Provinces of the Philippines

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The provinces of the Philippines (Filipino: Mga Lalawigan ng Pilipinas) are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 81 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are independent of any provincial government. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and by an elected governor.

The provinces are grouped into 17 regions based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics. Fourteen of these regions are designated with numbers corresponding to their geographic location in order from north to south. The National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao do not have numerical designations.

Each province is a member of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, an organization which aims to address issues affecting provincial and metropolitan government administrations.[1]

Government

A provincial government is autonomous of other provinces within the Republic. Each province is governed by two main elected branches of the government: executive and legislative. Judicial affairs are separated from provincial governance and are administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Executive

The provincial governor is chief executive and head of each province. Elected to a term of three years and limited to three consecutive terms, he or she appoints the directors of each provincial department which include the office of administration, engineering office, information office, legal office, and treasury office.

Legislative

The vice-governor acts as the president for each Sangguniáng Panlalawigan (SP; "Provincial Board"), the province's legislative body. Every SP is composed of regularly elected members from provincial districts, as well as ex officio members. The number of regularly elected SP members allotted to each province is determined by its income class. First- and second-class provinces are provided ten regular SP members; third- and fourth-class provinces have eight, while fifth- and sixth-class provinces have six. Exceptions are provinces with more than five congressional districts, such as Cavite with 14 regularly elected SP members, and Cebu, Negros Occidental and Pangasinan which have twelve each.

Every SP has designated seats for ex officio members, given to the respective local presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), Philippine Councilors' League (PCL), and Sangguniáng Kabataan (SK; "Youth Council").

The vice-governor and regular members of an SP are elected by the voters within the province. Ex officio members are elected by members of their respective organisations.

Relation to other levels of government

National government

National intrusion into the affairs of each provincial government is limited by the Philippine Constitution. The President of the Philippines however coordinates with provincial administrators through the Department of the Interior and Local Government. For purposes of national representation, each province is guaranteed its own congressional district. One congressional representative represents each district in the House of Representatives. Senatorial representation is elected at an at-large basis and not apportioned through territory-based districts.

Cities and municipalities

Those classified as either "highly urbanized" or "independent component" cities are independent from the province, as provided for in Section 29 of the Local Government Code of 1991.[2] Although such a city is a self-governing first-level entity, in many cases it is often presented as part of the province in which it is geographically located, or in the case of Zamboanga City, the province it last formed part the congressional representation of.

Local government units classified as "component" cities and municipalities are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. In order to make sure that all component city or municipal governments act within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions, the Local Government Code mandates the provincial governor to review executive orders issued by mayors, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to review legislation by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) or Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council), of all component cities and municipalities under the province's jurisdiction.[2]

Barangays

The provincial government does not have direct relations with individual barangays. Supervision over a barangay government is the mandate of the mayor and the Sanggunian of the component city or municipality of which the barangay in question is a part.[2]

Classification

Provinces are classified according to average annual income based on the previous 4 calendar years. Effective July 29, 2008, the thresholds for the income classes for cities are:[3]

Class Average annual income
First ₱450 million or more
Second ₱360 million or more but less than ₱450 million
Third ₱270 million or more but less than ₱360 million
Fourth ₱180 million or more but less than ₱270 million
Fifth ₱90 million or more but less than ₱180 million
Sixth below ₱90 million

A province's income class determines the size of the membership of its Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and also how much it can spend on certain items, or procure through certain means.[2]

Map

Note: The map presents independent cities outside of Metro Manila as part of provinces, despite being self-governing units themselves.

