A breakdown of The Philippines' system of government
The Philippines: Leadership type: Numbers:
Barangays
Chairman/Captain
As of March 31, 2010, there were 138 cities, 17 regions, 79 provinces, 1,496 municipalities, and 42,025 barangays in the Philippines.
Go directly to the
Alphabetical List of all the 42,025 Barangays in the Philippines
Interactive Google Satellite Map of The Philippines
Kiddie pool In Pasonanca, Zamboanga City Picture from: Zamboanga Tourism
IMAGE FROM DINAGYANG FESTIVAL IN ILOILO CITY Photo Taken by Joselito Villasis
Sun Valley Golf Club is the newest championship golf course in the Philippines. Located in Cogeo, Antipolo City, along Marcos Highway, it is easily accessible from Ortigas Center and Makati City.
Alaminos City boasts of its Hundred Islands National Park.
Underground River in Pueto Princesa, Palawan
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
Chocolate hills of Batuan, Carmen, and Sagbayan Bohol. When there isn't enough rain, the grass on these limestone hills turn brown. Hence, the name Chocolate hills. These hills range from 40 to 120 meters high.
The bridge at the top of the image is the first Mactan-Mandaue bridge, the one below is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
The river starts in the Kalatungan Mountain Range found in the central part of the province of Bukidnon. It finally empties into the Macajalar Bay at Cagayan de Oro City in the Province of Misamis Oriental.
Helpful Informational Links
Filipino Medicinal Tree
The fruit is used as Remedy for swollen spleen, liver diseases, beriberi, hemorrhage, coughs... Also enhances the immune system.
Filipino Weed Cures Denque Fever
The old barangay folks know the value of this weed. They smoke it. They drink its juice. They use the entire plant as poultice.
Grow it in a Pot or in your garden!
Astragalus root is used to support and enhance the immune system. Astragalus has also been used for heart disease.
Herbal Alternative Health
Fundacion Pacita: This stone studio was built by Pacita Abad, an Ivatan artist from the remote province of Batanes. She died of lung cancer December of 2004.
The boy, the sea, and the cloud in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines
Old Seaport of Mambulac, Silay City
List of Chartered Cities in the Philippines:
Listed as City, Province, and Country.
There are three classes of cities in the Philippines:
The highly urbanized, which may also be independent of the province they are in are listed below in green letters.
Note: Cities that are to be converted into "highly urbanized" cities in the future, are not eligible to participate in provincial elections.
The independent component cities which are independent of the province and they are listed below in green letters.
The component cities which are part of the provinces where they are located and subject to their administrative supervision.
According to the NSCB (National Statistical Coordination Board) there are 138 Cities in the Philippines. Below is the alphabetical list of the cities in the Philippines.
One very important factor to remember is that MUNICIPALITIES are not classified as CITIES. The list of cities in the Philippines will continue to increase as municipalities later become cities. A municipality must qualify to be classified as a city.
Every barangay in each city of the Philippines has a Z-Wiki Interactive Webpage of its own. Your help via information updates will be greatly appreciated.
Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Philippines - Within Region I. The home to the Hundred Islands National Park. It is also the very first national park in the Philippines. Alaminos is a very young city. It was not until March 5, 2001 that Alaminos became a city. This was when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the RA 9025, the law converting Alaminos into a city, To make sure that this is in fact what the people of Alaminos wanted, a local election was held and on March 28, 2001 more than 85% the people of Alaminos voted affirmatively to make Alaminos the 4th city of the province of Pangasinan.
Angeles City, Philippines - Within Region III
Angeles City is within the jurisdiction of Region III in the province of Pampanga. As of August 2007, the city became an independent component city of the Philippines and no longer a part of the province of Pampanga.
Antipolo City, Philippines - Nickname: The Pilgrimage City, The city of Antipolo is in Region IV-A and is the capital city of the province of Rizal
Antipolo City is the seventh most populated city in the Philippines
Population (as of Aug 1, 2007 census)=633,971
Registered Voters per COMELEC (2010)= 315,630
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Bacolod City, the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines
Land Area (as of 2007, in hectares)= 16,267
Population of Bacolod City (as of Aug 1, 2007 Census)= 499,497
Registered Voters per COMELEC as of (2010)= 250,661
Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Bago city is located 21 kilometers south of Bacolod City, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines
One of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, Baguio is made for sightseeing. And for strolls and boat rides and gentle trots around the park. And for golf. Kennon Road, completed in 1905, opened Baguio to tourism. The zigzagging path previews the scenic highlights of the city.
