[Geography] [Government] [Climate] [Population] 

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Geography and Land Area  

 Baguio City, approximately 250 kilometers north of manila is situated in the heart of the Province of Benguet.  The area of the city is 250 square kilometers enclosed in a perimeter of 30.6 kilometers.  The developed portion of the city is a plateau that rises to an elevation of 1,400 meters.  Most of it lies on the northern half of the city.

There are two great valleys found in the south and the north of the city.  The more famous Guisad-Lucban Valley has an elevation that ranges from 1,300 to 1,400 meters and is centrally located towards the north.  The southern valley is composed of long and narrow vales surrouded by low hills and transected by a network of hills.  Some of the more important valleys are camp 7.  Loakan, Bakakeng and Crystal Cave.  These valleys are arable as they are rich with alluvial deposits.

The summits on the plateau offer panoramic views.  The summits that face the west Quezon Hill, Mirador-Dominican Hill and the Bureau of Animal Industry Stock Farm which offers splendid view of the Ilocos Coastal Plain, Lingayen Gulf and the South China Sea during cloudless days.  

Another famous promontory is Mines View Park, which overlooks the mining town of Itogon and offers a glimpse of the Amburayan Valley.  All over the city, however are sporadically scattered steep side hills and mountains.  About half the area of the City has a slope of 25% or more.  

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Government

A popularity elected Mayor heads the city government of Baguio.  He is assisted by the Vice-Mayor and a 12-man legislative council called the Sangguniang Panglunsod.  The last election was conducted in 1998.

            Citizens participate actively in government affairs and public issues Baguio enjoys a specially informal atmosphere, so that even the officials are not detached and removed from the populace.

            Congressman:   Bernardo Vergara

            Mayor:   Mauricio Domogan

            Vice-Mayor:  Daniel Fariñas  

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Climate

          Baguio is 8 degrees cooler on any month on the average than any place in the lowlands.  When Manila sweats at 35 degrees centigrade of above, Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centigrade at its warmest.  The lowest temperature reading made by the local weather bureau was 6.3 degrees centigrade, recorded in January 18, 1961.

            Baguio is very wet during the Philippine rainy season, which is from June to October.  The recorded heaviest volume of rainfall in Baguio city was in 1911 when it measured 9,038.3 mm.

            However, from November to May, Baguio becomes a tropical paradise, a refreshing break from the hot humid Philippine climate.  Christmas season is when Baguio glows with the nippy winter air.  Nights are good for bonfires.

            In the summer months of March, April, and May, Baguio lives up to its title as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” when thousands of visitors from the lowlands and Manila take their annual exodus to the city to cool off.  Casual clothing is recommended worn with jackets or sweaters especially in the late afternoon or evenings.  

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 Population

          The population of the city as of 1995 is 226,883.  The youth constitute nearly half of the population.  There is a trace of longevity among the people, of whom are aged over 60.   The middle-aged group numbers 70,511.

            During the peak of the annual tourist influx, particularly during the Lenten period, transients triple the population.  

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 Language Spoken

          English is widely spoken and understood.  It is the medium of instruction in all public and private schools.  Most newspaper and magazines are printed in English; hence, an English-speaking traveler would not find communication problems.  The national language, Filipino, language is of course spoken by everyone.  Ilocano is also spoken by almost everybody.  

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 Major Industries

          The three dominant industries in the city are tourism, education and integrated circuits.  

            Tourism remains to be a dominant industry, especially with the improved access roads.  Lowlanders come to the city during the hot summer months.

            Baguio has about 50,000 college and vocational students.

            Texas Instruments initiated the Export Processing Zone.  Today, they export six hundred million dollars of products annually.

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Information taken from PTA's Cordillera 1999.