A region (rehiyon in Filipino) is a political subdivision in the Philippines. As of 2002, there are 17 of them and they are further subdivided into 79 provinces (lalawigan). Regions are generally organized to group provinces that have the same cultural and ethnological characteristics.

The provinces are actually the primary political subdivision. They are grouped into regions for administrative convenience. Most government offices establish regional offices instead of individual provincial offices, usually in the city designated as the regional capital.

The regions themselves do not possess a separate local government, with the exception of the Muslim Mindanao[?] and Cordillera[?] regions, which are autonomous.

Table of contents 1 The regions 1.1 Luzon 1.2 Visayas 1.3 Mindanao

The regions

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

As of 2002, the Philippines consists of 17 provinces.

Luzon

• Ilocos Region[?] (Region I)
• Cagayan Valley (Region II)
• Central Luzon[?] (Region III)
• CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
• MIMAROPA[?] (Region IV-B)
• Bicol Region (Region V)
• Cordillera Administrative Region[?] (CAR)
• National Capital Region (NCR) (Metro Manila)

Visayas

• Western Visayas[?] (Region VI)
• Central Visayas (Region VII)
• Eastern Visayas[?] (Region VIII)

Mindanao

• Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
• Northern Mindanao (Region X)
• Davao Region[?] (Region XI)
• SOCCSKSARGEN[?] (Region XII)
• Caraga[?] (Region XIII)
• Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao[?] (ARMM)