The territory of the Philippines is divided into regions, and within each region are the provinces.
Provinces – These are subdivided into cities, municipalities, and barangays.
Some cities within the provinces are independent of the province in which they are geographically located; these are called independent and highly urbanized cities.
Voters registered in a highly urbanized city, as defined above, shall not participate in the election of provincial officials of the province where the city is located (Section 3, Batas Pambansa Blg. 51).
Some communities are not large enough to be classified as cities, so they remain municipalities. Every province, city, and municipality in the Philippines is classified by income.
Within municipalities, cities, and chartered cities are the barangays. Without barangays, there would be no municipality, city, chartered city, or province.
Each province is administered by:
The Governor – Chief Executive Officer; elected to a term of three years and limited to three consecutive terms. The governor appoints the directors of each provincial department.
The Vice‑Governor – Presides over the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board), the province’s legislative body.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Exercises general supervision over the provinces and cities in 17 of the 18 regions. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is exempt from this supervision, operating under its own organic law. The BARMM replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on February 26, 2019, following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Bohol Province, Philippines: The Land of the Chocolate Hills and Sandugo Spirit The Province of Bohol is a premier island destination in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is globally recognized for its unique geological wonders, pristine white-sand beaches, and the endangered Philippine tarsier. Strategically located southeast of Cebu and southwest of Leyte, […]
People of Biliran Province As of the 2020 Census, Biliran Province had a population of 179,312. In 2015, the province recorded a population of 171,612, reflecting modest growth over five years. Biliran is historically home to the Waray and Sama-Bajau communities, with the Waray-Waray people forming the majority. The Sama-Bajau, traditionally sea-dwelling, have settled in
People of Benguet As of the 2020 Census, Benguet Province had a population of 460,683. In 2015, the province recorded a population of 444,634, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 3.6% over five years. Benguet is home to several indigenous groups collectively known as the Igorot, including the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, and Kalanguya peoples. These communities
People of Batangas Province As of the 2020 Census, Batangas Province had a population of 2,908,494 residents. In 2015, the province recorded a population of 2,694,335, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 1.5% annually. Batangas was historically inhabited by the Tagalog ethnolinguistic group, with early settlements concentrated around Taal Lake. Indigenous groups such as the
Batanes Province, Philippines Batanes Province is the northernmost and smallest province in the Philippines, located about 162 kilometers north of Luzon and roughly 190 kilometers south of Taiwan, situated in the Luzon Strait between the Balintang and Bashi Channels. It is accessible mainly by air, with flights from Manila to Basco, the capital, but due
Sulu Province: The Pearl of the Sulu Sea Located in the heart of the Sulu Archipelago in the southwestern Philippines, Sulu is an island province rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. It is now administratively part of the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), following its exclusion from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
People of Misamis Occidental As of the 2020 Census, Misamis Occidental had a population of 617,333. In 2015, the province recorded a population of 602,126, reflecting steady growth over five years. The province is historically home to the Subanen people, one of the oldest indigenous groups in Mindanao. They settled along riverbanks and upland areas,
Bataan Province: The Cradle of Valor and Industry Bataan Province is a historic and geographically distinct peninsula located in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. It projects dramatically southward into the West Philippine Sea, forming the western side of Manila Bay. Known globally as the site of the pivotal Battle of Bataan during World
Basilan Province, Philippines For 2020 Basilan (City of Isabela excluded) Population = 426,207 For 2015 Basilan (except City of Isabela) Population = 346,579 For 2010 Basilan Population + 293,322 Basilan Province is the largest and northernmost island of the Sulu Archipelago, situated just off the southern coast of the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao, Philippines. It forms
Aurora Province: Where the Mountains Meet the Pacific Aurora Province is a rugged and beautiful province located in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Unique among its neighbors, Aurora sits on the eastern coast of Luzon, facing the vast Pacific Ocean, earning it the moniker of being “Where the Mountains Meet the Pacific.” The