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Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E

Central Visayas
Central Visayas (Cebuano: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an; Tagalog:
Gitnang Kabisayaan) is an administrative region in the Philippines, Central Visayas
numerically designated as Region VII. It consists of four provinces: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an

(Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor) and three highly urbanized Gitnang Kabisayaan

cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue). Region VII

Major islands are the eponymous Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, together with Region
the eastern part of Negros. The regional center and largest city is Cebu
City. The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan
languages: Cebuano, Bantayanon, Boholano, and Porohanon. The land
area of the region is 15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi), and with a population
of 8,081,988 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the
Visayas.

On May 29, 2015, the region was redefined, when Central Visayas (Region
VII) lost the province of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros
Island Region. However, the region was dissolved, with Negros Oriental
returned to Central Visayas on August 9, 2017.

Contents
Etymology
From upper-left to bottom-right: Sugar
History Beach Bantayan, Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral (Cebu); Balinsasayao Twin
Geography Lakes Natural Park (Negros Oriental);
Administrative divisions Chocolate Hills (Bohol); Salagdoong
Beach (Siquijor);
Demographics
Languages Nickname(s): Center of Christianity

Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of

Economy the Cebuanos)
Transportation
Ports
Airports
Mass media
References
External links

Etymology
The name of the region was mostly chosen by American colonists to denote
the centrality of the islands within the bigger Visayas area. There have been
proposals to rename the current Central Visayas region, which is
dominated by the Cebuano (Sugbuanon) ethnic group, to Sugbu region, the
former name of the region prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th
century. The name refers to the former kingdom of the region, the
Rajahnate of Cebu, or Sugbu in Cebuano.[2][3] Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E

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Country Philippines
History Island group Visayas
Regional Cebu City (pop.
Regions first came into existence on September 24, 1972, when the center 922,611)
provinces of the Philippines were organized into 11 regions by Presidential
Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan by President Area
Ferdinand Marcos. The provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental  • Total 15,895.66 km2
(6,137.35 sq mi)
(including its then-subprovince of Siquijor) were grouped together to form
Area rank 13th
the Central Visayas region.
Population (2020 census) [1]
By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by President  • Total 8,081,988
Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Oriental was removed from  • Rank 4th
Central Visayas to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros  • Density 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Occidental and its provincial capital, Bacolod.[4] But later Negros Oriental  • Density rank 3rd
and its capital, Dumaguete City back into Central Visayas on August 9, Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, ISO 3166 code PH-07
revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 by signing Executive Order No.
Provinces 4
38, citing lack of funds to fully establish the NIR, according to Benjamin
Diokno, then Secretary of Budget and Management.[5] Bohol
Cebu
Negros Oriental
Geography Siquijor
Cities 16
Central Visayas consists of the two major island provinces of Cebu and
Bais
Bohol, as well as the smaller island of Siquijor and several outlying islands.
Bayawan
It also includes the eastern half of the larger island of Negros. The straits of
Cebu and Tañon are also part of the region as well. The region is bordered Bogo
to the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the province of Negros Occidental Canlaon
in Western Visayas, south by the Bohol Sea, and east by the Camotes Sea Carcar
and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas. Cebu City
Danao
Dumaguete
Administrative divisions Guihulngan
Lapu-Lapu City
The Central Visayas region consists of four provinces and three Mandaue
independent cities: Naga
Tagbilaran
Talisay
Tanjay
Toledo
Municipalities 97
Barangays 2,446
Cong. 11
districts
Languages Cebuano · Boholano ·
Porohanon ·
Bantayanon · Filipino
· English

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Political map of Central Visayas

