Philippine Regions

The Philippines is composed of seventeen official regions. An official region as defined by the government is “a sub-national administrative unit comprising of several provinces having more/less homogeneous characteristics, such as ethnic origin of inhabitants, agricultural produce, and dialect spoken, etc”.
(www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/articles/con_lgu.asp)

These regions are as follows:

1. Region I – Is called the Ilocos Region. It has 4 provinces: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and La Union. The Ilocanos composed majority of the region about 66%. The tribal group of Isneg and Tingguian resides in the Cordillera Mountains. It mostly speaks the Ilocano dialect. It is rich in crafts – pottery and blanket-weaving. The burnay pottery which is exclusive of Ilocanos is popularly known for its dark colored clay.

2. Region II – Cagayan Valley. With 5 provinces, namely: Cagayan, Batanes, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela. The region is defined by the largest River in the country – Cagayan River. Agta or atta, were its first inhabitants of the region, they roam around the forest to gather food without a fixed abode. Tobacco industry is the major factor in the economy of the region. The region is recently called as the Tilapia capital of the country.


3. Region III – Central Luzon. The region is the administrative region of the country which organized the 7 provinces for a convenient administration. Since it contains the largest plain, it produces the majority of the country’s rice supply. Is it called as the “Rice Bowl” of the Philippines. It is provinces are: Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga.


4. Region IV-A – CALABARZON. 5 provinces composed the region, namely: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. On June 12, 1898, Philippines gained its independence in Kawit, Cavite held by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. People from Cavite, Batangas and Laguna were part of those who revolted for freedom against the Spaniards. Dr. Jose Rizal, was born in Laguna, the country’s national hero.


5. Region IV-B – MIMAROPA. The name of the region is an acronym that stands for its 5 provinces: Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marindoque, Romblon, Palawan. Its major economic sector consists of the following: agriculture, industry and the service sectors. Tagalog is used in the province of Marinduque and the northeastern and southwestern part of Mindoro while various languages such as Tawbuid, Buhid, Iraya, Ratagnon, Alangan, Hanunoo. Romblom has its own dialects as well such as Asi, Romblomanon, and Onhan.


6. Region V – Bicol region. It has 6 provinces: Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, Camrines Norte and Sur, and Catanduanes. Naga and Legazpi Cities are the hub of its economic activity. Its people are called Bicolanos and speak several varieties of Bikol which include: Bikol Partido and Bikol Catanduanes, Albay dialects ( Daraga, Oas), Bikol Riconada ( iriga-Buhi area) and Bikol Sorsogon (Sorsogon). Standard Bikol is the regional language. The economy of the region is on fishing and agriculture mostly. The manufacturing business of jewelries and gold-mining has been distinguished in the province.


7. Region VI – Western Visayas. With 6 provinces: Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Antique. Rattan furniture and cottage weaving is manufactured in the region. The main dialect in Antique is Kinaray-a. Agriculture is important in the region. In Negros Occidental, mostly speak Illongo and Cebuano as its second dialect.


8. Region VII – Central Visayas. With 4 provinces: Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol and Siquijor. Cebuano is the dialect spoken by mostly all the people of the region. Boholano in Bohol. Porohanon is a dialect with a mix of Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Masbateño, and it is spoken in the town of Poro.


9. Region VIII – Eastern Visayas. Consists of 6 provinces: Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern and Northern Samar, and Biliran. The region is inhabited mostly by Waray-waray. Storms usually visit the eastern part of the region. The region is primarily agricultural. Abaknon is spoken in the island of Capul.


10. Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula. Has 3 provinces: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. Was previously known as Wastern Mindanao. The region has a massive forest resource used for plywood, lumber, export logs, and veneer. In Mindanao, it’s the first export-processing zone. The economic activities of the region involve mostly of fishing and farming.


11. Region X – Northern Mindanao. It has 5 provinces: Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental and Oriental. Majority of the inhabitants from the region are migrants from Iloilo and Cebu. There are also waray-waray, tagalog and maranaos. Its natural resources are classified as forestland mostly. Its economy is plainly agricultural.


12. Region XI – Davao Region. 4 provinces: Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Sur. It was previously named as Southern Mindanao. The region has a mixture of immigrants with Cebuanos as the bulk of it, there’s Illongos and Ilocanos. Ethnic groups: Muslims, Bagobos, T’boli, Manobos, Maiisakas, and Tirurays.


13. Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN. It has North and South Cotabato, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat and General Santos City. The region is called the catch basin of Mindanao because of its river system. The culture of Maguindanaon revolves around the kulintang music – a gong music.


14. Region XIII – Caraga. Composed of 5 provinces: Agusan del Norte and Sur, Surigao del Norte and Sur and Dinagat Islands. The region was called as “The Land of the Brave and Fierce people” by the chroniclers because its inhabitants weren’t scared of anything at all that would befall them. Most people in the region speak Cebuano, other dialects are Hiligaynon, Boholanon, Kamayo, Manobo and Butuanon. The dominant religion is Roman Catholic.


15. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Basilan, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi. Its culture revolves around kulintang music – a type of gong music. With Maguindanao as the 2nd poorest province in the country.


16. Nation Capital Region (NCR) – Metro Manila. Inhabitants speak in Tagalog. It doesn’t have its own province like the other regions. The City of Manila is the nation’s capital. It has a lot of shopping centers, business establishments, it offers a lot of recreation activities, and has a variety of transportation. People from all over the country would come to Manila to look for work and life their own dreams.


17. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Maountain province, Benguet, Kalinga. This region is the home of the Igurot tribe. Mineral reserves are abundant in the region. It has attractions like the Banaue Rice Terraces which was deemed by the country as the 8th wonder, mummy caves of Mt. Province and Benguet, and Sumaguin Cave in Sagada, its national parks.