List of provinces

For a list of provinces with independent cities presented separately, see List of primary local government units of the Philippines.
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Province ISO
code[4]		 Capital Founded 1 Region Population
(2010)[5]		 Area
(km²)[6]		 Population
density
(per km²)		 No.
of
Municipalities		 No.
of
Cities		 No.
of
Barangays
Abra PH-ABR Bangued Mar 10, 1917 CAR 234,733 4,165.25 56.4 27 - 303
Agusan del Norte[7] PH-AGN Cabadbaran[8] Jun 17, 1967 Region XIII 642,196 3,546.86 181.1 10 2 252
Agusan del Sur PH-AGS Prosperidad Jun 17, 1967 Region XIII 656,418 9,989.52 65.7 13 1 314
Aklan PH-AKL Kalibo Apr 25, 1956 Region VI 535,725 1,821.42 294.1 17 - 327
Albay PH-ALB Legazpi Mar 10, 1917 Region V 1,233,432 2,575.77 478.9 15 3 720
Antique PH-ANT San Jose
de Buenavista 		Mar 10, 1917 Region VI 546,031 2,729.17 200.1 18 - 590
Apayao PH-APA Kabugao[9] Feb 14, 1995 CAR 112,636 4,413.35 25.5 7 - 133
Aurora PH-AUR Baler Aug 13, 1979 Region III 201,233 3,147.32 63.9 8 - 151
Basilan[10] PH-BAS Isabela Dec 27, 1973 ARMM[11] 391,179 1,379.02[12] 283.7 11 2 255
Bataan PH-BAN Balanga 1754 Region III 687,482 1,372.98 500.7 11 1 237
Batanes PH-BTN Basco 1909 Region II 16,604 219.01 75.8 6 - 29
Batangas PH-BTG Batangas City Dec 8, 1581 Region IV-A 2,377,395 3,119.72 762.1 31 3 1,078
Benguet[13] PH-BEN La Trinidad Jun 16, 1966 CAR 722,620 2,826.59 255.7 13 1 269
Biliran PH-BIL Naval May 11, 1992 Region VIII 161,760 536.01 301.8 8 - 132
Bohol PH-BOH Tagbilaran 1854 Region VII 1,255,128 4,820.95 260.3 47 1 1,109
Bukidnon PH-BUK Malaybalay Mar 10, 1917 Region X 1,299,192 10,498.59 123.7 20 2 464
Bulacan PH-BUL Malolos Aug 15, 1578 Region III 2,924,433 2,796.10 1045.9 21 3 569
Cagayan PH-CAG Tuguegarao 1581 Region II 1,124,773 9,295.75 121 28 1 820
Camarines Norte PH-CAN Daet Mar 10, 1917 Region V 542,915 2,320.07 234 12 - 282
Camarines Sur[14] PH-CAS Pili Mar 10, 1917 Region V 1,822,371 5,497.03 331.5 35 2 1,063
Camiguin PH-CAM Mambajao Jun 18, 1966 Region X 83,807 237.95 352.2 5 - 58
Capiz PH-CAP Roxas Mar 10, 1917 Region VI 719,685 2,594.64 277.4 16 1 473
Catanduanes PH-CAT Virac Sep 26, 1945 Region V 246,300 1,492.16 165.1 11 - 315
Cavite PH-CAV Imus[15] 1614 Region IV-A 3,090,691 1,574.17 1963.4 17 6 829
Cebu[16] PH-CEB Cebu City[17] Apr 27, 1565 Region VII 4,167,320 5,342.00 780.1 44 9 1,203
Compostela Valley PH-COM Nabunturan Jan 31, 1998 Region XI 687,195 4,479.77 153.4 11 - 237
Cotabato PH-NCO Kidapawan May 8, 1967 Region XII 1,226,508 9,008.90 136.1 17 1 543
Davao del Norte PH-DAV Tagum May 8, 1967 Region XI 945,764 3,426.97 276 8 3 223
Davao del Sur[18] PH-DAS Digos May 8, 1967 Region XI 2,024,206 4,607.59 439.3 9 2 414
Davao Occidental Malita Oct 28, 2013 Region XI 293,780 2,163.45 135.8 5 - 105
Davao Oriental PH-DAO Mati May 8, 1967 Region XI 517,618 5,679.64 91.1 10 1 183
Dinagat Islands PH-DIN San Jose Dec 2, 2006 Region XIII 126,803 1,036.34 122.4 7 - 100
Eastern Samar PH-EAS Borongan Jun 19, 1965 Region VIII 428,877 4,660.47 92 22 1 597
Guimaras PH-GUI Jordan May 22, 1992 Region VI 162,943 604.57 269.5 5 - 98
Ifugao PH-IFU Lagawe Jun 18, 1966 CAR 191,078 2,628.21 72.7 11 - 175
Ilocos Norte PH-ILN Laoag 1818 Region I 568,017 3,467.89 163.8 21 2 557
Ilocos Sur PH-ILS Vigan 1572 Region I 658,587 2,596.00 253.7 32 2 768
Iloilo[19] PH-ILI Iloilo City[17] 1566 Region VI 2,230,195 5,079.17 439.1 42 2 1,901
Isabela[20] PH-ISA Ilagan May 1, 1856 Region II 1,489,645 12,414.93 120 34 3 1,055
Kalinga PH-KAL Tabuk Feb 14, 1995 CAR 201,613 3,231.25 62.4 7 1 152