Bais City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Within Region VII
Balanga City, Bataan, Philippines - Capital City of the province of Bataan. Th province of Bataan is within Region III
Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines - Capital city of the province of Batangas and Within Region IV-A
Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - In the province of Negros Oriental within Region VII in Central Visayas
Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines - In the province of Leyte in the Eastern Visayas area and within Cities_of_the_philippines_in_Region_VIII
Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines - Within Region XIII
Land Area of Bislig City (as of 2007, in hectares)= 33,180
Population : (as of Aug 1, 2007): 102,009
Registered Voters (2009): 53,644
Bogo City Cebu Philippines - Bogo is is one of the municipalities in the province of Cebu in the Region VII area within the Central Visayays islands.
The total Land Area (as of 2007, in hectares)= 10,352
Total Population (as of Aug 1, 2007) per Census= 69,123
Registered Voters as of (2010) per COMELEC= 49,297
Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Philippines - Borongan City is in the Eastern Samar province and within Region VIII
Borongan City is the capital city of Eastern Samar.
Borongan City Land Area (as of 2007, in hectares)= 47,500
Borongan City Population (as of Aug 1, 2007 census)= 59,354
Borongan City Voters per COMELEC (2010)= 36,798
Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines - Within Region XIII
Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines - in the Agusan del Norte province and within Region_XIII in the Mindanao
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Within Region III
Urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Cadiz City is in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. Located about 65 kilometers north of Bacolod City.
Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines - Within Region X
Cagayan de Oro City, the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines - Within Region IV-B
Calbayog City, Samar, Philippines - Within Region VIII
Calbayog City is in the province of Samar, Philippines.
Caloocan City, Philippines #3 most populous city in the Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Caloocan is one of the 17 major cities that make up the Metro Manila area of the Philippines. Located north of the City of Manila. Caloocan is the country's third most populous city with a population of 1,177,604.
Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines - Within Region I
Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Within Region VII
Canlaon City is in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. Canlaon is located 168 km from the provincial capital Dumaguete City.
Carcar City Cebu Philippines - Within Region_VII
Catbalogan City, Samar, Philippines - Capital of the Western Samar Province and within Region VIII
Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines - Within Region II
Cavite City, Cavite, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
The City of Cavite is in the province of Cavite, Philippines.
Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII #5 most populous city in the Philippines
Cebu City, the capital of the province of Cebu, Philippines. Cebu City is within the jurisdiction of Region VII.
Cotabato City, Philippines - Within Region XII
The City of Cotabato is within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province. 05/27/2010
Dagupan City, Philippines - Within Region I.
The City of Dagupan is an independent city in the province of Pangasinan.
Danao City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII
Danao City is in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 109,534 people.
Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines - Within Region IX
The City of Dapitan is in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 68,178 people in 13,560 households. The national hero, Jose Rizal was exiled here by the Spaniards and the city became known as the "Shrine City in the Philippines".
Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines - Is in the province of Cavite and within Region IV-A.
Davao City, Philippines - Within Region XI
Davao City (#4) is one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. It borders the province of Davao del Sur to the south. Cotabato province to the west and the province of Davao del norte to the North East.
Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines - Within Region XI
Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines - Within Region IX
Dipolog City in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte in the island of Mindanao, Philippines.
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Within Region VII
Dumaguete City, is the capital city of the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines.
Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Within Region III
General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines - Within Region XII
The City of General Santos is in the province of South Cotabato in the southern part of the island of Mindanao. The city of General Santos has a population of 535,747 as of 2007.
Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines - Within Region X
Gingoog City is in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. It is approximately 122 kilometers east of Cagayan de Oro City and 74 kilometers west of Butuan City.
Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Guihulngan is in the Negros Oriental province and within Region_VII in the Central Visayas.
Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines - Within Region X
Iligan City is in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. By 2007 census, it has a population of 308,046 people.
Iloilo City, Philippines - Within Region VI
Iloilo city is the capital of, but independent from, the province of Iloilo. Located in the Western Visayas region in the island of Panay. The Guimaras ilsand is to the south east of Iloilo city.
Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines - Within Region V
Iriga City is in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is located about 400 kilometers south of Manila, 37 kilometers south of Naga, and about 61 kilometers north of Legazpi City.
Isabela City, Basilan, Philippines - Within Region IX
Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Philippines - Within Region XI
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, Philippines - Within Region XII
Koronadal City, South Cotabato, Philippines - Within Region XII
La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
La Carlota City is in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines - Is within Region I
Laoag City is in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte.
Lamitan City, Basilan, Philippines - On June 18, 2007, the island province of Basilan, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), now has two component cities. These are: Isabela City, the province's capital; and Lamitan, where 76 percent of the 77 percent voters' turnout voted "yes" in Monday's plebiscite. The plebiscite was held for the ration of Republic Act 9393, an act converting the Municipality of Lamitan in the province of Basilan into a component city to be known as the City of Lamitan.
