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Banaue

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Overview

Banaue (or alternatively spelled as Banawe) [bɐˈnawe], officially the Municipality of Banaue (Ilocano: Ili ti Banaue, Tagalog: Bayan ng Banaue), is a municipality in the province of Ifugao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 20,143 people.

It is the site of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Batad Rice Terraces and Bangaan Rice Terraces.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,288 words

WBP editorial3

Beyond the terraces: community rhythm

While the rice terraces dominate headlines, everyday life in Banaue unfolds along a modest network of barangay centres where markets open before dawn and the scent of fresh coffee mingles with incense from modest chapels. Visitors who linger after the main tour discover that the town’s social calendar is anchored by weekly barangay fiestas, where residents showcase traditional dances and share home‑cooked fare in communal feasts. These gatherings offer a window into intergenerational knowledge‑transfer, especially in the way elders demonstrate stone‑wall repairs or craft bamboo implements. Engaging with locals over a shared plate of pinikpikan not only enriches the palate but also reveals subtle nuances of Ifugao identity that guidebooks often overlook.

Travel craft: navigating altitude and climate

At over 1,300 metres above sea level, Banaue’s climate shifts sharply from the lowland heat of Manila to a crisp, mist‑laden ambience that can surprise unprepared travellers. Acclimatisation is advisable: schedule a low‑key first day to sip tea in a local café and let the lungs adjust before embarking on high‑elevation treks. Light rain jackets and breathable layers are essential, as temperature swings of ten degrees Celsius between morning and afternoon are routine. Public transport consists mainly of shared vans (halong) that traverse winding mountain roads; hiring a driver familiar with the steep passes can save both time and anxiety, especially during the wet season when landslides are not uncommon.

A comparative lens: Banaue and the Andes

Travelers who have trekked the Andean terraces of Peru may find a familiar visual dialogue in Banaue’s stepped rice paddies, yet the cultural scripts diverge markedly. In the Andes, terrace maintenance is often a collective labour of state‑supported cooperatives, whereas in Ifugao the system remains rooted in familial stewardship, with each lineage tending its own plot over centuries. This distinction manifests in the subtle variations of terrace geometry and planting cycles. Observing the manual irrigation channels—stone‑lined and hand‑crafted—highlights an engineering philosophy that prioritises harmony with the mountain’s natural seepage rather than large‑scale hydraulic infrastructure. The comparison underscores how geography shapes not only landscapes but also the social fabric that sustains them.

Introduction

Municipality in Ifugao, Philippines This article is about the modern municipality. For the historic farming site, see Banaue Rice Terraces. Municipality in Cordillera Administrative Region, PhilippinesBanaueMunicipalityMunicipality of Banaue, Municipalité de BanaueTown of Banaue FlagMap of Ifugao with Banaue highlightedInteractive map of BanaueBanaueLocation within the PhilippinesCoordinates: 16°54′43″N 121°03′41″E / 16.9119°N 121.0614°E / 16.9119; 121.0614CountryPhilippinesRegionCordillera Administrative RegionProvinceIfugaoDistrict Lone districtBarangays18 (see Barangays)Government  • TypeSangguniang Bayan • MayorJoel B. Bungallon • Vice MayorDonald L. Mongolnon • RepresentativeSolomon R. Chungalao • Municipal Council Members Rogelio N. ImmatongJohn Alfred D. Cappleman IIRoberto M. ImmotnaGlenn H. ImmoliapAlbert B. Magguling Sr.Fermin P. Haclao Jr.Karen Joy B. LuglugWilson A. Balungay  • Electorate15,487 voters (2025)Area • Total191.20 km2 (73.82 sq mi)Elevation1,303 m (4,275 ft)Highest elevation2,689 m (8,822 ft)Lowest elevation481 m (1,578 ft)Population (2024 census) • Total20,143 • Density105.35/km2 (272.86/sq mi) • Households4,306Economy • Income class4th municipal income class • Poverty incidence12.04% (2021) • Revenue₱ 156 million (2024) • Assets₱ 864.5 million (2024) • Expenditure₱ 190.1 million (2024) • Liabilities₱ 122.8 million (2024)Service provider • ElectricityIfugao Electric Cooperative (IFELCO)Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)ZIP code3601PSGC1402701000IDD : area code +63 (0)74Native languagesIfugao Tuwali Ilocano TagalogWebsitewww.banaue.gov.ph Banaue (or alternatively spelled as Banawe) [bɐˈnawe], officially the Municipality of Banaue (Ilocano: Ili ti Banaue, Tagalog: Bayan ng Banaue), is a municipality in the province of Ifugao, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 20,143 people. It is the site of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Batad Rice Terraces and Bangaan Rice Terraces.

