UNDERUTILIZED PLANT RESOURCES IN TINOC, IFUGAO, CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the Philippines is home to a diversity of plants matched by an equally rich culture. Ifugao, where Tinoc is located, is one of the six provinces of CAR. The people of Tinoc, Ifugao, are called Kalanguya, one of the tribes in the Philippines. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the inventory and documentation of the indigenous uses of plants among the Kalanguyas in Tinoc, Ifugao, as well as to determine which among the useful plants are underutilized. Plant utilization is entwined with the cultural practices among the Kalanguyas, and this data was gathered using face-to-face interviews, focused group discussions, direct observation and field and herbarium research. This study documented 257 useful plant species distributed within 198 genera and 95 families of which 53 species are underutilized. The indigenous knowledge of the Kalanguyas on plant use has evolved for many generations. These indigenous uses on plant utilization are integrated in every facet of their lives. These include the most basic of needs such as food, clothing, shelter and other uses. The everyday life of the Kalanguyas depends on the varied resources obtained from the forests. Thus, the forests have become their natural grocery, pharmacy and hardware store.