Mountain Province

Mountain Province (Bontok: Probinsiya nan Bilig; Balangao: Probinsiya hen Bilig; Kankanaey: Probinsiya di Dontog; Ilocano: Probinsia ti Bantay; Tagalog: Lalawigang Bulubundukin;^[3] Spanish: Provincia Montañosa) is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Bontoc while Bauko is the largest municipality. Mountain Province was formerly referred to as Mountain in some foreign references. The name is usually shortened by locals to Mt. Province.

Mountain Province Lalawigang Bulubundukin
Province
(from top: left to right) Maligcong Rice Terraces in Bontoc, Bontoc, Chico River, Sagada rice terraces, Sagada and Chico River in Bontoc.
Flag Seal
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 17°05′N 121°10′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Founded	August 18, 1908
Reorganized	June 18, 1966
Capital	Bontoc
Largest Municipality	Bauko
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. (PFP)
• Vice Governor	Jose O. Dominguez (Independent)
• Representative	Maximo Y. Dalug Jr. (NP)
• Legislature	Mountain Province Provincial Board
Area [1]
• Total	2,157.38 km2 (832.97 sq mi)
• Rank	58th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Amuyao)	2,702 m (8,865 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[2]
• Total	149,775
• Rank	76th out of 81
• Density	69/km2 (180/sq mi)
• Rank	75th out of 81
Demonym	i-Mountain Province
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	10 Barlig Bauko Besao Bontoc Natonin Paracelis Sabangan Sadanga Sagada Tadian
• Barangays	144
• Districts	Legislative district of Mountain Province
Time zone	UTC+8 (PHT)
IDD : area code	+63 (0)74
ISO 3166 code	PH-MOU
Spoken languages	Bontoc Kankanaey Balangao Ilocano Tagalog English
Website	mountainprovince.gov.ph

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,^[4][5][6] and was later split in 1966 into Mountain Province, Benguet, Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao.^[7][8][9]

The province is also known for its mummy caves, which contain naturally mummified bodies, and for its hanging coffins.^[7]

History

Spanish colonial era

The area of the Cordillera mountains proved difficult to control by the Spaniards. During the long Spanish rule, not much was done to bring the province under control. 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.^[10] The first serious effort to subjugate them was made in 1785 when soldiers were sent from Cagayan to put down a revolt of the Kalingas. A famous Spanish explorer, Guillermo Galvez, conducted more than 40 forays to the mountainous region.^[11]

Formerly called La Montañosa by the Spanish colonizers due to its mountainous terrain,^[7][12] the area was subdivided into 6 comandancias politico-militar.^[13]

The 6 former Comandancias Politico-Militar of La Montañosa ^[13]

Comandancia	Year established	Comandancia	Year established
Benguet	1846	Amburayan	1889
Lepanto	1852	Kayapa	1891
Bontoc	1859	Cabugaoan	1891

American colonial era

Mountain province in 1918

Bontoc sub-province in 1918, which roughly covers the territory of modern day Mountain province

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.^{[4][6][7][14]}

The first governor was Samuel Kane, 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.^[6][12] 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.^{[10][15] [16]}

Historical sub-provinces of Mountain Province under Act No. 1876^{[4][6][13][16]}

Sub-province	Abolished?	Notes
Amburayan	Yes, in 1920	Territories annexed to Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Benguet[6][16]
Apayao	No
Benguet	No	Eastern towns annexed to Ilocos Sur and La Union in 1920[16]
Ifugao	No
Kalinga	No
Lepanto-Bontoc	Yes, in 1920	Territories annexed to Ilocos Sur, La Union, Bontoc, and Benguet[6][16]

Philippine independence

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).^[7] Bontoc became the capital of the new Mountain Province.^[9][12]

Mountain Province would have been significantly affected by the Chico River Dam Project during the Marcos administration, as the Marcos regime's project would have flooded the municipalities of Sabangan, Sagada, Sadanga, Bontoc, Bauko, and parts of Barlig.^[17] However, the indigenous peoples of Kalinga Province and Mountain Province resisted the project and when hostilities resulted in the murder of Macli-ing Dulag, the project became unpopular and was abandoned before Marcos was ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution.^[18]

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.^[10][19][20]

Indigenous People's Day

Through Presidential Proclamation 682, October 4, 2024 was declared a special non-working day to commemorate the Provincial Indigenous People’s Day.^[21]

Geography

Mountain Province covers a total area of 2,157.38 square kilometers (832.97 sq mi)^[22] occupying the central section of the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. The province is bordered on the north by Kalinga, east by Isabela, 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.^[7][12]

Administrative divisions

Mountain Province comprises ten municipalities, all encompassed by a lone legislative district.^[22]

Political divisions

Municipality [i] Population ±% p.a. Area[22] Density (2020) Barangay (2020)[2] (2015)[23] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi Barlig 3.0% 4,796 4,819 −0.09% 228.64 88.28 21 54 11 Bauko 20.2% 32,021 31,065 +0.58% 170.37 65.78 190 490 22 Besao 4.3% 6,873 7,040 −0.46% 173.62 67.04 40 100 14 Bontoc † 15.2% 24,104 24,643 −0.42% 396.10 152.94 61 160 16 Natonin 6.5% 10,339 10,272 +0.12% 252.00 97.30 41 110 11 Paracelis 19.7% 31,168 28,121 +1.98% 570.16 220.14 55 140 9 Sabangan 6.1% 9,621 9,315 +0.62% 72.04 27.81 130 340 15 Sadanga 5.3% 8,427 8,799 −0.82% 259.79 100.31 32 83 8 Sagada 7.3% 11,510 11,127 +0.65% 109.71 42.36 100 260 19 Tadian 12.2% 19,341 19,389 −0.05% 157.00 60.62 120 310 19 Total 158,200 154,590 +0.44% 2,157.38 922.56 66 170 144  †  Provincial capital   Municipality The globe  icon marks the town center.

