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Provinces of the Philippines

Categor Province

Locatio Philippines

Found i Administrative and autonomous

regions
n

Number 81 (as of 2020)

Populati 17,246–4,632,359

ons

Areas 219.01–17,030.75 km2 (84.56–

6,575.61 sq mi)
Govern Provincial government

ment

Subdivis Municipalities and component

cities
ions

Philippines

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In the Philippines, provinces (Tagalog: lalawigan or probinsya) are one of its primary political and administrative divisions. There

are 81 provinces at present, which are further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The local government units in
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 an elected governor.
The provinces are grouped into seventeen regions based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics. Thirteen of
these regions are numerically designated from north to south, while the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative
Region, the Southwestern Tagalog Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are only designated by
acronyms.
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]

Contents

 1Government
 2List
 3Etymologies
 4History
 5Formally proposed/renamed provinces
 6See also
 7References
 8External links

Government[edit]
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. Each province has at least one branch of a Regional Trial Court.

Executive[edit]
Main article: List of current Philippine provincial governors
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[edit]
Main article: Sangguniang Panlalawigan
The vice governor acts as the president for each Sangguniang 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 16 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 Sangguniang 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[edit]

National government [edit]
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 [edit]

Main articles: Cities of the Philippines and Municipalities of the Philippines
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.  Although such a city is a self-governing second-level entity, in many cases it
[2]

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[edit]
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 [edit]
Provinces based on income 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][needs update]

Class Average annual income

First ₱450 million or more

Secon
₱360 million or more but less than ₱450 million
d

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]

List[edit]
For a list of provinces with independent cities presented separately, see List of primary local government units of the Philippines.
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Abra Bangued 0.2 241,160 4,165.25 km2 58/km2 1846 Luzon CAR 27 — 303

ABR % (1,608.21 sq mi) (150/sq mi)

PH- Agusan del Cabadbaran[ii] 0.7 691,566 3,546.86 km2 190/km2 20 Sep Mindana XIII 10 2 252

AGN Norte[i] [7]

% (1,369.45 sq mi) (490/sq mi) 1907 o

PH- Agusan del Sur Prosperidad 0.7 700,653 9,989.52 km2 70/km2 1 Jan 1970 Mindana XIII 13 1 314

AGS % (3,856.98 sq mi) (180/sq mi) [8]

o

PH- Aklan Kalibo 0.6 574,823 1,821.42 km2 320/km2 8 Nov Visayas VI 17 — 327

AKL % (703.25 sq mi) (830/sq mi) 1956

[9]

PH- Albay Legazpi 1.3 1,314,82 2,575.77 km2 510/km2 3 Apr Luzon V 15 3 720

ALB % 6 (994.51 sq mi) (1,300/sq mi 1574

) [10]

PH- Antique San Jose de 0.6 582,012 2,729.17 km2 210/km2 10 Mar Visayas VI 18 — 590

ANT Buenavista % (1,053.74 sq mi) (540/sq mi) 1917

PH- Apayao Kabugao[iii] 0.1 119,184 4,413.35 km2 27/km2 14 Feb Luzon CAR 7 — 133

APA % (1,704.00 sq mi) (70/sq mi) 1995

ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Aurora Baler 0.2 214,336 3,147.32 km2 68/km2 13 Aug Luzon III 8 — 151

AUR % (1,215.19 sq mi) (180/sq mi) 1979

PH- Basilan[iv] Lamitan[12] 0.5 459,367 1,327.23 km2 350/km2 27 Dec Mindana BARMM[v 11 2 255

BAS % (512.45 sq mi)[13] (910/sq mi) 1973 o ]

PH- Bataan Balanga 0.8 760,650 1,372.98 km2 550/km2 1754 Luzon III 11 1 237

BAN % (530.11 sq mi) (1,400/sq mi

PH- Batanes Basco 0.0 17,246 219.01 km2 79/km2 26 Jun Luzon II 6 — 29

BTN % (84.56 sq mi) (200/sq mi) 1783

[14]

PH- Batangas Batangas City 2.7 2,694,33 3,119.72 km2 860/km2 8 Dec Luzon IV-A 31 3 1,078

BTG % 5 (1,204.53 sq mi) (2,200/sq mi 1581

PH- Benguet[vi] La Trinidad 0.8 791,590 2,826.59 km2 280/km2 16 Jun Luzon CAR 13 1 269

