Central Luzon

Region III
Central Luzon
Region
Nickname(s): Rice Granary of the Philippines

Location in the Philippines
Country Philippines
Island group Luzon
Regional center San Fernando, Pampanga
Area
 • Total 21,543 km2 (8,318 sq mi)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 10,137,737
 • Density 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ISO 3166 code PH-03
Provinces 7
Cities 14
Municipalities 116
Barangays 3,102
Cong. districts 20
Languages Tagalog, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Ilocano, Sambal, English, others

Coordinates: 15°28′N 120°45′E / 15.467°N 120.750°E

Central Luzon (Filipino: Gitnáng Luzon, also known as Region III), is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon (the largest island), for administrative convenience. The region contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Granary of the Philippines". Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.[2]

Overview

Central Luzon Region is located north of Manila, the nation's capital. Bordering it are the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to the north; National Capital Region, CALABARZON and the waters of Manila Bay to the south; South China Sea to the west; and the Philippine Sea to the east.[3]

There are fourteen cities which include: Balanga in Bataan; Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija; Angeles, Mabalacat and San Fernando in Pampanga; Tarlac in Tarlac; and Olongapo in Zambales. Central Luzon produces the most rice in the whole country. Excess rice is delivered and imported to other provinces of the Philippines.[4]

The City of San Fernando, in Pampanga, is the regional center.

Aurora was transferred from Region IV by Executive Order No. 103.[5]

Demographics

Population census of Central Luzon
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 6,338,590—    
2000 8,204,742+2.61%
2010 10,137,737+2.14%
Source: National Statistics Office[1]

Religion

Eighty percent of the population of Central Luzon is Roman Catholic. Other religions represented are Protestants (including Evangelicals), Islam, and Iglesia Ni Cristo. In this region also where the Members Church of God International (also known by many as Ang Dating Daan) headquarters is located in Apalit, Pampanga where most members are. There are also other denominations such as Jesus Is Lord, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ, Jesus Miracle Crusade, United Methodist Church and others.

Political Divisions

Region 3 is composed of 7 provinces, 14 cities, 116 municipalities, 3,102 barangays[6]

Provinces

Political map of Central Luzon
Province Capital No. of
Cities 		Area
(km²) 		Population
(2000) 		Population
(2007) 		Population
(2010)[7] 		Governor
Aurora Baler 0 3,147.32 173,797 187,802 201,233 Gerardo A. Noveras
Bataan Balanga City 1 1,372.98 557,659 662,153 687,482 Enrique T. Garcia Jr.
Bulacan City of Malolos 3 2,774.85 2,234,088 2,826,936 2,924,433 Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado
Nueva Ecija Palayan City 5 5,751.33 1,659,883 1,853,853 1,955,373 Aurelio M. Umali
Pampanga City of San Fernando 3 1,984.72 1,882,730 1,911,951 2,014,019 Lilia Pineda
Tarlac Tarlac City 1 2,736.64 1,068,783 1,243,449 1,273,240 Victor Yap
Zambales Iba 1 3,529.40 433,538 493,085 534,443 Jun Ebdane

Cities

The Central Luzon Region has fourteen cities. San Jose del Monte is the city with the most population while Meycauayan is the most densely populated city in the region. Tarlac City is the largest based on land area

City Province City Class Income Class Area
(km²) 		Population
(2010)[7] 		Density
(/km²)
Angeles City Pampanga Highly Urbanized 1st Class 60.27 326,336 5,414.6
Balanga City Bataan Component 4th Class 111.63 87,920 787.6
Cabanatuan City Nueva Ecija Component 1st Class 192.29 272,676 1,418
Malolos City Bulacan Component 1st Class 77.25 234,945 3,041.4
City of San Fernando Pampanga Component 1st Class 67.74 285,912 4,220.7
Gapan City Nueva Ecija Component 4th Class 164.44 101,488 617.2
Mabalacat City Pampanga Component 1st Class 83.18 215,610 2,592.09
Meycauayan City Bulacan Component 1st Class 32.10 199,154 6,204.2
Olongapo City Zambales Highly Urbanized 1st Class 185.00 221,178 1,195.6
Palayan City Nueva Ecija Component 5th Class 101.40 37,219 367.1
San Jose City Nueva Ecija Component 2nd Class 185.99 129,424 695.9
San Jose del Monte City Bulacan Component 1st Class 165.10 454,553 2,753.2
Science City of Muñoz Nueva Ecija Component 4th Class 163.05 75,462 462.8
Tarlac City Tarlac Component 1st Class 274.66 318,332 1,159

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Central Luzon, Region III, Philippines". flagspot.net.
  3. ↑ "Region III, Central Luzon, Geographical Location". evis.net.ph.
  4. ↑ "REGION III (Central Luzon)". National Statistical Coordination Board.
  5. ↑ "EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 103, December 24, 1986". Supreme Court E-Library.
  6. ↑ "List of Regions". National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality Region III - Central Luzon: 1990, 2000, and 2010". 2010 Census of Population and Housing. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 14 June 2012.

External links

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