Barangays

Mountain Province has 144 barangays comprising its 10 municipalities.^[24]

As of 2010, the most populous barangay in the province is Poblacion in the municipality of Paracelis, with a total of 5,687 inhabitants. Balintaugan in the municipality of Bauko has the least population with only 144.^[24]

Further information: List of barangays in Mountain Province

Demographics

Further information: Kankanaey people, Bontoc people, Balangao people, Igorot people, and Ilocano people

The population of Mountain Province in the 2020 census was 158,200 people,^[2] with a density of 73 inhabitants per square kilometre or 190 inhabitants per square mile.

Population census of Mountain Province

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 23,441 —     1918 49,055 +5.05% 1939 59,138 +0.89% 1948 62,003 +0.53% 1960 85,866 +2.75% 1970 93,112 +0.81% 1975 94,096 +0.21% 1980 103,052 +1.83%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1990 116,535 +1.24% 1995 130,755 +2.18% 2000 140,439 +1.54% 2007 148,661 +0.79% 2010 154,187 +1.34% 2015 154,590 +0.05% 2020 158,200 +0.49% 2024 149,775 −1.31%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[23][24][25]

Population by ethnicity (2000)[26] Ethnicity Number Kankanaey   72,694 (51.80%) Balangao / Baliwon   18,886 (13.46%) Bontoc   17,234 (12.28%) Ilocano   6,968 (4.97%) Applai   2,947 (2.10%) Binontok   2,510 (1.79%) Kalinga   2,468 (1.76%) Other local ethnicity   16,197 (11.54%) Other foreign ethnicity   22 (0.02%) Not Reported   413 (0.29%)

Based on the 2000 census survey, Kankana-ey comprised 51.8% (72,694) of the total provincial population of 140,339. Balangao/Baliwon came in second at 13.46% (18,886), and Bontoc at 12.28% (17,234). Other ethnicities were the Ilocano at 4.97% (6,968), Applai at 2.1% (2,947), Binontok at 1.79% (2,510), and Kalinga at 1.76% (2,468).^[26]

Languages

The main languages of Mountain Province are Kankanaey and Bontoc. Ilocano is used as a lingua franca in the province and is widely spoken and understood by the residents.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Philippines

Catholicism

An Anglican church in Sagada

Anglicanism predominates in the province with approximately 60% adherence to other religions such as Roman Catholicism.^{[citation needed]}

Others

Other groups include Members Church of God International (MCGI), Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Iglesia Filipina Indepiendente, Iglesia ni Cristo has 3% of the Listing Members in the province and Free Believers in Christ Fellowship. Mountain Province is the only predominantly Protestant province in the Philippines.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Mountain Province

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 12.28 2003 57.00 2006 44.07 2009 52.16 2012 37.63 2015 44.70 2018 24.58 2021 15.30 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

Tourism

The province has several rice terraces in seven of its different towns:^[12]

• Ambasing Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Bangaan Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Bangen Rice Terraces — Bauko
• Barlig Rice Terraces — Barlig
• Bayyo Rice Terraces — Bontoc
• Besao Rice Terraces — Besao
• Bontoc Poblacion Rice Terraces — Bontoc
• Bucas Rice Terraces — Besao
• Bulongan Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Dalican Rice Terraces — Bontoc
• Fidelisan Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Focong Rice Terraces — Sadanga
• Kapayawan Rice Terraces — Bauko
• Kiltepan Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Maligcong Rice Terraces — Bontoc
• Natonin Rice Terraces — Natonin
• Sadanga Rice Terraces — Sadanga
• Suyo Rice Terraces — Sagada
• Tanulong Rice Terraces — Sagada

The mountainous province also offers excellent mountain climbing experiences with two of its mountains among the top 10 highest points in the Philippines:

• Mount Kalawitan, 2,714+msl - Sabangan
• Mount Amuyao or Mount Finaroy, 2,702+msl - Barlig

Rice terraces in Barlig

Government

See also: Mountain Province Provincial Board

List of recent governors

Further information: Governor of Mountain Province

• 2001–2004 — Sario M. Malinias
• 2004–2010 — Maximo B. Dalog
• 2010–2016 — Leonard G. Mayaen
• 2016–present — Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr.

Notable people

• Jeyrick Sigmaton - actor and model^[35]
• Marky Cielo - actor
• Francisco Claver - Roman Catholic bishop, Jesuit, and human rights activist
• Eduardo Masferré - Filipino-Catalan photographer regarded as the Father of Philippine photography.^[36]
• William Henry Scott - Historian and Episcopalian missionary best known for numerous books on the Cordilleran peoples and on Precolonial Philippines.^[37]