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Batanes is renowned for its beautiful scenery and friendly locals, including its expansive hills and valleys, spectacular lighthouses, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, and many more. Its remote location, relatively small area, and low population ensure that the province's natural beauty and laid-back way of life have not been altered throughout time. A trip to Batanes is the perfect way to get away from the hectic pace of city life.

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Batanes is the first major archipelago off the northern coast of Luzon, between the Babuyan Islands and Taiwan. Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtang are the three largest islands. The island of Batan is located in Basco, the country's capital. Batanes is primarily made up of peaks and highlands, which account for over half of the island. Aside from being the least populous province in the Philippines, it is also the least populous.

The weather in Batanes during the months of March through May is summer and the surrounding seas are relatively peaceful. On the other hand, during the months of September through November, the weather is usually chilly and has the most consistent winds. Typically, typhoons occur in the month of August.

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The people in Batanes are also known for their honesty.

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Batanes is home to the indigenous group called the Ivatans which is of Austronesian descent wherein most South East Asians share the same genetic and linguistic features. As of 2020, the population is summed to 18,831. In categorizing the age groups by their population, individuals under the age of 14 and under account for 28.57% or 4,959 of the young dependent population, which includes infants, babies, children, young adolescents, and teenagers. Those who are within the age range of 15 to 64 make up around 62.43% or 10,767 of the economically active population and current or potential labor force participants. Finally, individuals ages 65 and up account for 8.81% or 1,520 of the total population. This means that for every 100 people who belong to the working-age population, there are 46 youth dependents or 14 senior citizens dependents to them.

Under Batanes, there are six municipalities and 29 barangays. The municipalities are as follows:

1. Basco

highest population and growth rate from 2015-2020.

6 barangays

1. Itbayat

5 barangays

1. Ivana

4 barangays

1. Mahatao

4 barangays

1. Sabtang

6 barangays

1. Uyugan

lowest population and growth rate from 2015-2020

4 barangays

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In 2006, Batanes achieved a zero poverty rate in the province. This is due to the fact that every Ivatan family is engaged in agriculture, ensuring their food security. However, their involvement in producing agricultural products is only meant to satisfy their needs–making economic growth unsustainable. A few years later, in 2013, 29.14% or almost 30% of the population in Batanes are considered to be poor, according to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PWSDO). In both of these cases, it is presumed that there are few employment opportunities in Batanes besides traditional agriculture and fishery jobs.

Batanes has a high literacy rate of 95.39%, recorded in 2015. Sadly, the province is facing a brain drain wherein highly skilled individuals opt to migrate to another place due to the lack of opportunities other than traditional jobs. A research that was conducted on how Ivatans see the future of Batanes interviewed 22 students who study Hospitality Management, Education, Agriculture, and Industrial and Information Technology from Batangas State College (BSC) visualizes their future outside the province. Moreover, when a survey was conducted determining the location of the students after graduating college stated that ten students wanted to leave, nine students wanted to stay, and three people had no opinion about it. It is worth noting that numerous students stated that they would like to remain in the Batanes, but only if they could find work. Since there are few job opportunities in Batanes other than becoming a fisherman or a farmer, they will choose to migrate to make money. If there is a likelihood of an increase in employment opportunities, they will most likely decide to stay.

In 2021, the tourism industry in Batanes is now presumed to be a top industry as the province continues to grow, expand, and develop with the construction of roads and public infrastructures. In relation to the problem of only having a few job opportunities in Batanes, the expansion of the tourism industry has provided locals with different job opportunities. The provincial government also launched the Batanes Eco-Cultural Tourism Industry (BECTI) development strategy to promote the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other tourism-related livelihood initiatives. This improved the state and eased business transactions of the investors from financial and quas-financial services and institutions. This did not just tap into the tourism industry but also included mechanized farming and organic production (agribusiness) in the agricultural industry, commercial fishing in the fisheries industry, the construction of ports, waterways, and power in the basic infrastructure and development sector, health, education, and social welfare sectors, and solid waste management programs.

While the expansion of the tourism industry has dramatically increased the economic activity in Batanes, it has no exception to the problems the tourism industry faces. In fact, small islands like Batanes have a higher risk of ecosystem degradation and a decline in natural resources. Moreover, there could also be a possibility of modernization due to tourism being hand in hand with globalization, which could erase the rich heritage of Batanes.

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SDG #9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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SDG #9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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The Batanes Islands in the Philippines have a reputation as one of the toughest in the Pacific. Surrounded by water and frequently hit by typhoons, this stunning archipelago is isolated and hazardous. Resilience is as natural to the people there as the wind and rain. There is nowhere else in the Philippines that has low houses like those seen in Batanes. These houses have sturdy stone walls and thatched roofs, and you won't find them anywhere else in the Philippines. They are the result of adaptation to the harsh environmental circumstances in an area that is characterized by a predominance of earthquakes, hot and humid summer months, monsoon rains, and powerful typhoons.

The natives of Batanes are known for being one of the most welcoming people you'll ever come across, in addition to the beautiful views of the natural beauties that can be found there, such as the broad rolling hills, amazing lighthouses, and the amazing perspective of the Pacific Ocean. The natural splendor of Batanes is best represented by the islands' breathtaking beaches. You may swim in, visit, and recline at a variety of seascapes in Batanes, one of which is Morong Beach, which features powdery white sand as well as scattered stones that have been polished by time and waves.

One of Batanes' most well-known attractions, the Vayang Rolling Hills provide a panorama of rolling hills that seem to go on forever. The West Philippine Sea may be seen in all its majesty from the viewpoint of this popular tourist destination. A road in Batanes that leads to the famous Vayang Rolling Hills has recently undergone an improvement project that was carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The Department of Public Works and Highways Batanes District Engineering Office (DPWH-BDEO) stated that the 34.89 million peso project enabled better mobility for residents as well as tourists by making it more convenient for travelers to visit the famous location.

Despite the fact that the infrastructure and roads in Batanes have been improved, the fact that Batanes is so separated from the mainland is the primary disadvantage of living there. The prices of flights to Basco are well-known for being expensive. Many Ivatans are unable to leave Batanes because there are no affordable flights available, and those Ivatans who have already managed to leave the islands are unable to find a means to return there.

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A lush green landscape that does not only offer a nourishment to the body, but also to the soul.

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The Diura Fishing Village where fishermen also captivate the gifts of nature

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Apart from the beautiful scenery and the honest people of Batanes, the province is also known for being self-sufficient. A record shows that the annual regular revenue of Batanes is  ₱345,349,259.96 based on the old fiscal year of 2016. It is a given fact that typhoons pass through Batanes frequently–however, they have adapted strategies to survive and one of these is through their agricultural practices.

Since Batanes is composed of 5,500 hectares of agricultural land, its main source of livelihood is agriculture. Each farmer in Bataan owns 3-7 parcels of land which is approximately 300-500 m^2. They enforce a specific agricultural system that has ensured food security at the household level for many generations. This system is practiced by setting a specific spatial arrangement of corn, gabi, yam, tugui, for 3-5 years while using corn stover, hardwood trees, or viyawu which is a local reed as a trellis for the plants. Without the use of chemical fertilizers, this one-of-a-kind fallow system maintains soil fertility. Additionally, Batanes is also known as a major livestock producer of cattle as well as carabaos and goats. The fishery is also another form of livelihood in this province but only during the months of March to June when the seawater is presumed as relatively calm.

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An Ivatan wearing her Vakul which is used to protect youself from rain

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