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII
Lapu-Lapu City is in the province of Cebu, and in the island of Cebu, Philippines. Lapu-Lapu city occupies most of Mactan Island.
Las Piñas City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila #9 most populous city in the Philippines
Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines - Within Region V
Legazpi City is the capital of the province of Albay, Philippines. By the 2007 cencus the population of Legazpi city is at 179,481 inhabitants. It is the largest city in the Bicol Region in terms of population, but not in land area.
Ligao City, Albay, Philippines - Within Region V
Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Lipa City is in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 260,558 inhabitants in 41,962 households.
Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Lucena City is in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is the capital city of the province of Quezon. By 2007 census, it has a population of 236,390 people in 45,902 households.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Philippines - Within Region VIII
Makati City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Makati City is one of the 17 cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, Philippines. It is independent of any province in the Philippines.
Malabon City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines - Within Region X
Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines - Within Region III
Mandaluyong City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII
Mandaue City is in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is one of the three highly urbanized cities in the Province of Cebu.
Manila City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Manila City (#2 most populous city) is the capital of the Philippines and one of the 17 cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila. It is independent of any province in the Philippines.
Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Philippines
Marawi City is a city in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. It is the capital city of Lanao del Sur. Marawi City is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM as is the entire province of Lanao del Sur.
Marikina City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Masbate City, Masbate, Philippines - Within Region V
Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines - Within Region III
Muñoz City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Within Region III
Muntinlupa City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Naga City, Philippines - Within Region V
Naga City is located in the Bicol Region and is within the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. Howerve, Naga City is an indepentdent component City. Polictically autonomous from the province of Camarines Sur.
Naga City, Cebu, Philippines - Naga City is in the province of Cebu in the Region VII area within the Central Visayays islands.
Navotas City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines - Within Region III
Olongapo City is in the province of Zambales, Philippines. By the 2007 it has a population of 227,270 people in 43,107 households.
Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines - Within Region VIII
Ormoc is in the province of Leyte, Philippines but is an Independent component City. By 2007 census, it has a population of 177,524 people.
Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines - Within Region X
Oroquieta City is in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. It is the capital city of Misamis Occidental.
Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines - Within Region X
Ozamiz is in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. By 2007 census, it has a population of 123,137.
Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines
Pagadian is the capital city of Zamboanga del Sur province. Pagadian City is within the jurisdiction of Region IX
Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Within Region III
Palayan City is in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the capital city of Nueva Ecija.
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines - Within Region XI
Parañaque City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Parañaque City by 2007 census has a population of 552,660 and is one of the 17 cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by Pasay City, by Taguig City to the northeast, Muntinlupa City to the southeast, by Las Piñas City to the southwest, and by Manila Bay to the west.
Pasay City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Pasay City is one of the 17 cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by Manila City, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.
Pasig City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila (#8 most populous)
Passi City, Iloilo, Philippines - One of the cities in the province of Iloilo which is in the island of Panay in the central visayas area and classified as within region Region VI.
Pateros City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines - Within Region IV-B
Quezon City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
Quezon City (#1 most populous city) is the largest metropolitan city in the Capital center of the Philippines and is also the most populated of all the Chartered Cities of the Philippines. It occupies 160 square kilometers of the Capital center metropolis, formally called the National Capital Region, equating to over one-fourth of the metro land area and nearly the same ratio of the metro population. About one-half of its city population is under 24 years of age, making it a very young urban center. As the previous Capital of the Philippines from 1948-1976, Quezon City was named after its founder, Manuel L. Quezon, the former president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines - Within Region VI
Roxas City is in the province of Capiz, Philippines. It is the capital of Capiz.
Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Samal City, Davao del Norte, Philippines AKA: Island Garden City of Samal- Within Region XI
San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines - Within Region I.
San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines - Within Region I
San Fernando City, Pampanga, Philippines - Within Region III
San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Within Region III
San Jose City is in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the northernmost city of the province.
San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, Philippines - Within Region III
San Juan City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila
San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
The City of San Pablo is in the province of Laguna, Philippines.
Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Santiago City, Isabela, Philippines - Within Region II in the province of Isabela
Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Silay City is in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines - Within Region V
Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Philippines - Within Region XIII
Surigao City is the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines. By 2007 census, it has a population of 132,151 people. The total land area of Surigao City is 245.34 square kilometers.
Tabaco City, Albay, Philippines - Within Region V
Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines - Within Region VIII
Tacloban City is the capital of Philippine province of Leyte.
Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines - Within Region XII
Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Tagaytay City is in the province of Cavite, Philippines.
