BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The population of the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) stands at 1,797,660 as of May 1, 2020, the least among the 17 regions of the country. The Philippines has a total population of 109,033,245.
The latest population data was presented by Philippine Statistics Authority–Cordillera Regional Director Villafe Alibuyog during the Regional Dissemination Forum for the 2020 Census of Population and Housing at the Plaza Lodge last July 26.
Of the 1,797,660 regional population, Benguet has the most number of people with 460,683 followed by Abra with 250,985; Kalinga with 229,570; Ifugao with 207,498; Mountain Province with 158,200 and Apayao with 124,336.
Baguio City, the only highly urbanized city in the Cordillera, posted a population of 366,358 based on the 2020 CPH.
Outside of Baguio City, La Trinidad, the capital town of Benguet has the largest population with 137,404 followed by Tabuk City in Kalinga with 121,033 then Itogon in Benguet with 61,498.
Completing the top ten most populated municipalities in the Cordillera are Bangued, Abra (50,382); Tuba, Benguet (48,312); Buguias, Benguet (44,877); Mankayan, Benguet (37,233); Pinukpuk, Kalinga (34,275), Alfonso Lista, Ifugao (34,061), and Bauko, Mountain Province (32,021).
In terms of growth, the 2020 population is higher by just 75,654 than the 2015 Census. It grew by an average of 0.91 percent in the past five years, lower compared to the 1.21 percent growth rate in 2010–2015 as recorded in the 2015 Census of Population.
Commission on Population Regional Director Magdalena Abellera underscored the importance of the CPH explaining that “people are both the subject and the object of development”, thus the census streamlines the specific data needed for crafting better programs and in the delivery of appropriate services.
National Economic Development Authority–Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Stephanie Christiansen, affirmed that the 2020 CPH will help economic planners and policy makers in the government and private sector make better plans and programs for the development of the people and the country.
For the private sector, Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. Executive Director Maria Rosario Lopez also affirmed the importance of information on population saying demographics transform into dividend in terms of their work. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR