Administrative Map

The Philippines is divided into regions. With one exception, each region is composed of a number of provinces. Each province is divided into a number of cities and municipalities, which in turn are composed of a number of barangays. A barangay is the smallest local government unit that can exist.

As of March 31, 2008, the Philippines is divided into 219 congressional districts (including districts which have been created by law but will not officially take effect until the next election), 17 regions, 81 provinces, 4 National Capital Region districts, 136 cities, 1,495 municipalities and 41,995 barangays.

Four of the five Super Regions created by Executive Order No. 561 dated August 19, 2006 are also shown on the below map. These Super Regions are mostly for economic rather than administrative purposes and only shown for convenience. Their boundaries do not supersede current political boundaries. The Cyber Corridor Super Region is not shown on the map because it based on information and communication technology and therefore not geographical but does run the length of the other Super Regions (Baguio-Cebu-Davao).

Explanatory Notes

The below national map is at a scale of 1:22,100,000 and both shows and lists the regions. The region section of the pages contain larger maps of the regions at a scale of 1:8,840,000 which include all provinces and the regional centre. The province maps are at a scale of 1:4,420,000 which include the province capital, all cities (if any) and the names of some islands and/or island groups (names of islands or groups given in italic). In addition to the maps, the below information is given.

PSGC: The Philippine Standard Geographic Code is a unique nine-digit hierarchical code for each political subdivision in the Philippines. PSGCs are given for regions, provinces and NCR districts.

ISO: The ISO 3166-2 code for regions and provinces. The ISO 3166-1 code for the Philippines is PH. It appears the current ISO 3166-2 region codes do not reflect the division of Region IV into Region IV-A and Region IV-B.

Regional Centre: Although there is no government on the regional level (with the exception of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which has an elected Regional Assembly and an elected Regional Governor), there is generally a designated city in each region where the various government departments mostly but not necessarily always, have their regional offices. In one case the regional centre is within another region.

Province Capital: This is the municipality or city which serves as the seat of the provincial government.

District Centre: This is the municipality or city which was originally designated as the district centre for a specific National Capital Region (NCR) district although there is no local government on this level.

Area Code: The main but not necessarily the only, telephone area code within the province. The code is given as it would be dialled internationally. For calls within the Philippines, a zero would be needed at the start of the area code. The international code for the Philippines is 63.

Congressional Districts: The total number of congressional/legislative districts (including highly urbanised cities districts) within the region.

Provinces: The number of provinces within the region.

NCR Districts: The number of districts within the National Capital Region.

Cities: The total number of cities (including independent component and highly urbanised cities) within the region, province or NCR district.

Municipalities: The total number of municipalities within the region, province or NCR district.

Barangays: The total number of barangays within a region, province, city, municipality or City of Manila congressional district. For all municipalities and cities, the barangay number can be clicked on to display a list of all barangays for that particular municipality or city.

Brief History of Regions and Provinces: A brief history of the creation, division, merger and abolition of the regions and provinces is given. For simplification, the province history mostly refers to political entities as provinces, sub-provinces and districts. The term district within the history refers to a variety of political units intermediate of a town and province used during the Spanish period, such as a comandancia (military district), corregimiento (administrative district) or alcaldia mayor (county). The use of district here is not a reference to the present day congressional/legislative districts that are listed. The legal basis for the creation of the political entity is given if when known. The dates given are sometimes subject to inconsistencies and discrepancies when compared to other sources. This is generally accounted for by three reasons. Firstly, a province may have been created several times under different circumstances. Secondly, a change on the provincial level was inaugurated several years after the legislation was approved for the change. Thirdly, there is either a lack or no information available for whatever reason. For provinces, information is also included for pending bills for the division of, or creation of, new provinces from the current province. Regions were first created in 1972 so information regarding regions is generally complete.

Municipality / City: The names of all municipalities and cities within the province. Former names are given enclosed in round brackets.

City District: For the City of Manila, the city districts are listed by congressional district and given as a total number.

District: For provinces, the municipalities and cities are listed by congressional district. For those provinces with only one congressional district, the province districts are listed instead enclosed in round brackets. For those municipalities/cities that are one or more congressional districts within themselves, the number of districts is given instead enclosed in square brackets. For example, 2nd implies second congressional district, (2nd) implies second provincial district and [Two] implies a municipality/city has two congressional districts within itself.

City Type: The city classification for cities that are geographically within the province is as follows:

C: Component Cities are subject to administration and supervision of the provincial government.

I: Independent Component Cities are not subject to administration and supervision of the provincial government and are therefore independent of the province.

H: Highly Urbanised Cities are defined by a minimum population and annual income and are not subject to administration and supervision of the provincial government and are therefore independent of the province.

Zones: For the City of Manila, the number of zones is given for each congressional district.

ZIP Code: Philippine ZIP codes are a four-digit code. The ZIP code is given for each city and municipality but in cases in which there is more than one ZIP code for any given city or municipality (as is especially so in the NCR), then the ZIP code given is that of the central post office or in a fewer cases, the main or first ZIP code. ZIP codes for the City of Manila's city districts are also given. Cities and municipalities created since the current set of ZIP codes do not appear to have their own ZIP code however one is listed in brackets which is the ZIP code of the (main) mother city/municipality determined as follows:

If there is only one mother city/municipality then the ZIP code given is that of the mother city/municipality.

If there are two or more mother cities/municipalities then the ZIP code given is that of the mother city/municipality in which the barangay originally designated seat of the new city/municipality formerly belonged to.

If there is more than one mother city/municipality and it is unclear which barangay is seat of the new municipality then the ZIP code given is that of the mother city/municipality which contributed the largest geographical area to the new municipality.

Map and List of Regions

Regional Administrative Map

Region I (Ilocos Region)
CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)
Region II (Cagayan Valley)
Region III (Central Luzon)
NCR (National Capital Region)
Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
Region IV-B (MIMAROPA)
Region V (Bicol Region)
Region VI (Western Visayas)
Region VII (Central Visayas)
Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
Region X (Northern Mindanao)
Region XI (Davao Region)
Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN)
Region XIII (Caraga)
ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)

Proposed Federal States

The original proposed changes to the current constitution to shift to a federal parliamentary system of government were shelved. However, the Senate of the 14th Congress has produced Joint Resolution No. 10 proposing amendments to establish a federal presidential republic with 11 federal states and one administrative region as follows:

State of Northern Luzon [Tuguegarao City as capital]: Abra, Apayao, Batanes, Benguet, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quirino

State of Central Luzon [Tarlac, City of, as capital]: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales

State of Southern Tagalog [Tagaytay City as capital]: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal

State of Minparom [Mamburao as capital]: Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon

State of Bicol [Legazpi City as capital]: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon

State of Eastern Visayas [Catbalogan, City of, as capital]: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar (Western Samar), Southern Leyte

State of Central Visayas [Toledo City as capital]: Bohol, Cebu, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Siquijor

State of Western Visayas [Iloilo City as capital]: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental

State of Northern Mindanao [Cagayan de Oro City as capital]: Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay

State of Southern Mindanao [Davao City as capital]: Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Cotabato (North Cotabato), Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Sur

State of Bangsamoro [Marawi City as capital]: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi

Administrative Region of Metro Manila: Metropolitan Manila

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