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines - Within Region VII
Tagbilaran City is in the Province of Bohol, Philippines. It is the capital city of the Province of Bohol.
Taguig City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila (#9 most populous)
Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Philippines - Within Region XI
Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII
Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, Philippines - Tandag City is the Capital City of Surigao del Sur and is within Region XIII-Caraga in the island of Mindanao.
Tandag City Land Area (as of 2007, in hectares)= 29,173
Tandag City Population : (as of Aug 1, 2007): 50,459
Registered Voters per COMELEC as of (2010): 31,873
Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines - Within Region X
Tangub City is in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
Tanauan City, Batangas, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, Philippines - Within Region VII
Tarlac City, Tarlac, Philippines - Within Region III
Tayabas City, Quezon, Philippines - In the province of Quezon and within Region_IV-A
Population (as of Aug 1, 2007 Census) = 87,252
Registered Voters (2010 COMELEC) = 50,389
Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines - Within Region VII
Toledo City is in the province of Cebu, Philippines. By 2007 census, it has a population of 152,960 people.
Trece Martires City, Cavite, Philippines - Within Region IV-A
Trece Martires City is in the province of Cavite, Philippines. The city serves as the seat of government of the Cavite. By 2007 census, it has a population of 90,177 people with a total land area of 49.10 square kilometers.
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines - Within Region II
Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines - Within Region I.
Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines - Within Region X
Valenzuela City, Philippines - One of the Cities of the Philippines within the National Capital Region - Metro Manila (#10 most populous)
Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines - Within Region VI
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines - Is within Region I
Zamboanga City, Philippines - Within Region IX #6 most populous city in the Philippines
Zamboanga City is located at the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula and is one of the major cities in Mindanao. It is independent of any province. Zamboanga City is within the jurisdiction of Region IX.
Independent cities
From a legal and fiscal standpoint, once a city is classified as either "highly-urbanized" or "independent component" city:
its Sangguniang Panlungsod legislation is no longer subject to review by any province's Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
it stops sharing its tax revenue with any province
Consequently, the governor and the provincial government do not have administrative supervision over an independent city and its elected officials, as stated in Section 29 of the Local Government Code Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), although they and the government of the independent city can always cooperatively work together on matters of common interest.
Prior to 1980, the eligibility of cities to vote for provincial officials was determined by their respective charters. With the enactment of Bilang 51 on December 22, 1979, all cities that were classified as belonging to the newly-introduced "highly urbanized city" distinction lost their eligibility to participate in provincial elections regardless of what their charters indicated. Batas Pambansa Bilang 51, Chan-Robles Law Library. As a result, the cities of Angeles, Bacolod, Cebu, Iligan, Iloilo and Olongapo became ineligible to vote for provincial officials. The only independent cities that can still participate in the election of provincial officials (governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members) are the following:
Cities declared as highly urbanized between 1987 and 1992, whose charters allow their residents to vote and run for elective positions in the provincial government, and therefore allowed by Section 452-c of the Local Government Code to maintain these rights: Lucena, Mandaue
Independent component cities whose charters only allow residents to only run for provincial offices: Dagupan, Naga
Registered voters of the cities of Cotabato, Ormoc, Santiago, as well as all other highly urbanized cities, including those to be converted or created in the future, are not eligible to participate in provincial elections.
In addition to the eligibility of some independent cities to vote in provincial elections, a few other factors become sources of confusion regarding their autonomy from provinces. Some independent cities still serve as the seat of government of the respective provinces in which they are geographically located: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines , Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines, Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines, Pasig (Rizal (province)|Rizal), Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, and Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines. In such cases, the provincial government takes care of the expenses of maintaining its properties such as provincial government buildings and offices outside its jurisdiction by paying for the actual cost of running these facilities as well as providing the host city government with an annual amount (which the province determines at its discretion) to aid in relieving incidental costs incurred to the city.
The representation of a city in the House of Representatives of the Philippines(or lack thereof) is not a criterion for its independence from a province, as Congress is for national legislation and is part of national (central) government.
Being part of an administrative region different from the province's own does not make a city independent. The city of Isabela functions as a component city of Basilan: its tax revenues are shared with the provincial government, its residents are eligible to vote and run for provincial offices, and it is served by the provincial government and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with regard to provincially-devolved services. However, by opting to remain within Region IX, Isabela City's residents are not eligible to elect and be elected to regional offices of the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - ARMM which now includes the rest of Basilan. Services that are administered regionally are provided to Isabela City through the offices of Region IX based in Pagadian City; the rest of Basilan is served by the ARMM and the regional government based in Cotabato City. Isabela City is not independent from its province, rather it is simply outside the jurisdiction of the ARMM, the region to which the other component units of Basilan belongs. It must be noted that regions are not the primary subnational administrative divisions of the Philippines, but rather the provinces.