La Union PH-LUN San Fernando Mar 2, 1850 Region I 741,906 1,497.70 495.4 19 1 576
Laguna PH-LAG Santa Cruz Jul 28, 1571 Region IV-A 2,669,847 1,917.85 1392.1 24 6 674
Lanao del Norte[21] PH-LAN Tubod Jul 4, 1959 Region X 930,738 4,159.94 223.7 22 1 506
Lanao del Sur PH-LAS Marawi Jul 4, 1959 ARMM 933,260 3,872.89[22] 241 39 1 1,159
Leyte[23] PH-LEY Tacloban[17] Mar 10, 1917 Region VIII 1,789,158 6,515.05 274.6 40 3 1,641
Maguindanao[24] PH-MAG Shariff Aguak Nov 22, 1973 ARMM 1,216,504 6,146.53[25] 197.9 36 1 545
Marinduque PH-MAD Boac Feb 21, 1920 Region IV-B 227,828 952.58 239.2 6 - 218
Masbate PH-MAS Masbate City Mar 10, 1917 Region V 834,650 4,151.78 201 20 1 550
Misamis Occidental PH-MSC Oroquieta Nov 8, 1929 Region X 567,642 2,055.22 276.2 14 3 490
Misamis Oriental[26] PH-MSR Cagayan de Oro[17] Nov 8, 1929 Region X 1,415,944 3,544.32 399.5 23 3 504
Mountain Province PH-MOU Bontoc 1908 CAR 154,187 2,157.38 71.5 10 - 144
Negros Occidental[27] PH-NEC Bacolod[17] 1890 Region VI 2,907,859 7,965.21 365.1 19 13 662
Negros Oriental PH-NER Dumaguete Mar 10, 1917 Region VII 1,286,666 5,385.53 238.9 20 6 557
Northern Samar PH-NSA Catarman Jun 19, 1965 Region VIII 589,013 3,692.93 159.5 24 - 569
Nueva Ecija PH-NUE Palayan[28] 1705 Region III 1,955,373 5,751.33 340 27 5 849
Nueva Vizcaya PH-NUV Bayombong 1839 Region II 421,355 3975.67 106 15 - 275
Occidental Mindoro PH-MDC Mamburao Jun 13, 1950 Region IV-B 452,971 5,865.71 77.2 11 - 162
Oriental Mindoro PH-MDR Calapan Jun 13, 1950 Region IV-B 785,602 4,238.38 185.4 14 1 426
Palawan[29] PH-PLW Puerto Princesa[17] Mar 10, 1917 Region IV-B 994,340 17,030.75 58.4 23 1 433
Pampanga[30] PH-PAM San Fernando Dec 11, 1571 Region III 2,340,355 2,062.47 1134.7 19 3 538
Pangasinan[31] PH-PAN Lingayen 1580 Region I 2,779,862 5,451.01 510 44 4 1,364
Quezon[32] PH-QUE Lucena[17] Mar 2, 1901 Region IV-A 1,987,030 9,069.60 219.1 39 2 1,242
Quirino PH-QUI Cabarroguis Jun 18, 1966 Region II 176,786 2,323.47 76.1 6 - 132
Rizal PH-RIZ Antipolo[33] Jun 11, 1901 Region IV-A 2,484,840 1,191.94 2084.7 13 1 188
Romblon PH-ROM Romblon Mar 10, 1917 Region IV-B 283,930 1,533.45 185.2 17 - 219
Samar PH-WSA Catbalogan Jun 19, 1965 Region VIII 733,377 6,048.03 121.3 24 2 951
Sarangani PH-SAR Alabel Mar 16, 1992 Region XII 498,904 3,601.25 138.5 7 - 141
Siquijor PH-SIG Siquijor Sep 17, 1971 Region VII 91,066 337.49 269.8 6 - 134
Sorsogon PH-SOR Sorsogon City Oct 17, 1894 Region V 740,743 2,119.01 349.6 14 1 541
South Cotabato[34] PH-SCO Koronadal Jun 18, 1966 Region XII 1,365,286 4,428.81 308.3 10 2 225
Southern Leyte PH-SLE Maasin May 22, 1959 Region VIII 399,137 1,798.61 221.9 18 1 500
Sultan Kudarat PH-SUK Isulan Nov 22, 1973 Region XII 747,087 5,298.34 141 11 1 249
Sulu PH-SLU Jolo Mar 10, 1917 ARMM 718,290 1,600.40[35] 448.8 19 - 410
Surigao del Norte PH-SUN Surigao Jun 16, 1960 Region XIII 442,588 1,972.93 224.3 20 1 335
Surigao del Sur PH-SUR Tandag Jun 16, 1960 Region XIII 561,219 4,932.70 113.8 17 2 309
Tarlac PH-TAR Tarlac City 1872 Region III 1,273,240 3,053.60 417 17 1 511
Tawi-Tawi PH-TAW Bongao[36] Sep 11, 1973 ARMM 366,550 1,087.40[37] 337.1 11 - 203
Zambales[38] PH-ZMB Iba 1578 Region III 755,621 3,830.83 197.2 13 1 247
Zamboanga del Norte PH-ZAN Dipolog Jun 6, 1952 Region IX 957,997 7,301.00 131.2 25 2 691
Zamboanga del Sur[39] PH-ZAS Pagadian Jun 6, 1952 Region IX 1,766,814 5,914.16 298.7 26 2 779
Zamboanga Sibugay PH-ZSI Ipil Feb 22, 2001 Region IX 584,685 3,607.75 162.1 16 - 389
Metro Manila PH-00 Manila
(Regional center)		 -- NCR 11,855,975 638.55 18567 1 16 1,706

