[ Manila Bulletin Online ] May 16, 2008
By DEXTER A. SEE
BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) here reported that the region has a total population of 1,520,743, based on the results of the 2007 census of population.
The census results showed that Cordillera’s population accounted for 1.72 percent of the country’s 88,574,614 population and indicated an annual average growth rate of 1.5 percent from 2000-2007 as compared with the 1.82 percent growth rate from 1995 to 2000.
Of the six provinces of the region, Benguet, excluding Baguio City, registered the largest population with 362,533, followed by Abra with 230,953; Kalinga, 182,326; Ifugao, 180,711; and Mountain Province, 148,661.
The sixth province, Apayao, recorded the lowest population of 103,633 although it has one of the biggest land areas among the provinces.
Baguio City, which is the only highly urbanized city in the region, accounted for 19.85 percent of the region’s population with 301,926, while the newly created city of Tabuk has only 87,912 people.
Batas Pambansa Bilang 72, Commonwealth Act 591, and National Statistical Coordination Board Resolution No. 9, series of 2007, authorized the conduct of the census of the country’s population.
This mountain resort city is considered one of the rapidly growing urban centers in the region. It draws people because of the availability of employment opportunities generated by the influx of investments.
The census of population is supposed to be conducted every five years as mandated by law but it was conducted only 2007. The last census before 2007 was conducted in 200.
NSCB officials predicted a rapid population growth in urban centers in the different parts of the region. This could come as a result the completion of the Arroyo administration’s infrastructure projects that link Cordillera with other parts of Northern Luzon, particularly Regions I and II.
The improved accessibility is expected to result in more employment opportunities, increased economic activities, various livelihood activities, and enhanced promotion of potential tourist destinations.
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