Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya.
Baguio City, a popular tourist destination in the country, is located in the interior of the province, however, the city is independent of the province.
Political Subdivisions
Benguet is subdivided into 13 municipalities and surrounds Baguio City namely: Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay. Baguio City used to be part of the province but became independent when the city’s charter was enacted in 1909. However, for statistical convenience, Baguio City is informally considered a part of Benguet, especially in census data or when the city is chosen as a location for Benguet provincial offices for convenience and practicality.
Language / Dialect
Most of the tribes in Benguet have their own languages or dialects. The Ibaloi tribe speak Ibaloy, which is similar to Pangasinan. The Kankana-ey tribe speak have their own language, which is related to the Bontoc language. Many inhabitants also speak Ilokano, Tagalog, and English for trade and commerce. Now a days, because of working abroad some can even speak Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. which shows that they are globally interacting.
Economy
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.
Location Map