Many government agencies, as well as Philippine society in general, still continue to classify many independent cities outside Metro Manila as part of provinces due to historical and cultural ties, especially if these cities were, and are still, important economic, cultural and social activity centers within the geographic bounds of the provinces to which they previously belonged. Furthermore, most maps of the Philippines showing provincial boundaries almost always never separate independent cities from the provinces in which they are geographically located for cartographic convenience. Despite being first-level administrative divisions (on the same level as provinces, as stated in Section 25 of the LGC), independent cities are still treated by many to be on the same level as municipalities and component cities (second-level administrative divisions) for educational convenience and reduced complexity.
We do not have a list of component cities in the Philippines. We do not have a list of independent cities in the Philippines either. We only keep the one list of cities in the Philippines because component cities can later become independent cities.
Regions of the Philippines.
Region I Region II Region III Region IV-A Region IV-B Region V Region VI
Region VIII Region IX Region X Region XI Region XII Region XIII
Region XIV
Region XV
| Provinces | Chartered Cities | Municipalities | Barangays |
Caloocan City, Philippines
Las Piñas City, Philippines
Malabon City, Philippines
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Manila City, Philippines
Marikina City, Philippines
Muntinlupa City, Philippines
Navotas City, Philippines
Parañaque City, Philippines
Pasay City, Philippines
Pasig City, Philippines
Pateros City, Philippines
Quezon City, Philippines
San Juan City, Philippines
Taguig City, Philippines
Valenzuela City, Philippines
Ilocos Norte Province, Philippines
Ilocos Sur Province, Philippines
La Union Province, Philippines
Pangasinan Province, Philippines
Batanes Province, Philippines
Cagayan Province, Philippines
Isabela Province, Philippines
Nueva Vizcaya Province, Philippines
Quirino Province, Philippines
Aurora Province, Philippines
Bataan Province, Philippines
Bulacan Province, Philippines
Nueva Ecija Province, Philippines
Pampanga Province, Philippines
Tarlac Province, Philippines
Zambales Province, Philippines
Batangas Province, Philippines
Cavite Province, Philippines
Laguna Province, Philippines
Quezon Province, Philippines
Rizal Province, Philippines
Marinduque Province, Philippines
Mindoro Occidental Province, Philippines
Palawan Province, Philippines
Romblon Province, Philippines
Albay Province, Philippines
Camarines Norte Province, Philippines
Camarines Sur Province, Philippines
Catanduanes Province, Philippines
Masbate Province, Philippines
Sorsogon Province, Philippines
Aklan Province, Philippines
Antique Province, Philippines
Capiz Province, Philippines
Iloilo Province, Philippines
Negros Occidental Province, Philippines
Guimaras Province, Philippines
Bohol Province, Philippines
Cebu Province, Philippines
Negros Oriental Province, Philippines
Siquijor Province, Philippines
Eastern Samar Province, Philippines
Leyte Province, Philippines
Northern Samar Province, Philippines
Western Samar Province, Philippines
Biliran Province, Philippines
Isabela City, province of Basilan, Philippines
Zamboanga City, Philippines
Zamboanga del Norte Province, Philippines
Zamboanga Sibugay Province, Philippines
Zamboanga del Sur Province, Philippines
Bukidnon Province, Philippines
Camiguin Province, Philippines
Lanao del Norte Province, Philippines
Misamis Occidental Province, Philippines
Misamis Oriental Province, Philippines
Compostela Valley Province, Philippines
Davao del Norte Province, Philippines
Davao Oriental Province, Philippines
Davao del Sur Province, Philippines
Davao_City,_Philippines
Cotabato Province, Philippines
South Cotabato Province, Philippines
Sultan Kudarat Province, Philippines
Sarangani Province, Philippines
Cotabato City, Philippines
Region XIII
Agusan del Norte Province, Philippines
Agusan del Sur Province, Philippines
Surigao del Norte Province, Philippines
Surigao del Sur Province, Philippines
Dinagat Island Province, Philippines
Region IV-CAR Region
Abra Province, Philippines
Apayao Province, Philippines
Benguet Province, Philippines
Ifugao Province, Philippines
Kalinga-Apayao Province, Philippines
Mountain Province, Philippines
Region XV-ARMM Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Basilan Province, Philippines - Included in 2001 except for the city of Isabela which is part of Region IX
Lanao del Sur Province, Philippines
Maguindanao Province, Philippines
Sulu Province, Philippines
Tawi-Tawi Province, Philippines
Shariff Kabunsuan Province, Philippines - Included in October 29, 2006. However On July 17, 2008, the Supreme Court, in Sema v. Comelec declared the creation of the province of Shariff Kabunsuan void and ruled that the power of ARMM's legislature to create provinces and cities is unconstitutional.[1]
List of Provinces of The Philippines:
The Philippines has 79 provinces
The list of Provinces in the Philippines are listed below:
The province of Abra is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
The province of Abra has 27 Municipalities and 303 Barangays. With a total land Area: 3,180.8 sq. km.