Province or
Capital Population (2015) [1] Area[6] Density Cities Muni. Barangay
HUC
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Bohol Tagbilaran 21.7% 1,313,560 4,820.95 1,861.38 270 700 1 47 1,109
Cebu Cebu City 48.6% 2,938,982 4,943.72 1,908.78 590 1,500 6 44 1,066
Negros
Dumaguete 30.7% 1,354,995 5,385.53 2,079.36 250 650 6 19 557
Oriental
Siquijor Siquijor 1.6% 95,984 337.49 130.31 280 730 0 6 134
Cebu
† — 15.3% 922,611 315.00 121.62 2,900 7,500 — — 80
City
Lapu-
† — 6.8% 408,112 58.10 22.43 7,000 18,000 — — 30
Lapu
Mandaue † — 6.0% 362,654 25.18 9.72 14,400 37,000 — — 27
Total 7,396,898 15,885.97 6,133.61 470 1,200 10 116 3,003

 †  Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Cebu province.

 †  Regional center

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Population Income
City Area Density City class Province
(2015) [1] class
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Negros
Bais 76,291 319.64 123.41 240 620 Component 3rd
Oriental
Negros
Bayawan 117,900 699.08 269.92 170 440 Component 2nd
Oriental
Bogo 78,120 103.52 39.97 750 1,900 Component 6th Cebu
Carcar 119,664 116.78 45.09 1,000 2,600 Component 5th Cebu
Highly
† Cebu City 922,611 315.00 121.62 2,900 7,500 1st Cebu
urbanized
Negros
Canlaon 54,509 170.93 66.00 320 830 Component 4th
Oriental
Danao 136,471 107.30 41.43 1,300 3,400 Component 3rd Cebu
Negros
Dumaguete 131,377 33.62 12.98 3,900 10,000 Component 2nd
Oriental
Negros
Guihulngan 95,969 388.56 150.02 250 650 Component 5th
Oriental
Highly
Lapu-Lapu 408,112 58.10 22.43 7,000 18,000 1st Cebu
urbanized
Highly
Mandaue 362,654 25.18 9.72 14,000 36,000 1st Cebu
urbanized
Naga 115,750 101.97 39.37 1,100 2,800 Component 3rd Cebu
Tagbilaran 105,051 36.50 14.09 2,900 7,500 Component 3rd Bohol
Talisay 227,645 39.87 15.39 5,900 15,000 Component 3rd Cebu
Negros
Tanjay 80,532 276.05 106.58 290 750 Component 4th
Oriental
Toledo 170,335 216.28 83.51 790 2,000 Component 3rd Cebu

Demographics
Population census of Central Visayas
Year Pop. ±% p.a. Year Pop. ±% p.a. Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1903 1,124,444 —     1970 3,032,719 +1.86% 2000 5,706,953 +2.81%
1918 1,485,976 +1.88% 1975 3,387,274 +2.24% 2007 6,400,698 +1.59%
1939 1,954,366 +1.31% 1980 3,787,374 +2.26% 2010 6,800,180 +2.23%
1948 2,119,975 +0.91% 1990 4,594,124 +1.95% 2015 7,396,898 +1.61%
1960 2,522,802 +1.46% 1995 5,014,588 +1.65% 2020 8,081,988 +1.76%
Data in 2015 includes Negros Oriental.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [1] [7] [8] [9]

According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 8,081,988. The population density was 770/km2
(2,000/sq  mi). The 2015 census showed an average annual population growth rate of 1.76% from 2010 to 2015,
slightly higher than the national average of 1.72%. [1]

Languages

The native languages of Central Visayas are:

Bantayanon, spoken in Bantayan Island of Cebu province.

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Boholano, a Cebuano dialect spoken in Bohol.

Cebuano, spoken in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor. It is the regional lingua franca.
Hiligaynon, spoken in western Negros Oriental.
Porohanon, spoken in Camotes Islands of Cebu province.

Economy
Poverty Incidence of Central Visayas

A panoramic view of Cebu City

Source: Philippine Statistics

Authority[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Transportation

Ports

The Port of Cebu is the region's main gateway. There are also ports in
Tagbilaran in Bohol, Larena in Siquijor, and Sibulan and Dumaguete, both in
Negros Oriental. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines,
two of them fastcraft companies which serve all the provinces in the region.

