On the average, a three-bedroom house and lot in Benguet cost Php3.5 million to Php5 million, with land area ranging from 75 to 120 square meters. A five-bedroom house and lot sitting on a land area of 290 square meters to a generous 1,000 square meters cost anywhere between Php17.5 million to Php35 million. Most of these properties are two-story buildings with a spacious open area. |
Traveling from Manila to Baguio City in Benguet will take about four to five hours via NLEX-TPLEX. The construction of the new expressway has significantly reduced travel time, making it more accessible for private vehicles to enter the province. Public transportation is also a good option as buses make hourly trips. |
Benguet is fondly called “The Salad Bowl of the Philippines” for its huge production of upland vegetables. The cold weather makes it very conducive to grow root crops such as carrots, potatoes and other vegetables like cabbage, pechay and lettuce. |
Living in Benguet is like being one with nature. It sits on the mountain range of the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon so the province enjoys a cool breeze year-round. There is an abundance of towering pine trees and colorful flowers in all shapes and sizes. There are also a number of hot springs and mountains within the area. |
Benguet covers over 2,700 sq. kilometers of land area and is comprised of 13 municipalities. It has a population of over 440,000 as of 2017. Apart from agriculture, mining and tourism are the major industries of Benguet. The province is one of the country’s major gold producers. Meanwhile, Baguio City though administratively independent from Benguet, draws tourists from the mainland especially during the months of November to February.
Some of the most notable schools in the country are also located in Benguet. University of the Philippines Baguio, Saint Louis University and University of Baguio are found in Baguio City. Benguet State University, meanwhile, is found in the province’s capital, La Trinidad.
Hospitals, churches, markets and shopping centers are within easy reach in Benguet. You can also go to SM City Baguio for a wider range of retail shops. The mall has become a tourist destination as well. Ukay-ukay or secondhand apparel shops are also famous in Baguio City. If you’re lucky, you can find authentic designer clothes and bags at a cheap price.
Traveling is fairly easy via jeepney, bus or taxi. However, traffic can get bad during peak season when there is an influx of tourists especially in Baguio.
Benguet is a paradise for nature lovers. Aside from Baguio City and the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet is also famous for its mountains. Some of the most visited hiking spots are Mt. Ulap in Itogon, Mt. Timbak, which is the third highest mountain in Luzon, and the “Little Pulag” of Benguet, Mt. Yangbew.
For a more relaxing activity, you can visit plenty of natural hot springs in the province. Some of the more popular hot springs are found in Itogon.
Benguet is also a haven for Filipino artists. BenCab Museum, found in Tuba, houses the art collection of National Artist for Visual Arts Ben Cabrera. Cabrera also established the Tam-awan Village, to showcase traditional Ifugao houses and promote Baguio’s local artists.
The local food scene is also worth mentioning. Feast on fresh fruits and vegetables in organic and vegetarian restaurants found in the province. You can also find local delicacy such as the pinikpikan, a famous chicken dish originating from the Cordillera region. There is also no shortage on the usual American comfort food due to the influence of the Americans. Expect to find a good pizzeria or burger joints in Baguio City.
During the month February, there is a surge of tourists for the annual Panagbenga Festival—which usually holds a parade of floats adorned with flowers grown in the province.
Waking up to the beauty of Benguet is a priceless experience. Properties for sale in the province has a wide price range to suit anyone’s budget. A brand new one-bedroom townhouse in Baguio is valued at Php1.4 million. A four-bedroom house and lot, depending on the land area, is valued at Php4.5 million to as much as Php17 million.