Capital of the province is Bangued
Abra Population (as of Aug 1, 2007 Census)= 230,953
Abra Registered Voters per (COMELEC 2010)= 133,124
Agusan del Norte has 10 Municipalities, 2 Cities, and 252 Barangays
Every barangay in the province of Agusan del Norte has a Z-Wiki Interactive Webpage of its own.
The province of Agusan del Norte is within Region XIII
Butuan City is the capital of Agusan del Norte.
Agusan del Norte Population (as of Aug 1, 2007)= 314,027
Agusan del Norte Registered Voters (COMELEC 2010)= 305,359
Prosperidad is the capital municipality of Agusan del Sur
The province of Agusan del Sur is within Region XIII
Agusan del Sur has 13 Municipalities, 1 City, and 314 barangays.
Population (as of Aug 1, 2007 Census)= 609,447
Registered Voters 1 (2010) per COMELEC= 264,692
The province of Aklan is within Region VI-Western Visayas
Kalibo is the capital of Aklan
As of 2007 Aklan has 17 Municipalities and 327 barangays.
Aklan is in the northern part of the island of Panay.
The province of Albay is within Region V
The province of Antique is within Region VI-Western Visayas
The province of Apayao is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
The province of Aurora is within Region III
Basilan Province, Philippines
The province of Basilan is within Region XV-ARMM
The province of Bataan is within Region III
The province of Batanes is within Region II
The province of Batangas is within Region IV-A.
The province of Benguet is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
The province of Biliran is within Region VIII
The province of Bohol is within Region VII
The province of Bukidnon is within Region X
The province of Bulacan is within Region III
The province of Cagayan is within Region II
The province of Camarines Norte is within Region V
The province of Camarines Sur is within Region V
The province of Camiguin is within Region X
The province of Capiz is within Region VI-Western Visayas
The province of Catanduanes is within Region V
The province of Cavite is within Region IV-A.
Every barangay in each Municipality and City in the province of Cebu has a Z-Wiki Interactive Webpage of its own.
The province of Cebu is in Region VII(Central Visayas) and Cebu City is the Capital of Cebu. As of 2009 Cebu has 47 Municipalities , 6 Cities and 1,203 Barangays. The names of barangays are listed within each municipality and city.
The province of Compostela Valley is within Region XI
The province of Cotabato is within Region XII
The province of Davao del Norter is within Region XI
The province of Davao del Sur is within Region XI
The province of Davao Oriental is within Region XI
The province of Eastern Samar is within Region VIII
The province of Guimaras is within Region VI-Western Visayas
The province of Ifugao is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
The province of Ilocos Norte is within Region I
The province of Ilocos Sur is within Region I
The province of Iloilo is within Region VI-Western Visayas
The province of Isabela is within Region II
The province of Kalinga-Apayao is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
The province of La Union is within Region I
The province of Laguna is within Region IV-A.
The province of Lanao del Norte is within Region X
The province of Lanao del Sur is within Region XV-ARMM
The province of Leyte is within Region VIII
The province of Maguindanao is within Region XV-ARMM
The province of Marinduque is within Region IV-B
The province of Masbate is within Region V
The province of Mindoro Occidental is within Region IV-B
The province of Mindoro Oriental is within Region IV-B
The province of Misamis Occidental is within Region X
The province of Misamis Oriental is within Region X
Mountain province is within Region XIV-Cordillera Administrative Region
Every barangay in each Municipality and City in the province of Negros Occidental has a Z-Wiki Interactive Webpage of its own.
The province of Negros Occidental is within Region VI-Western Visayas
The province of Negros Oriental is within Region VII
The province of Northern Samar is within Region VIII
The province of Nueva Ecija is within Region III
The province of Nueva Vizcaya is within Region II
The province of Palawan is within Region IV-B
The province of Pampanga is within Region III
The province of Pangasinan is within Region I
Pangasinan has 44 Municipalities, 4 Cities, and 1,364 Barangays
The province of Quezon is within Region IV-A.
The province of Quirino is within Region II
The province of Rizal is within Region IV-A.