Geography

[edit] Banaue is situated 24.60 kilometres (15.29 mi) from the provincial capital Lagawe, and 375.26 kilometres (233.18 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila. Barangays[edit] Banaue is politically subdivided into 18 barangays.  Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. Amganad Anaba Balawis Bangaan Batad Bocos Banao Cambulo Ducligan Gohang Kinakin Uhaj Poblacion Poitan Pula San Fernando Tam-an View Point Climate[edit] Climate data for Banaue, Ifugao Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 21(70) 23(73) 24(75) 26(79) 25(77) 25(77) 24(75) 24(75) 24(75) 24(75) 23(73) 22(72) 24(75) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15(59) 15(59) 16(61) 18(64) 19(66) 19(66) 19(66) 19(66) 19(66) 18(64) 17(63) 16(61) 18(63) Average precipitation mm (inches) 35(1.4) 46(1.8) 63(2.5) 117(4.6) 402(15.8) 400(15.7) 441(17.4) 471(18.5) 440(17.3) 258(10.2) 94(3.7) 68(2.7) 2,835(111.6) Average rainy days 9.9 11.1 13.9 18.9 26.0 27.3 28.9 28.5 26.1 19.7 14.5 12.8 237.6 Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

[edit] Population census of BanaueYearPop.±% p.a.1918 17,013—    1939 17,127+0.03%1948 15,311−1.24%1960 17,877+1.30%1970 20,268+1.26%1975 20,489+0.22%1980 22,900+2.25%1990 16,943−2.97%1995 20,514+3.65%2000 20,563+0.05%2007 21,448+0.58%2010 22,365+1.54%2015 21,837−0.45%2020 20,652−1.17%2024 20,143−0.60%Source: Philippine Statistics Authority In the 2024 census, the population of Banaue was 20,143 people, with a density of 110 inhabitants per square kilometre or 280 inhabitants per square mile.

Government

[edit] Local government[edit] Main article: Sangguniang Bayan Banaue, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Ifugao, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years. Elected officials[edit] Members of the Municipal Council(2019–2022) Position Name Congressman Solomon R. Chungalao Mayor John Raymund Wesley A. Dulawan Vice-Mayor Donald L. Mongolnon Councilors John Alfred D. Cappleman II Roberto M. Immotna Albert B. Magguling Sr. Lino A. Madchiw Chester D. Bahatan Fermin P. Haclao Jr. Abelardo B. Batton Fernando B. Chulipa

Ifugao Rice Terraces

[edit] Main article: Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras Sometimes called by locals as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Ifugao Rice Terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and extend several thousand feet upwards. Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription. It is said that their length, if put end to end, would encircle half of the globe. The terraces are believed by many to be more than 2,000 years old as postulated by early Philippine anthropologist Otley Beyer, recent studies by carbon dating however contends this and instead the structures may be less than 1,000 years old. The rice terraces manifest the engineering skill and ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugaos. They are irrigated by means of mountain streams and springs that have been tapped and channelled into canals that run downhill through the rice terraces. Banaue Rice Terraces Batad Rice Terraces paddy fields Banaue Museum, which includes artifacts collected by H. Otley Beyer The rice terraces once stretched north-east to Cagayan and as far south as Quezon. However they are now slowly being abandoned and showing signs of deterioration. The 1990 Luzon earthquake damaged some of the terraces' irrigation systems, while El Niño triggered droughts that led giant earthworms to erode the terraces' soil. Furthermore, the rice variety most suited to the area's cool climate is not a high-yielding crop; because it takes so long to mature, some Ifugao families have abandoned their land in the rice terraces in favour of land that reaps faster rewards. An Ifugao Terraces Commission was created in 1994 and was superseded by the Banaue Rice Terraces task force, which was closed in 2002. UNESCO has listed the Batad Rice Terraces and Bangaan Rice Terraces as a World Heritage Site since 1995, under the designation, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. All located in the Ifugao region, the Rice Terraces also feature as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems or GIAHS. They are supported by indigenous knowledge management of muyong, a private forest that caps each terrace cluster. The muyong is managed through a collective effort and under traditional tribal practices. The communally managed forestry area on top of the terraces contains about 264 indigenous plant species, mostly endemic to the region. The terraces form unique clusters of microwatersheds and are part of the whole mountain ecology. They serve as a rainwater filtration system and are saturated with irrigation water all year round. A biorhythm technology, in which cultural activities are harmonised with the rhythm of climate and hydrology management, has enabled farmers to grow rice at over 1 000 metres. Contrary to popular notion, the Banaue Rice Terraces as seen from the viewpoint[where?] are not included in the UNESCO inscription, due to the presence of numerous modern structures. However, it is a National Cultural Treasure under the Ifugao Rice Terraces. The stone walled rice terraces were built by means of early tools and methods in order to maximise the use of land space, They exceed the height of the world's tallest building if the vertical distance between top and bottom row are measured.

Education

[edit] The Banaue Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools. Primary and elementary schools[edit] Amganad Elementary School Anaba Elementary School Balawis Elementary School Banao Elementary School Banaue Central School Bocos Elementary School Bangaan Elementary School Batad Elementary School Batad Elementary School - Patpat PS Annex Cambulo Elementary School Cambulo Elementary School - Mattao Annex Chunak Primary School Ducligan Elementary School Ducligan Elementary School - Guitte PS Annex Gohang Elementary School Good News Christian Academy of Ifugao Kinakin Elementary School Kinakin Elementary School - Annex Patilong Elementary School Poitan Elementary School Precious Ones Learning Center of Banaue Pula Elementary School San Fernando Elementary School Tam-an Elementary School Uhaj Elementary School Secondary schools[edit] Banaue National High School Banaue National High School Annex Gohang National High School Immaculate Conception School