GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

Located at the northern portion and reaching until the central part of Luzon, it includes the provinces of Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, Abra, the Mountain Province, and the city of Baguio. The Cagayan and Isabela provinces are on its northern and eastern border, Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya on the south and southwest, and the Ilocos provinces and La Union on the west. This region has rugged mountain ranges, forests, deep gorges and ravines, wide pasturelands and river basins.

POPULATION

In 2000, the population of the region in the year reached 1,352,000. It increased by 7.18% from 1995. In 1990, urban residents totaled 356,272 while 792,992 lived in the rural areas.

CULTURAL GROUPS 

The different tribal communities are the Ifugao, Kankanai, Gaddang, Ibaloy, Kallahan, Kalinga, Bontok, Balangaw, Itneg and Isneg.

CLIMATE

The climate in the region is generally cool in the uplands. The rainy season is from May – October, while the dry season is from November to April.

LAND USE 

Around 79% of the total regional land area are forest reserves and timberland. The rest have been classified as alienable and disposable which include agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential lands. The major crops of the region are palay, corn, fruits, vegetables and root crops. The region leads in vegetable production.

NATURAL RESOURCES 

The region has extensive forest resources, large mineral deposits of gold, copper, silver, limestone and raw materials for construction. Big mining companies abound but small-scale mining is encouraged. Its land is fertile and ideal for growing vegetables. There are water resources suitable for hydroelectric power.

ECONOMY

Agriculture is the backbone of the regional economy. Its main products are rice, vegetables and fruits. It is supplemented by cottage industries, trade and services.