Provinces of the Philippines

Map of the Philippines showing all the regions and their provinces. See the full-size version

A province (lalawigan or probinsya in Filipino) is the primary local government unit in the Philippines. As of 2002, there are a total of 79 provinces. The provinces are grouped into 17 regions (rehiyon) and are subdivided into cities (lungsod) and municipalities (bayan).

For purposes of legislative representation, the province is divided into one or more districts (distrito). Each city or municipality belongs to one of these districts. One congressman (kinatawan) represents every district in the House of Representatives[?]. Every district also has board members in the Provincial Board (see the succeeding section on the Provincial Government).

Table of contents
1 Provincial Government

1.1 Executive Branch
1.2 Legislative Branch
2 List of Provinces

Provincial Government

The provincial government has an executive and a legislative branch. The judicial powers in the province is under the supervision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines[?]. The provincial government is an autonomous unit, given direct supervision of the affairs of the province. The president of the Philippines coordinates with the provinces through the Department of Interior and Local Government[?] (DILG).

Executive Branch

The provincial government is headed by a governor (gobernador) who is the chief executive and head of the province. Under the governor are the various provincial departments such as the Administration, Legal Office, Information Office, Engineering Office, and Treasury Office.

The governor is elected a term of three years and may be elected for a maximum of three terms. The provincial department heads are appointed by the governor.

Legislative Branch

Heading the legislature of the province is the vice-governor (bise-gobernador) who presides over the Provincial Board (Sangguniang Panlalawigan), which is composed of a number of board members for each district of the province. The board also has, as ex-officio members, the provincial president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) (Liga ng mga Barangay), the provincial president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), and the provincial president of Sanggunian Kabataan[?] (SK) Federation (the youth council).

All of the board members are elected by the citizens of the province along with the governor. The ex-officio members are elected within their organizations.

List of Provinces

Province Capital Region Population Area
(km²) Pop.
Density
(per km²)

Abra[?] Bangued CAR[?] 209,491 3,975.6 52.7

Agusan del Norte[?] Butuan City XIII[?] 552,849 2,590.0 213.5

Agusan del Sur[?] Prosperidad XIII[?] 559,294 8,966.0 62.4

Aklan[?] Kalibo VI[?] 451,314 1,817.9 248.3

Albay Legazpi City V 1,090,907 2,552.6 427.4

Antique[?] San Jose VI[?] 471,088 2,522.0 186.8

Apayao[?] Kabugao CAR[?] 97,129 3,927.9 24.7

Aurora Baler III[?] 173,797 3,239.5 53.6

Basilan[?] Isabela City ARMM[?] 259,796 1,234.2 210.5

Bataan Balanga City III[?] 557,659 1,373.0 406.2

Batanes[?] Basco II 16,467 209.3 78.7

Batangas Batangas City IV-A 1,905,348 3,165.8 601.9

Benguet[?] La Trinidad CAR[?] 582,515 2,655.4 219.4

Biliran Naval VIII[?] 140,274 555.5 252.5

Bohol Tagbilaran City VII 1,137,268 4,117.3 276.2

Bukidnon Malaybalay City X 1,060,265 8,293.8 127.8

Bulacan Malolos III[?] 2,234,088 2,625.0 851.1

Cagayan[?] Tuguegarao City II 993,580 9,002.7 110.4

Camarines Norte Daet V 458,840 2,112.5 217.2

Camarines Sur Pili V 1,551,549 5,266.8 294.6

Camiguin Mambajao X 74,232 229.8 323.0

Capiz[?] Roxas City VI[?] 654,156 2,633.2 248.4

Catanduanes Virac V 215,356 1,511.5 142.5

Cavite Imus IV-A 2,063,161 1,287.6 1,602.3

Cebu Cebu City VII 3,356,137 5,088.4 659.6

Compostela Valley[?] Nabunturan XI[?] 580,244 4,667.0 124.3

Cotabato[?] Kidapawan City XII[?] 958,643 6,569.9 145.9

Davao[?] Tagum City XI[?] 743,811 3,463.0 214.8

Davao del Sur[?] Digos City XI[?] 1,905,917 6,377.6 298.8

Davao Oriental[?] Mati XI[?] 446,191 5,164.5 86.4

Eastern Samar[?] Borongan VIII[?] 375,822 4,339.6 86.6

Guimaras[?] Jordan VI[?] 141,450 604.7 233.9

Ifugao[?] Lagawe CAR[?] 161,623 2,517.8 64.2

Ilocos Norte[?] Laoag City I[?] 514,241 3,399.3 151.3

Ilocos Sur[?] Vigan City I[?] 594,206 2,579.6 230.3

Iloilo[?] Iloilo City VI[?] 1,925,002 4,719.4 407.9

Isabela[?] Ilagan II 1,287,575 10,664.6 120.7

Kalinga[?] Tabuk CAR[?] 174,023 3,119.7 55.8

La Union[?] San Fernando City I[?] 657,945 1,493.1 440.7

Laguna Santa Cruz IV-A 1,965,872 1,759.7 1,117.2

Lanao del Norte Tubod X 758,123 3,092.0 245.2

Lanao del Sur[?] Marawi City ARMM[?] 800,162 3,872.9 206.6

Leyte Tacloban City VIII[?] 1,592,336 5,712.8 278.7

Maguindanao[?] Shariff Aguak ARMM[?] 801,102 4,900.1 163.5

Marinduque Boac IV-B[?] 217,392 959.3 226.6

Masbate Masbate City V 707,668 4,047.7 174.8

Misamis Occidental Oroquieta City X 486,723 1,939.3 251.0

Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro City X 1,126,215 3,570.0 315.5