BEN % (1,091.35 sq mi) (730/sq mi) 1966

PH- Biliran Naval 0.2 171,612 536.01 km2 320/km2 11 May Visayas VIII 8 — 132

BIL % (206.95 sq mi) (830/sq mi) 1992

ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Bohol Tagbilaran 1.3 1,313,56 4,820.95 km2 270/km2 22 Jul Visayas VII 47 1 1,109

BOH % 0 (1,861.38 sq mi) (700/sq mi) 1854

[15]

PH- Bukidnon Malaybalay 1.4 1,415,22 10,498.59 km2 130/km2 10 Mar Mindana X 20 2 464

BUK % 6 (4,053.53 sq mi) (340/sq mi) 1917 o

PH- Bulacan Malolos 3.3 3,292,07 2,796.10 km2 1,200/km2 15 Aug Luzon III 21 3 569

BUL % 1 (1,079.58 sq mi) (3,100/sq mi 1578

PH- Cagayan Tuguegarao 1.2 1,199,32 9,295.75 km2 130/km2 29 Jun Luzon II 28 1 820

CAG % 0 (3,589.11 sq mi) (340/sq mi) 1583

[16]

PH- Camarines Daet 0.6 583,313 2,320.07 km2 250/km2 15 Apr Luzon V 12 — 282

CAN Norte % (895.78 sq mi) (650/sq mi) 1920

[17]

PH- Camarines Pili 1.9 1,952,54 5,497.03 km2 360/km2 27 May Luzon V 35 2 1,063

CAS Sur[vii] % 4 (2,122.42 sq mi) (930/sq mi) 1579

[18]

PH- Camiguin Mambajao 0.1 88,478 237.95 km2 370/km2 18 Jun Mindana X 5 — 58

ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

CAM % (91.87 sq mi) (960/sq mi) 1966 o

PH- Capiz Roxas 0.8 761,384 2,594.64 km2 290/km2 10 Mar Visayas VI 16 1 473

CAP % (1,001.80 sq mi) (750/sq mi) 1917

PH- Catanduanes Virac 0.3 260,964 1,492.16 km2 170/km2 26 Sep Luzon V 11 — 315

CAT % (576.13 sq mi) (440/sq mi) 1945

PH- Cavite Imus[19] 3.6 3,678,30 1,574.17 km2 2,300/km2 10 Mar Luzon IV-A 17 6 829

CAV % 1 (607.79 sq mi) (6,000/sq mi 1614

) [20]

PH- Cebu[viii] Cebu City[21] 4.6 4,632,35 5,342.00 km2 870/km2 27 Apr Visayas VII 44 9 1,203

CEB % 9 (2,062.56 sq mi) (2,300/sq mi 1565

PH- Cotabato Kidapawan 1.4 1,379,74 9,008.90 km2 150/km2 1 Sep Mindana XII 17 1 543

NCO % 7 (3,478.36 sq mi) (390/sq mi) 1914 o

[22]

PH- Davao de Oro Nabunturan 0.7 736,107 4,479.77 km2 160/km2 31 Jan Mindana XI 11 — 237

COM % (1,729.65 sq mi) (410/sq mi) 1998 o

ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Davao del Tagum 1.0 1,016,33 3,426.97 km2 300/km2 8 May Mindana XI 8 3 223

DAV Norte % 2 (1,323.16 sq mi) (780/sq mi) 1967 o

PH- Davao del Sur[ix] Digos 2.2 2,265,57 4,607.59 km2 490/km2 1 Sep Mindana XI 9 2 414

DAS % 9 (1,779.00 sq mi) (1,300/sq mi 1914 o

PH- Davao Malita 0.3 316,342 2,163.45 km2 150/km2 28 Oct Mindana XI 5 — 105

DVO Occidental % (835.31 sq mi) (390/sq mi) 2013 o

PH- Davao Oriental Mati 0.6 558,958 5,679.64 km2 98/km2 8 May Mindana XI 10 1 183

DAO % (2,192.92 sq mi) (250/sq mi) 1967 o

PH- Dinagat Islands San Jose 0.1 127,152 1,036.34 km2 120/km2 2 Dec Mindana XIII 7 — 100

DIN % (400.13 sq mi) (310/sq mi) 2006 o

PH- Eastern Samar Borongan 0.5 467,160 4,660.47 km2 100/km2 19 Jun Visayas VIII 22 1 597

EAS % (1,799.42 sq mi) (260/sq mi) 1965

PH- Guimaras Jordan 0.2 174,613 604.57 km2 290/km2 22 May Visayas VI 5 — 98

GUI % (233.43 sq mi) (750/sq mi) 1992

PH- Ifugao Lagawe 0.2 202,802 2,628.21 km2 77/km2 18 Jun Luzon CAR 11 — 175
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