Airports

The Mactan–Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City, is the

country's second busiest airport (after Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Fastcraft terminal for ferrying
Metro Manila) and one of the only three airports in the Visayas serving passengers from Cebu to Negros
international flights (aside from Kalibo International Airport and Iloilo Island.
International Airport). It is the primary airline hub of Cebu Pacific, and
secondary hub for Philippine Airlines and its subsidiaries, with flights to
locations throughout the country. It also serves international flights to other
Asian and intercontinental destinations.[17]

Other airports in the region are Bohol-Panglao International Airport which

serves Tagbilaran and the rest of Bohol, and Sibulan Airport which serves
Dumaguete and the rest of Negros Oriental.

Mass media
Mactan–Cebu International Airport.
Cebu City is the main media hub for both the region. Large media networks –
ABS-CBN, GMA Network, TV5, People's Television Network, CNN Philippines,
and IBC 13 – maintain their respective local stations and branches for viewership, commercial and news coverage

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purposes. Most of these stations broadcast local news and public affairs as well as entertainment and dramas to
cater the local viewers.

Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Cebu City also has 20 local newspapers. Among the widely
read are Sun.Star Cebu, Cebu Daily News, and The Freeman. The country's main Islamic news journal, The Voice of
Islam, was founded in 1961 and published in this city.

References
1. Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (https://www.psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachme
nts/hsd/pressrelease/R07.xlsx). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved
June 20, 2016.
2. "Change in name will be good for Philippines" (http://opinion.inquirer.net/95645/change-name-will-good-philippin
es). Inquirer Opinion.
3. "Should the Philippines be renamed? Historian weighs in" (http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/13/17/should-the-p
hilippines-be-renamed-historian-weighs-in).
4. "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015" (https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/05/29/executive-order-no-183-s-20
15/). Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
5. "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region" (http://www.rappler.com/nation/178175-duterte-dissolves-negros-islan
d-region). Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
6. "PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces" (https://www.webcitation.org/6DpMOBTiK?url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/acti
vestats/psgc/listprov.asp). Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (http://www.nscb.gov.ph/acti
vestats/psgc/listprov.asp) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
7. Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its
Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrel
ease/Population%20and%20Annual%20Growth%20Rates%20for%20The%20Philippines%20and%20Its%20R
egions%2C%20Provinces%2C%20and%20Highly%20Urbanized%20Cities%20Based%20on%201990%2C%2
02000%2C%20and%202010%20Censuses.pdf) (PDF). NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
8. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/a
ttachments/hsd/pressrelease/Central%20Visayas.pd%66). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and
Barangay. NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
9. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (https://archive.org/download/PhilippinesC
ensusofPopulationLGUs19032007/Region%207%20Central%20Visayas%20Philippines%20Census%20of%20
Population%201903%20-%202007.xlsx). Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by
Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007 (https://archive.org/download/PhilippinesCensusofPopulationLGU
s19032007). NSO.
10. "Poverty incidence (PI):" (https://psa.gov.ph/content/poverty-incidence-pi). Philippine Statistics Authority.
Retrieved December 28, 2020.
11. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/NSCB_LocalPovertyPhilippines_0.pdf; publication date: 29 November 2005;
publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
12. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2009%20Poverty%20Statistics.pdf; publication date: 8 February 2011;
publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
13. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C
%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher:
Philippine Statistics Authority.
14. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C
%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher:
Philippine Statistics Authority.
15. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C
%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher:
Philippine Statistics Authority.
16. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Updated%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20T
publication date: 4 June 2020; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
17. "Mactan Cebu International Airport - Cebu Pacific - Philippines" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090806055453/
http://www.mactan-cebuairport.com.ph/). mactan–cebuairport.com.ph. Archived from the original (http://www.ma
ctan-cebuairport.com.ph/) on August 6, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2013.

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External links
Media related to Central Visayas at Wikimedia Commons
Central Visayas travel guide from Wikivoyage

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