Mountain Province[?] Bontoc CAR[?] 140,439 2,097.3 67.0

Negros Occidental[?] Bacolod City VI[?] 2,565,723 7,926.1 323.7

Negros Oriental Dumaguete City VII 1,126,061 5,402.3 208.4

Northern Samar[?] Catarman VIII[?] 500,639 3,498.0 143.1

Nueva Ecija Palayan City III[?] 1,659,883 5,284.3 314.1

Nueva Vizcaya[?] Bayombong II 366,962 3,903.9 94.0

Occidental Mindoro Mamburao IV-B[?] 380,250 5,879.9 64.7

Oriental Mindoro Calapan City IV-B[?] 681,818 4,364.7 156.2

Palawan Puerto Princesa City IV-B[?] 755,412 14,896.3 50.7

Pampanga San Fernando City III[?] 1,882,730 2,180.7 863.4

Pangasinan[?] Lingayen I[?] 2,434,086 5,368.2 453.4

Quezon Lucena City IV-A 1,679,030 8,706.6 192.8

Quirino[?] Cabarroguis II 148,575 3,057.2 48.6

Rizal Antipolo City IV-A 1,707,218 1,308.9 1,304.3

Romblon Romblon IV-B[?] 264,357 1,355.9 195.0

Samar[?] Catbalogan VIII[?] 641,124 5,591.0 114.7

Sarangani[?] Alabel XII[?] 410,622 2,980.0 137.8

Siquijor Siquijor VII 81,598 343.5 237.5

Sorsogon Sorsogon City V 650,535 2,141.4 303.8

South Cotabato[?] Koronadal City XII[?] 1,102,550 4,489.0 245.6

Southern Leyte Maasin City VIII[?] 360,160 1,734.8 207.6

Sultan Kudarat[?] Isulan XII[?] 586,505 4,714.8 124.4

Sulu[?] Jolo ARMM[?] 619,668 1,600.4 387.2

Surigao del Norte[?] Surigao City XIII[?] 481,416 2,739.0 175.8

Surigao del Sur[?] Tandag XIII[?] 501,808 4,552.2 110.2

Tarlac Tarlac City III[?] 1,068,783 3,053.4 350.0

Tawi-Tawi[?] Panglima Sugala ARMM[?] 322,317 1,087.4 296.4

Zambales Iba III[?] 627,802 3,714.4 169.0

Zamboanga del Norte Dipolog City IX 823,130 6,618.0 124.4

Zamboanga del Sur Pagadian City IX 1,437,941 4,964.1 289.7

Zamboanga Sibugay Ipil IX 497,239 3,087.9 161.0

Province	Capital	Region	Population	Area (km²)	Pop. Density (per km²)
Abra[?]	Bangued	CAR[?]	209,491	3,975.6	52.7
Agusan del Norte[?]	Butuan City	XIII[?]	552,849	2,590.0	213.5
Agusan del Sur[?]	Prosperidad	XIII[?]	559,294	8,966.0	62.4
Aklan[?]	Kalibo	VI[?]	451,314	1,817.9	248.3
Albay	Legazpi City	V	1,090,907	2,552.6	427.4
Antique[?]	San Jose	VI[?]	471,088	2,522.0	186.8
Apayao[?]	Kabugao	CAR[?]	97,129	3,927.9	24.7
Aurora	Baler	III[?]	173,797	3,239.5	53.6
Basilan[?]	Isabela City	ARMM[?]	259,796	1,234.2	210.5
Bataan	Balanga City	III[?]	557,659	1,373.0	406.2
Batanes[?]	Basco	II	16,467	209.3	78.7
Batangas	Batangas City	IV-A	1,905,348	3,165.8	601.9
Benguet[?]	La Trinidad	CAR[?]	582,515	2,655.4	219.4
Biliran	Naval	VIII[?]	140,274	555.5	252.5
Bohol	Tagbilaran City	VII	1,137,268	4,117.3	276.2
Bukidnon	Malaybalay City	X	1,060,265	8,293.8	127.8
Bulacan	Malolos	III[?]	2,234,088	2,625.0	851.1
Cagayan[?]	Tuguegarao City	II	993,580	9,002.7	110.4
Camarines Norte	Daet	V	458,840	2,112.5	217.2
Camarines Sur	Pili	V	1,551,549	5,266.8	294.6
Camiguin	Mambajao	X	74,232	229.8	323.0
Capiz[?]	Roxas City	VI[?]	654,156	2,633.2	248.4
Catanduanes	Virac	V	215,356	1,511.5	142.5
Cavite	Imus	IV-A	2,063,161	1,287.6	1,602.3