The province of Romblon is within Region IV-B
Samar Province(Western Samar), Philippines
The province of Western Samar is within Region VIII
The province of Sarangani is within Region XII
The province of Siquijor is within Region VII.
The province of Sorsogon is within Region V
The province of South Cotabato is within Region XII
The province of Southern Leyte is within Region VIII
The province of Sultan Kudarat is within Region XII
The province of Sulu is within Region XV-ARMM
The province of Surigao del Norte is within Region XIII
The province of Surigao del Sur is within Region XIII
Surigao del Sur has 17 Municipalities, 2 Cities, and 309 Barangays.
The city of Tandag is the Capital of Surigao del Sur
Tarlac City is the capital city of the province of Tarlac.
The province of Tarlac is within Region III
The province of Tawi-Tawi is within Region XV-ARMM
The province of Zambales is within Region III
The province of Zamboanga del Norte is within Region IX
The province of Zamboanga del Sur is within Region IX
Zamboanga Sibugay has 16 Municipalities, and 389 Barangays.
Every barangay in each municipality in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay has a Z-Wiki Interactive Webpage of its own.
The province Zamboanga Sibubay is in Region IX
Ipil is the Capital of Zamboanga Sibugay
The province of Zamboanga Sibugay is the 79th province of the country. It has just celebrated its 8th Araw ng Sibugay with again the longest "Talaba Grill" in the world. Though 8 years old, the province is not among the poorest ten provinces of the country according to the records of the NAPC. The province is known as the rubber capital of the Philippines and is set to host the biggest International Rubber Congress this year 2009.
Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the creation of theses provinces null and void.
Shariff Kabunsuan Province, Philippines
The province of Dinagat Island is within Region XIII
Local government in The Philippines Government system based on US and Spanish models under review
By Andrew Stevens, Political Editor
12 February 2006:
The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of some 7,000 islands, which sit on the Philippine Archipelago. A republic with an executive presidency elected by popular vote, its 1987 constitution is loosely modelled on that of the United States, with a 24 member Senate and a House of Representatives consisting of 250 seats. It is further divided into 79 provincial governments, with 117 cities enjoying varying powers of self-government. 1,500 municipalities also exist, with a traditional 'parish' unit known as the barangay also playing an important role in local affairs, of which there are 41,939.
The Philippines today represents a bridge between East and West, with profound Catholic influences (East Timor is the only other in the region) and the widespread use of the Spanish language in an East Asian setting. Two areas have majority Muslim or indigenous populations however. Spain's colonisation of the Philippine islands began in 1565 with the creation of its East Indies outpost. The islands were then governed by the Viceroyalty of New Spain based in Mexico City, which ended in 1898 with the Spanish-American War. An insurrection waged against American forces ultimately proved futile with the US failing to acquiesce to Philippine demands for independence following its staged 'liberation' from Spain and in 1913 it was declared a US territorial possession. Clarification of its status was achieved under the 1935 self-governing Commonwealth, though it was then invaded by Japan in 1941. The US' declared policy of allowing Philippine independence was achieved in 1946 following the end of the war. However, independence treaties granted the US access to natural resources and allowed it to retain possession of 23 military bases that were to prove invaluable in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Elections to the Philippine presidency following independence were subject to covert (and not so covert) intervention by the US Central Intelligence Agency, with rule alternating between the Liberal and Nationalist parties. Its most famous post-war president, Ferdinand Marcos of the Nationalists, was elected in 1965 and again in 1969, credited with achieving considerable economic success. Against a backdrop of urban student unrest and communist-led separatist insurgency elsewhere, Marcos declared martial law in 1972 and began a period of 'constitutional authoritarianism' known as the 'New Society'. The Marcos regime enjoyed the support of the US throughout this period, unsurprising given his support to military efforts during the Vietnam War and his economic liberalisation. Flawed congressional elections were held in 1978, with an all-out victory for the party headed by Marcos' now equally infamous wife Imelda.
The 1983 assassination at Manila airport of opposition leader Benigno Aquino following his return from exile in the US was instrumental in creating the turning point that ended hitherto solid US support for the Marcos regime. The kleptocratic regime ended in 1986 following the army's refusal to put down the 'ESDA revolution' on the streets of Manila that later saw the couple exiled and Aquino's widow Cory installed as the country's first democratically elected President in 17 years. A Constitutional Commission issued a new democratic constitution in 1987, which remains in place today. The Aquino administration suffered from repeated coup attempts and she herself alienated supporters of the ESDA revolution by backing Marcos' army chief Fidel Ramos as her successor in 1992. Although Ramos, as head of the military and a member of Marcos' elite guard, was responsible for overseeing the 1972 declaration of martial law, his subsequent support for the opposition in the 1980s was crucial in securing military support for Aquino. As head of armed forces under her, he also foiled no less than seven coup attempts. Ramos' presidency, though credited with achieving peace with separatist rebels, ended with the 1997 Asian financial crisis and he left office in 1998, replaced by his vice president Joseph Estrada.