NOTES:

Etymologies

History

When the United States acquired the Philippines from Spain in 1898, the islands were divided into four gobiernos (governments), which were further subdivided into provinces and districts. The American administration initially inherited the Spanish divisions and placed them under military government. As insurgencies were pacified, civil government was gradually organized.

Formally proposed provinces

Note: This section lists only those proposals that reached the stage where legislation was enacted for the purpose of establishing a province or sub-province, but never achieved corporate existence.

Former provinces

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About the League of Provinces". League of Provinces of the Philippines. Retrieved 2008-01-12
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Republic Act No. 7160 - Local Government Code of 1991
  3. ↑ http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/articles/DepOrderReclass.pdf
  4. ↑ "ISO 3166-2 Newsletter: Changes in the list of subdivision names and code elements" (PDF). ISO (International Organization for Standardization). 30 June 2010. pp. 56–58. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "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 15 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Butuan.
  8. ↑ Cabadbaran has been made the official capital of the province, as per Republic Act No. 8811. However, the seat of the provincial government is still in the process of being transferred from Butuan, where the provincial government still holds office.
  9. ↑ The province maintains another government center in Luna, where many national and provincial agencies now hold office. Philippine Information Agency - Apayao gov't center established in Luna
  10. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Isabela.
  11. ↑ The city of Isabela is served by the offices of Region IX.
  12. ↑ Province of Basilan: Land Area
  13. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Baguio.
  14. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Naga.
  15. ↑ The provincial government of Cavite makes it clear that Imus City is the provincial capital, while the seat of the provincial government is Trece Martires City. Official Website of the Province of Cavite - Quick Facts Imus is capital of Cavite — Maliksi
  16. ↑ Figures include the independent cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Because the provincial government holds office within an independent city, in effect the province maintains the seat of its government outside its jurisdiction.
  18. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Davao.
  19. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Iloilo.
  20. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Santiago.
  21. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Iligan.
  22. ↑ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Lanao del Sur (The value given at NSCB is unreasonable and must be assumed as erroneous, see Talk:Lanao del Sur#Area.)
  23. ↑ Figures include the independent cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
  24. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Cotabato.
  25. ↑ Provincial Government of Maguindanao: Brief Profile (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 972,904 ha (NSCB); 6,565 km² (Historical Dictionary of the Philippines); 5,176.1 km² (NAMRIA))
  26. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Cagayan de Oro.
  27. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Bacolod.
  28. ↑ The provincial government still uses and maintains facilities in the former capital, Cabanatuan.
  29. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Puerto Princesa.
  30. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Angeles.
  31. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Dagupan.
  32. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Lucena.
  33. ↑ The provincial government has already transferred its operations to Antipolo from Pasig, although no legislation on the national level has been enacted yet recognizing the new capital. Yehey! News - Board wants Antipolo officially named capital of Rizal
  34. ↑ Figures include the independent city of General Santos.
  35. ↑ Province of Sulu: Brief Profile (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 343,699 ha (NSCB 2007), 175,460 ha (NSCB 2000), 167,377 ha (NAMRIA))
  36. ↑ The National Statistical Coordination Board recognizes both Bongao and Panglima Sugala as capitals of the province. However, the provincial capitol is located in Bongao, the de facto seat of government.
  37. ↑ Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Tawi-Tawi (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 362,655 ha (NSCB 2007), 120,876 ha (NAMRIA), 1,197 km² (Department of Tourism), 999 km² (Mapcentral))
  38. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Olongapo.
  39. ↑ Figures include the independent city of Zamboanga.
  40. ↑ "Philippines-Archipelago, Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Specific information on the division of Leyte provided by David A. Short, webmaster of Philippines-Archipelago, which was updated accordingly after indirectly obtaining a copy of the text of Act No. 3117 from the Legislative Library, House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-05-17
  41. ↑ Republic Act No. 5999, Chan-Robles Law Library.
  42. ↑ Republic Act No. 6406. Chan-Robles Law Library.
  43. ↑ Republic Act No. 7891
  44. ↑ Republic Act No. 9495
  45. ↑ Republic Act No. 8811, Republic Act No. 8811.
  46. ↑ Batas Pambansa Blg. 885
  47. ↑ G.R. No. 73155 - Tan v. COMELEC and the Provincial Treasurer of Negros Occidental
  48. ↑ Republic Act No. 9054, Chan-Robles Law Library.
  49. ↑ G.R. No. 177597 - Sema v. COMELEC, Supreme Court of the Philippines.

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