IFU % (1,014.76 sq mi) (200/sq mi) 1966

PH- Ilocos Norte Laoag 0.6 593,081 3,467.89 km2 170/km2 2 Feb Luzon I 21 2 557

ILN % (1,338.96 sq mi) (440/sq mi) 1818

PH- Ilocos Sur Vigan 0.7 689,668 2,596.00 km2 270/km2 1572 Luzon I 32 2 768

ILS % (1,002.32 sq mi) (700/sq mi)

PH- Iloilo[x] Iloilo City[21] 2.4 2,384,41 5,079.17 km2 470/km2 1566 Visayas VI 42 2 1,901

ILI % 5 (1,961.08 sq mi) (1,200/sq mi

PH- Isabela[xi] Ilagan 1.6 1,593,56 12,414.93 km2 130/km2 1 May Luzon II 34 3 1,055

ISA % 6 (4,793.43 sq mi) (340/sq mi) 1856

PH- Kalinga Tabuk 0.2 212,680 3,231.25 km2 66/km2 18 Jun Luzon CAR 7 1 152

KAL % (1,247.59 sq mi) (170/sq mi) 1966

PH- La Union San Fernando 0.8 786,653 1,497.70 km2 530/km2 2 Mar Luzon I 19 1 576

LUN % (578.27 sq mi) (1,400/sq mi 1850

PH- Laguna Santa Cruz 3.0 3,035,08 1,917.85 km2 1,600/km2 28 Jul Luzon IV-A 24 6 674
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

LAG % 1 (740.49 sq mi) (4,100/sq mi 1571

PH- Lanao del Tubod 1.0 1,019,01 4,159.94 km2 240/km2 4 Jul 1959 Mindana X 22 1 506

LAN Norte[xii] % 3 (1,606.16 sq mi) (620/sq mi) o

PH- Lanao del Sur Marawi 1.0 1,045,42 3,872.89 km2 270/km2 1 Sep Mindana BARMM 39 1 1,159

LAS % 9 (1,495.33 sq mi) (700/sq mi) 1914 o

[23]

PH- Leyte[xiii] Tacloban[21] 1.9 1,966,76 6,515.05 km2 300/km2 1735 Visayas VIII 40 3 1,641

LEY % 8 (2,515.47 sq mi) (780/sq mi)

PH- Maguindanao[xiv Buluan 1.5 1,473,37 6,146.53 km2 240/km2 22 Nov Mindana BARMM 36 1 545

MAG ]
% 1 (2,373.19 sq mi) (620/sq mi) 1973 o

[24]

PH- Marinduque Boac 0.2 234,521 952.58 km2 250/km2 21 Feb Luzon Mimaropa 6 — 218

MAD % (367.79 sq mi) (650/sq mi) 1920

PH- Masbate Masbate City 0.9 892,393 4,151.78 km2 210/km2 18 Mar Luzon V 20 1 550

MAS % (1,603.01 sq mi) (540/sq mi) 1901

[25]
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Misamis Oroquieta 0.6 602,126 2,055.22 km2 290/km2 8 Nov Mindana X 14 3 490

MSC Occidental % (793.52 sq mi) (750/sq mi) 1929 o

PH- Misamis Cagayan de 1.5 1,564,45 3,544.32 km2 440/km2 15 May Mindana X 23 3 504

MSR Oriental[xv] Oro[21] % 9 (1,368.47 sq mi) (1,100/sq mi 1901 o

PH- Mountain Bontoc 0.2 154,590 2,157.38 km2 72/km2 1846 Luzon CAR 10 — 144

MOU Province % (832.97 sq mi) (190/sq mi)

PH- Negros Bacolod[21] 3.0 3,059,13 7,965.21 km2 380/km2 1 Jan 1890 Visayas VI 19 13 662

NEC Occidental[xvi] % 6 (3,075.38 sq mi) (980/sq mi) [26]

PH- Negros Dumaguete 1.3 1,354,99 5,385.53 km2 250/km2 1 Jan 1890 Visayas VII 20 6 557

NER Oriental % 5 (2,079.36 sq mi) (650/sq mi) [27]

PH- Northern Catarman 0.6 632,379 3,692.93 km2 170/km2 19 Jun Visayas VIII 24 — 569

NSA Samar % (1,425.85 sq mi) (440/sq mi) 1965

PH- Nueva Ecija Palayan[xvii] 2.1 2,151,46 5,751.33 km2 370/km2 25 Apr Luzon III 27 5 849

