.0
Sabangan 31 .8 130 4 15
% 1 2% 4
5 1 0
8, 32 2
5.7 9,18 −0.8 83.3
Sadanga 79 .1 110 8 8
% 1 1% 0
9 6 0
11 32 3
7.2 11,2 −0.2 83.3
Sagada ,1 .1 130 4 19
% 44 0% 2
27 7 0
19 56 3
12. 20,6 −1.2 145.
Tadian ,3 .0 130 4 19
5% 89 3% 20
89 6 0
15
83 1
4, 154, +0.0 2,15
T OTAL 59 187 5% 7.38
2. 72 9 144
97 0
0

†  Provincial capital  Municipality

1. ^ The globe icon marks

the town center.