2 Economy

AgricultureFarming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). Agriculture is also known as farming ., miningSilver City, New Mexico is an open-pit copper mine Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually (but not always) from an ore body, vein or (coal) seam. Materials commonly recovered by mining include b, and tourismTourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. A tourist is someone who travels at least fifty miles from home, as defined by the World Tourism Organization (a United Nations body). are the major industries in Benguet. Because of its temperate climate high in the mountains, Benguet is an ideal place for producing vegetables. Benguet is often called the Salad Bowl of the Philippines. Major crops include potatoThe potato Solanum tuberosum is a perennial tuber of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, which is one of the most widely used vegetables in Europe and North and South America. There are thousands of varieties of potato in cultivation. The potato is unres, Baguio beans , peas, strawberries, cabbage, lettuce, and carrots. Other agricultural-related activities are monggo processing, fruit preservation, peanut brittle manufacturing, broom making, basket weaving, and flower growing.

Mining is another major industry of Benguet, which is one of the country´s leading gold producers. Other mineral deposits are silver, copper, pyrite, and limestone. Silversmithing is a large industry in Benguet, and many entrepreneurs sell silverworks at lower prices in Baguio City, compared to Manila.

The presence of Baguio City in Benguet draws a large number of tourists from the lowlands. Oftentimes, people who go to Baguio also explore the province, especially the strawberry and vegetable plantations in La Trinidad . (See also the Tourist Attractions section below.)

3 Geography

3.1 Political

Benguet is subdivided into 13 municipalities and contains Baguio City. Baguio City used to be part of the province but became independent, when the city's charter was made. However, for convenience, Baguio City is informally considered a part Benguet especially in census data or when Baguio City is chosen as a location for Benguet provincial offices.

3.1.1 City

• Baguio City

3.1.2 Municipalities

Atok Bakun Bokod Buguias Itogon Kabayan Kapangan

Kibungan La Trinidad Mankayan Sablan Tuba Tublay

3.2 Physical

4 Tourist Attractions

While Baguio City is not officially part of Benguet, its location provides additional income in form of tourism for the province. Some of the interesting places are, Kennon Road , Binga Hydroelectic Plant , strawberry and flower farms in La Trinidad , Ambuklao Dam , and Palina and Naguey rice terraces.

5 History

Early History. The mountainous area now covered by Benguet is home to several native tribes which are collectively known as the Igorot . Two of these, the Ibaloi and the Kankana-ey , are dominant tribes of the area. Many of these tribes are believed by Filipino anthropologists to be of Malay descent. Before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers these tribes had a flourishing trade with the lowlanders such as the Ilocanos and the Pangasinenses.

Spanish Period. When the Spanish arrived, they attempted to colonize the highlands, having heard of the rich gold mines in the mountains. In 1572, Juan de Salcedo led a small expedition into southern Benguet, but the natives forced them to retreat. The first major expedition into the mountains occurred in 1620, when Spanish explorers went into the La Trinidad Valley and briefly controlled some Igorot gold mines, which were later abandoned after a few years.

In the 1800s, the Spanish colonizers made more serious attempts at conquering the highlands. The first expeditions were done under the leadership of Col. Guillermo Galvey and it succeeded in establishing presence in the La Trinidad Valley, which he named after his wife.

This area later became a district of the new province of La Union in 1846. Eight years later, in 1854, Benguet became a separate comandancia politico-militar. Parts of the present province were established as component territories of other comandancias such as Lepanto, and Amburayan.

American Period. When the Americans took control of the Philippines, they established local civil governments in many parts of the country. In Benguet, the civil government was established on Nevember 23, 1900 by virtue of Act No. 49. H.P. Whitmarsh, a Canadian journalist, was appointed as the first governor of Benguet.

The Americans then established the Mountain Province on August 18, 1908, with the enactment of Act No. 1876. Benguet, along with Amburayan, Apayao, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Lepanto, became sub-provinces of this new province. Later on, Baguio became a chartered city in 1909. Then in 1920, Benguet absorbed the sub-provinces of Amburayan and Lepanto.

In the 1930s, mining companies were started to mine the gold deposits in the area. This brought it jobs and many lowlanders migrated to Benguet, especially in towns surrounding the mines, such as Itogon .

World War II. During World War II, Igorot guerillas and American forces fought battles with Japanese soldiers during the final days of the war in 1945.

Post-war Era. On June 18, 1966, The huge Mountain Province was split into four provinces with the enactment of Republic Act No. 4695. The four provinces were Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao. Benguet became one of the provinces of the Ilocos Region.

On July 15, 1987, the Cordillera Administrative Region was established and Benguet was made one of its provinces.

6 External links

• The Official Website of the Provincial Government of Benguet

Provinces of the Philippines

<Hide>