Cebu	Cebu City	VII	3,356,137	5,088.4	659.6
Compostela Valley[?]	Nabunturan	XI[?]	580,244	4,667.0	124.3
Cotabato[?]	Kidapawan City	XII[?]	958,643	6,569.9	145.9
Davao[?]	Tagum City	XI[?]	743,811	3,463.0	214.8
Davao del Sur[?]	Digos City	XI[?]	1,905,917	6,377.6	298.8
Davao Oriental[?]	Mati	XI[?]	446,191	5,164.5	86.4
Eastern Samar[?]	Borongan	VIII[?]	375,822	4,339.6	86.6
Guimaras[?]	Jordan	VI[?]	141,450	604.7	233.9
Ifugao[?]	Lagawe	CAR[?]	161,623	2,517.8	64.2
Ilocos Norte[?]	Laoag City	I[?]	514,241	3,399.3	151.3
Ilocos Sur[?]	Vigan City	I[?]	594,206	2,579.6	230.3
Iloilo[?]	Iloilo City	VI[?]	1,925,002	4,719.4	407.9
Isabela[?]	Ilagan	II	1,287,575	10,664.6	120.7
Kalinga[?]	Tabuk	CAR[?]	174,023	3,119.7	55.8
La Union[?]	San Fernando City	I[?]	657,945	1,493.1	440.7
Laguna	Santa Cruz	IV-A	1,965,872	1,759.7	1,117.2
Lanao del Norte	Tubod	X	758,123	3,092.0	245.2
Lanao del Sur[?]	Marawi City	ARMM[?]	800,162	3,872.9	206.6
Leyte	Tacloban City	VIII[?]	1,592,336	5,712.8	278.7
Maguindanao[?]	Shariff Aguak	ARMM[?]	801,102	4,900.1	163.5
Marinduque	Boac	IV-B[?]	217,392	959.3	226.6
Masbate	Masbate City	V	707,668	4,047.7	174.8
Misamis Occidental	Oroquieta City	X	486,723	1,939.3	251.0
Misamis Oriental	Cagayan de Oro City	X	1,126,215	3,570.0	315.5
Mountain Province[?]	Bontoc	CAR[?]	140,439	2,097.3	67.0
Negros Occidental[?]	Bacolod City	VI[?]	2,565,723	7,926.1	323.7
Negros Oriental	Dumaguete City	VII	1,126,061	5,402.3	208.4
Northern Samar[?]	Catarman	VIII[?]	500,639	3,498.0	143.1
Nueva Ecija	Palayan City	III[?]	1,659,883	5,284.3	314.1
Nueva Vizcaya[?]	Bayombong	II	366,962	3,903.9	94.0
Occidental Mindoro	Mamburao	IV-B[?]	380,250	5,879.9	64.7
Oriental Mindoro	Calapan City	IV-B[?]	681,818	4,364.7	156.2
Palawan	Puerto Princesa City	IV-B[?]	755,412	14,896.3	50.7
Pampanga	San Fernando City	III[?]	1,882,730	2,180.7	863.4
Pangasinan[?]	Lingayen	I[?]	2,434,086	5,368.2	453.4
Quezon	Lucena City	IV-A	1,679,030	8,706.6	192.8
Quirino[?]	Cabarroguis	II	148,575	3,057.2	48.6
Rizal	Antipolo City	IV-A	1,707,218	1,308.9	1,304.3
Romblon	Romblon	IV-B[?]	264,357	1,355.9	195.0
Samar[?]	Catbalogan	VIII[?]	641,124	5,591.0	114.7
Sarangani[?]	Alabel	XII[?]	410,622	2,980.0	137.8
Siquijor	Siquijor	VII	81,598	343.5	237.5
Sorsogon	Sorsogon City	V	650,535	2,141.4	303.8
South Cotabato[?]	Koronadal City	XII[?]	1,102,550	4,489.0	245.6
Southern Leyte	Maasin City	VIII[?]	360,160	1,734.8	207.6
Sultan Kudarat[?]	Isulan	XII[?]	586,505	4,714.8	124.4
Sulu[?]	Jolo	ARMM[?]	619,668	1,600.4	387.2
Surigao del Norte[?]	Surigao City	XIII[?]	481,416	2,739.0	175.8
Surigao del Sur[?]	Tandag	XIII[?]	501,808	4,552.2	110.2
Tarlac	Tarlac City	III[?]	1,068,783	3,053.4	350.0
Tawi-Tawi[?]	Panglima Sugala	ARMM[?]	322,317	1,087.4	296.4
Zambales	Iba	III[?]	627,802	3,714.4	169.0
Zamboanga del Norte	Dipolog City	IX	823,130	6,618.0	124.4
Zamboanga del Sur	Pagadian City	IX	1,437,941	4,964.1	289.7
Zamboanga Sibugay	Ipil	IX	497,239	3,087.9	161.0