Philcul 3

• According to Section 1, Article X of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines on Local Government, the territorial and political subdivisions of the Republic of the Philippines are the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays
• There shall be autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras
• The Congress shall enact a local government code that shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall, initiative, and referendum, allocate among the different local government units their powers, responsibilities, and resources, and provide for the qualifications, election, appointment and removal, term, salaries, powers and functions and duties of local officials, and all other matters relating to the organization and operation of the local units
• The President of the Philippines exercises general supervision over local governments
• Provinces with respect to component cities and municipalities, and cities and municipalities with respect to component barangays, shall ensure that the acts of their component units are within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions
• Autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras are created, consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritages, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics within the framework of the Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines
• The preservation of peace and order within the regions shall be the responsibility of the local police agencies, which shall be organized, maintained, supervised, and utilized following applicable laws
• The defense and security of the regions shall be the responsibility of the National Government
• As of October 2022, the Philippines is subdivided into 17 regions – eight (8) in Luzon (including the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and V), three (3) in the Visayas (Regions VI, VII, and VIII), and six (6) in Mindanao (Regions IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM))
• NCR is an administrative region in the Philippines occupying the central section of Luzon, where the capital of the Philippines, Manila City, is located
• The country has 82 provinces, 146 cities (33 highly urbanized cities [HUCs], 108 component cities, and five (5) independent component cities), 1,488 municipalities, and numerous barangays
• National Capital Region (NCR)

  Also known as Metropolitan Manila, it is the country's political, economic, and educational center
• Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)


  It is the only landlocked (almost or entirely surrounded by land) region of the Philippines, bordered by the Ilocos Region to the west and southwest and by the Cagayan Valley Region to the north, east, and southeast
• Provinces in CAR


  • Abra
  • Apayao
  • Benguet
  • Ifugao
  • Kalinga
  • Mountain Province
• Capitals of provinces in CAR

  • Bangued
  • Kabugao
  • La Trinidad
  • Lagawe
  • Tabuk
  • Bontoc
• Region I – Ilocos Region

  It is located on the Northern coast of Luzon. This region has a coast and sloping extents prone to typhoons in the wet months and devastatingly hot during the dry season
• Provinces in Region I

  • Ilocos Norte
  • Ilocos Sur
  • La Union
  • Pangasinan
• Capitals of provinces in Region I

  • Laoag
  • Vigan
  • San Fernando
  • Lingayen
• Region II – Cagayan Valley


  It is located in the northeastern region of Luzon, bounded to the west by the Cordillera Mountain Range and the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in the east
• Provinces in Region II

  • Batanes
  • Cagayan
  • Isabela
  • Nueva Vizcaya
  • Quirino
• Capitals of provinces in Region II

  • Basco
  • Tuguegarao
  • Ilagan
  • Bayombong
  • Cabarroguis
• Region III – Central Luzon


  It contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning the nickname "Rice Granary of the Philippines," specifically the province of Nueva Ecija
• Provinces in Region III

  • Aurora
  • Bataan
  • Bulacan
  • Nueva Ecija
  • Pampanga
  • Tarlac
  • Zambales
• Capitals of provinces in Region III

  • Baler
  • Balanga
  • Malolos
  • Palayan
  • San Fernando
  • Tarlac City
  • Iba
• Region IV-A – CALABARZON


  It is in southwestern Luzon, just south and east of Metro Manila. It is known as the industrial powerhouse of the Philippines, having an ample supply base of semi-processed industrial raw materials and components coming from world-class industrial estates and economic zones (ecozones)
• Provinces in Region IV-A

  • Batangas
  • Cavite
  • Laguna
  • Quezon
  • Rizal
• Capitals of provinces in Region IV-A

  • Batangas City
  • Imus
  • Santa Cruz
  • Lucena
  • Antipolo
• Region IV-B – MIMAROPA


  It is also known as the Southern Tagalog Islands. Its varied landforms consist of coastal low-lying areas and interiors composed of hills and mountain ranges
• Provinces in Region IV-B

  • Marinduque
  • Occidental Mindoro
  • Oriental Mindoro
  • Palawan
  • Romblon
• Capitals of provinces in Region IV-B

  • Boac
  • Mamburao
  • Calapan
  • Puerto Princesa
  • Romblon
• Region V – Bicol Region

  Also known as Bicolandia, it is located at the southernmost tip of Luzon Island
• Provinces in Region V

  • Albay
  • Camarines Norte
  • Camarines Sur
  • Catanduanes
  • Masbate
  • Sorsogon
• Capitals of provinces in Region V

  • Legazpi
  • Daet
  • Pili
  • Virac
  • Masbate City
  • Sorsogon City
• Region VI – Western Visayas


  It is located in the western section of the Visayas, where the people are called "Visayans or Bisayans"
• Provinces in Region VI

  • Aklan
  • Antique
  • Capiz
  • Guimaras
  • Iloilo
  • Negros Occidental
• Capitals of provinces in Region VI

  • Kalibo
  • San Jose de Buenavista
  • Roxas City
  • Jordan
  • Iloilo City
  • Bacolod
• Region VII – Central Visayas


  It is situated in the central part of Visayas. Cebuano is dominantly spoken in this region
• Provinces in Region VII

  • Bohol
  • Cebu
  • Negros Oriental
  • Siquijor
• Capitals of provinces in Region VII

  • Tagbilaran
  • Cebu City
  • Dumaguete
  • Siquijor
• Region VIII – Eastern Visayas


  It comprises three (3) main islands, Leyte and Samar, which the San Juanico Bridge connects, and Biliran Island