NUE % 1 (2,220.60 sq mi) (960/sq mi) 1801

[28]
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Nueva Vizcaya Bayombong 0.4 452,287 3,975.67 km2 110/km2 24 May Luzon II 15 — 275

NUV % (1,535.01 sq mi) (280/sq mi) 1839

[29]

PH- Occidental Mamburao 0.5 487,414 5,865.71 km2 83/km2 15 Nov Luzon Mimaropa 11 — 162

MDC Mindoro % (2,264.76 sq mi) (210/sq mi) 1950

[30]

PH- Oriental Calapan 0.8 844,059 4,238.38 km2 200/km2 1663 Luzon Mimaropa 14 1 426

MDR Mindoro % (1,636.45 sq mi) (520/sq mi)

PH- Palawan[xviii] Puerto 1.1 1,104,58 17,030.75 km2 65/km2 23 Jan Luzon Mimaropa 23 1 433

PLW Princesa[21] % 5 (6,575.61 sq mi) (170/sq mi) 1902

PH- Pampanga[xix] San Fernando 2.6 2,609,74 2,062.47 km2 1,300/km2 11 Dec Luzon III 19 3 538

PAM % 4 (796.32 sq mi) (3,400/sq mi 1571

PH- Pangasinan[xx] Lingayen 2.9 2,956,72 5,451.01 km2 540/km2 5 Apr Luzon I 44 4 1,364

PAN % 6 (2,104.65 sq mi) (1,400/sq mi 1580

) [31]
ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Quezon[xxi] Lucena[21] 2.1 2,122,83 9,069.60 km2 230/km2 2 Mar Luzon IV-A 39 2 1,242

QUE % 0 (3,501.79 sq mi) (600/sq mi) 1901

PH- Quirino Cabarroguis 0.2 188,991 2,323.47 km2 81/km2 18 Jun Luzon II 6 — 132

QUI % (897.10 sq mi) (210/sq mi) 1966

PH- Rizal Antipolo 2.9 2,884,22 1,191.94 km2 2,400/km2 23 Feb Luzon IV-A 13 1 188

RIZ % 7 (460.21 sq mi) (6,200/sq mi 1853

PH- Romblon Romblon 0.3 292,781 1,533.45 km2 190/km2 16 Mar Luzon Mimaropa 17 — 219

ROM % (592.07 sq mi) (490/sq mi) 1901

[32]

PH- Samar Catbalogan 0.8 780,481 6,048.03 km2 130/km2 1768 Visayas VIII 24 2 951

WSA % (2,335.16 sq mi) (340/sq mi)

PH- Sarangani Alabel 0.5 544,261 3,601.25 km2 150/km2 16 Mar Mindana XII 7 — 141

SAR % (1,390.45 sq mi) (390/sq mi) 1992 o

PH- Siquijor Siquijor 0.1 95,984 337.49 km2 280/km2 17 Sep Visayas VII 6 — 134

SIG % (130.31 sq mi) (730/sq mi) 1971

ISO[4 Province Capital Population[5] Area[6] Density Founded[A Island Region Total LGUs

] ]
group

% (2015) Mun Cit Brgy.

. y

PH- Sorsogon Sorsogon City 0.8 792,949 2,119.01 km2 370/km2 17 Oct Luzon V 14 1 541

SOR % (818.15 sq mi) (960/sq mi) 1894

PH- South Koronadal 1.5 1,509,73 4,428.81 km2 340/km2 18 Jun Mindana XII 10 2 225

SCO Cotabato[xxii] % 5 (1,709.97 sq mi) (880/sq mi) 1966 o

PH- Southern Leyte Maasin 0.4 421,750 1,798.61 km2 230/km2 22 May Visayas VIII 18 1 500

SLE % (694.45 sq mi) (600/sq mi) 1959

PH- Sultan Kudarat Isulan 0.8 812,095 5,298.34 km2 150/km2 22 Nov Mindana XII 11 1 249

SUK % (2,045.70 sq mi) (390/sq mi) 1973 o

PH- Sulu Jolo 0.8 824,731 1,600.40 km2 520/km2 10 Mar Mindana BARMM 19 — 410

SLU % (617.92 sq mi)[33] (1,300/sq mi 1917 o

PH- Surigao del Surigao City 0.5 485,088 1,972.93 km2 250/km2 15 May Mindana XIII 20 1 335

SUN Norte % (761.75 sq mi) (650/sq mi) 1901 o

PH- Surigao del Sur Tandag 0.6 592,250 4,932.70 km2 120/km2 16 Jun Mindana XIII 17 2 309

SUR % (1,904.53 sq mi) (310/sq mi) 1960 o