Estrada became Ramos' vice president in 1992 when his running mate Eduardo Cojuangco (the cousin of Cory Aquino) was defeated by Ramos, even though Estrada himself won the vice president's election. A former actor known for tough guy roles in over 100 films, Estrada cultivated a street fighter image that later played well electorally in his populist pitches to stand up for the 'downtrodden' masses. Estrada unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of San Juan, a district of Manila, in 1968 but was later installed after contesting the election. He served throughout the Marcos regime but was removed by an Aquino-sponsored anti-corruption drive in 1986. However, he successfully contested a senate seat in 1987 under his own party banner (the 'Party of the Filipino Masses'). Although Estrada was successful in his 1998 presidential campaign, largely fought on an anti-elitist platform, corruption allegations quickly surfaced. The refusal of Estrada's congressional allies to investigate the allegations (even refusing to open irrefutable evidence) led to the second ESDA revolution in 2001, which saw Estrada removed from office and placed under house arrest on anti-corruption charges, where he remains. Although ESDA II was supported by influential political figures, including ex-presidents Aquino and Ramos, the action was heavily criticised by foreign governments (especially the US) who denounced it as a de facto coup. Estrada was replaced by his former vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who also won the 2004 presidential elections amid accusations of ballot fraud.
The Philippine local government system originates from the era of Spanish colonial occupation, insofar as the period was characterised by excessive centralisation under the authority of the Governor General in Manila. While decentralisation over the past half century has bequeathed the country its current system, its organic tier of barangay communal units (comparable to parishes) began under Spanish occupation with these arranged around recognisable neighbourhood entities coupled with church functions. The Filipino term barangay has been revived following the more colonial term barrio (common throughout the Latin world) and is named after the boats used by the first settlers on the island group, with each coastal settlement forming a council. Each barangay is headed by a barangay captain, who presides over the barangay council. The League of Barangays currently has 41,939 members and is the largest NGO in Filipino civil society. Barangays also have a separate youth council to oversee the provision of sporting and cultural activities for local youth.
The 1,600 municipalities are units recognised as towns under the four-yearly population audits used to classify the distinction between towns and cities. Each municipality is headed by an executive mayor, who alongside the vice mayor, eight councillors and the presidents of the youth council and the local barangay union forms the municipal council. All are elected to three-year terms and may not serve more than three consecutive terms.
The 177 recognised cities belonging to the League of Philippine Cities are regarded as belonging to the same sub-tier as the municipalities but are given more central government subsidy to fulfil their duties. Though they have the same governance arrangements as the municipalities, a number are awarded further distinctions by Congress in view of their large populations. As such, they are denoted as charter cities and fall into two classification groups for purposes of self-government - chartered cities and component cities. Chartered cities, which include a number regarded as Highly Urbanised Cities, are accorded significant powers of self-government and individual representation as congressional districts (which are otherwise based on provincial boundaries), while component cities are recognised only as titular cities. Three metropolitan areas exist in the Philippines, including the National Capital Region Manila, which consists of the city of Manila and 16 neighbouring cities, including Quezon (the largest in the country). The Manila Metropolitan Development Agency is a division of central government, with a chairman appointed by the president. The current mayor of the city of Manila is Jose "Lito" L. Atienza, currently on his third and final term, who oversees a city council consisting of the vice mayor and 36 elected councillors (six from each congressional district).
The province is however, the primary unit of local government in the Philippines, of which there are 79 in number (as well as the National Capital Region). Provinces are largely modelled on the three branches of central government, with an elected executive governor and their vice presiding over the provincial legislature. Similar to the sub-tier, there is ex-officio representation for barangay and youth council provincial presidents. The provinces are given presidential oversight through the Department of Interior and Local Government and grouped into 17 regions for administrative purposes at central government level. Two regions have political jurisdiction as recognised autonomous groupings of provinces, namely the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the south west (adjacent to Malaysia) and the Cordillera Administrative Region of the indiginous Igorot in the north.
The 1987 constitutional settlement and the role of local government itself is currently under debate, with a presidential Constitutional Commission set up to deliberate revisions to the constitution and local government code. 'ConCom', which reported to the president in December 2005, has proposed shifting to a parliamentary form of government, the creation of autonomous territories and the strengthening of local autonomy. Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento of Calbayog City and Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez of San Fernando City, Pampanga were the League of Cities representatives on the commission.
Data Source: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
web: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/
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