Cordillera Administrative Region

Definition

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is the only landlocked region in the Philippines, located in the northern-central portion of Luzon. Created by Executive Order No. 220 in 1987, CAR comprises six provinces (Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province) and the highly urbanized city of Baguio, its regional center. It covers about 18,233 square kilometers of mountainous terrain within the Cordillera Central range.

Identities

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordillera_Administrative_Region
Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12077
DBpedia: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Cordillera_Administrative_Region

Also Known As

CAR, Cordillera, Cordillera Region.

Examples and Analogies

CAR functions like a high-altitude sanctuary within Luzon, much as the Andean highlands anchor western South America. Baguio, at about 1,540 meters elevation, serves as a cool-climate refuge comparable to Da Lat in Vietnam. The rice terraces of Ifugao operate as living agricultural monuments analogous to terraced systems in Bali or Peru.

Usage Scenarios

CAR is used in national planning as a distinct unit for upland development, indigenous peoples’ programming, and high-value vegetable farming. Government agencies reference CAR when designing roads and tourism circuits that account for steep slopes. Researchers use CAR as a case study for autonomy movements.

Strategies

Development strategies emphasize sustainable upland agriculture, eco-tourism, infrastructure resilience, and the protection of indigenous cultural heritage. The regional government pursues autonomy under the Cordillera Autonomous Region proposal, aiming for greater resource control and culturally responsive governance.

Security and Safety Measures

The region applies disaster risk reduction protocols for landslides, earthquakes, and typhoons. Mining and large-scale projects undergo Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. Local governments enforce forest protection and watershed management.

Historical Context

The Cordillera resisted full Spanish colonization, preserving distinct indigenous cultures. American rule established Baguio as the summer capital and built Kennon Road. Executive Order No. 220 (1987), issued by President Corazon Aquino, created CAR following the 1986 People Power Revolution, partly in response to the struggle against the Chico River Dam Project.

Challenges and Controversies

CAR faces recurring debates over autonomy, with plebiscites rejecting the autonomous region setup in 1990, 1998, and 2019. Other issues include environmental degradation from mining and illegal logging, threats to rice terrace integrity, and persistent poverty in remote indigenous communities.