Western Visayas

Western Visayas
Region VI
Region
From top, left to right: Calle Real in Iloilo City; Roca Encantada House in Guimaras; Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan; The Ruins in Negros Occidental

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°35′N 122°35′E / 10.58°N 122.58°E / 10.58; 122.58Coordinates: 10°35′N 122°35′E / 10.58°N 122.58°E / 10.58; 122.58
Country Philippines
Island group Visayas
Regional center Iloilo City
Area
 • Total 12,828.97 km2 (4,953.29 sq mi)
Population (2015 census)[1]
 • Total 4,477,247
 • Density 350/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+8)
ISO 3166 code PH-06
Provinces
Cities
Municipalities 95
Barangays 3,389
Cong. districts 16
Languages

Western Visayas (Hiligaynon: Kabisay-an Nakatundan; Filipino: Kanlurang Kabisayaan) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces: (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental) and two highly urbanized cities (Iloilo City, which serves as the sole regional center[2], and Bacolod City). The region is dominated by the native speakers of five Visayan languages: Hiligaynon, Aklanon, Capiznon, Kinaray-a, and Cebuano. The land area of the region is 12,828.97 km2 (4,953.29 sq mi), and with a population of 4,477,247 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the Visayas.

On May 29, 2015, the region was redefined, when Region VI both lost the province of Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod to the newly formed Negros Island Region, However the region was dissolved and the province was returned to Region VI as of August 9, 2017.

History

Regions first came into existence on September 24 of 1972, when the provinces of the Philippines were organized into 11 regions by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan by President Ferdinand Marcos. The provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo (including its then-subprovince of Guimaras) and Negros Occidental were grouped together to form the Western Visayas region.

The province of Palawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005 by Executive Order 429.[3] The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed.[4] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI.[5] Hence, Palawan is currently still part of Region IV-B.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29 of 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City, were both removed from Western Visayas in order to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros Oriental.[6] But later regained Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City back into Western Visayas on August 9, 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management.[7]

Geography

Political Map of Western Visayas Region

Western Visayas consists of the major island of Panay and the smaller Guimaras, as well as several outlying islands. The region is bordered to the north by the Sibuyan Sea, northeast by the Visayan Sea, east by the Guimaras Strait, south by the Iloilo Strait and the Panay Gulf, and west by the Sulu Sea.

Administrative divisions

Western Visayas consists of 6 provinces, 2 highly urbanized cities, 14 component cities, 117 municipalities and 4,051 barangays.

Province or HUC Capital Population (2015)[1] Area[8] Density Cities Muni. Bgy.
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Aklan Kalibo 12.8% 574,823 1,821.42 703.25 320 830 0 17 327
Antique San Jose de Buenavista 13.0% 582,012 2,729.17 1,053.74 210 540 0 18 590
Capiz Roxas 17.0% 761,384 2,594.64 1,001.80 290 750 1 16 473
Guimaras Jordan 3.9% 174,613 604.57 233.43 290 750 0 5 98
Iloilo Iloilo City 43.3% 1,936,423 5,000.83 1,930.83 390 1,000 1 42 1,721
Negros Occidental Bacolod 56.6% 2,497,261 7,802.54 3,012.58 320 830 12 19 601
Iloilo City † — 10.0% 447,992 78.34 30.25 5,700 15,000 — — 180
Bacolod City † — 12.5% 561,875 162.67 62.81 3,500 9,100 — — 61
Total 7,536,383 20,794.18 8,028.68 220 570 3 117 4,051
  •  †  Iloilo City is a highly-urbanized city; figures are excluded from Iloilo province and Bacolod City Iloilo City is a highly-urbanized city; figures are excluded from Negros Occidental.
  • On 23 May 2005, Executive Order 429 ordered Palawan and the independent city of Puerto Princesa transferred from Region IV-B to Region VI.[5] But on 19 August 2005, Administrative Order 129 ordered the transfer held in abeyance.[3]

Demographics

Population census of
Western Visayas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 5,393,333—    
2000 6,211,038+1.42%
2010 7,102,438+1.35%
2015 4,477,247−8.41%
Data in 2015 excludes Negros Occidental and Bacolod.
Source: National Statistics Office[1][10]

Languages

Western Visayas Language Map. Negros Occidental and Bacolod not shown.

The native languages of Western Visayas are:

Transportation

Airports

International

Domestic

Municipal

Other

Rail

Proposals to re-connect again Iloilo-Roxas, Iloilo-Kalibo, Iloilo-Malay (Aklan) and Iloilo-San Jose (Antique) from the Iloilo City via rail was included in the revival of the currently defunct Panay Railways network which has a station in Santa Barbara town proper.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "History of Urban Growth of Iloilo City". Iloilo City Government. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  3. 1 2 President of the Philippines. "Executive order No. 429". Office of the Press Secretary.
  4. ↑ "Palawan, Puerto Princesa Transfer to Region VI" (Press release). Government of the Philippines - News. 3 June 2005.
  5. 1 2 President of the Philippines (August 19, 2005). "Administrative Order No. 129". Office of the Press Secretary. Archived from the original on 2006-07-13.
  6. ↑ "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region". Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  8. ↑ "PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "PSGC Interactive; List of Cities". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Salvilla, Rex S. (July 28, 2006). "Anything Under the Sun: Panay Railways". The News Today. TNT Publishing, Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
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