Provinces of the Philippines: Complete National Administrative & Geographic Directory

Overview

The Philippines is composed of 82 provinces, each serving as a major administrative, cultural, and geographic unit within the country’s 17 regions. Provinces act as the primary link between national government and local communities, overseeing cities, municipalities, and barangays within their jurisdiction.

This national directory provides a structured overview of all provinces, organized by island group and region, and serves as the foundation for your future province‑level travel guides, administrative pages, and geographic content.

Provincial Structure in the Philippines

Provinces are the core administrative divisions of the country. Each province has:

  • A provincial capital
  • A governor and provincial government
  • A defined geographic territory
  • Cities and municipalities under its jurisdiction
  • Distinct cultural, historical, and tourism identities

Provinces are grouped into three major island clusters:

  • Luzon
  • Visayas
  • Mindanao

Provinces by Island Group

Luzon Island Group Provinces

Luzon contains the largest number of provinces and includes the national capital region’s surrounding administrative territories.

Visayas Island Group Provinces

The Visayas are known for coastal provinces, island tourism, and maritime culture.

Mindanao Island Group Provinces

Mindanao’s provinces are culturally diverse and geographically expansive, with major economic and tourism centers.

Provinces by Region

This section links your Regions landing page to your future province pages.

Luzon Regions

  • Region I Provinces
  • Region II Provinces
  • Region III Provinces
  • Region IV‑A Provinces
  • Region IV‑B Provinces
  • Region V Provinces
  • Region XIV (CAR) Provinces

Visayas Regions

  • Region VI Provinces
  • Region VII Provinces
  • Region VIII Provinces

Mindanao Regions

  • Region IX Provinces
  • Region X Provinces
  • Region XI Provinces
  • Region XII Provinces
  • Region XIII Provinces
  • Region XV (BARRM) Provinces

Featured Provinces

Highlighting key provinces with strong tourism, cultural heritage, or geographic significance.

Luzon Island Group

  • Ilocos Norte
  • Ilocos Sur
  • Aurora
  • Palawan

Visayas Island Group

  • Cebu
  • Bohol
  • Iloilo

Mindanao Island Group

  • Davao del Sur
  • Zamboanga del Sur
  • Misamis Oriental

Provincial Capitals

Each province has a designated capital, serving as the administrative center. These capitals often overlap with tourism destinations, such as:

Luzon

Ilocos Region (Region I)

  • Ilocos Norte — Laoag City
  • Ilocos Sur — Vigan City
  • La Union — San Fernando City
  • Pangasinan — Lingayen

Cagayan Valley (Region II)

  • Batanes — Basco
  • Cagayan — Tuguegarao City
  • Isabela — Ilagan City
  • Nueva Vizcaya — Bayombong
  • Quirino — Cabarroguis

Central Luzon (Region III)

  • Aurora — Baler
  • Bataan — Balanga City
  • Bulacan — Malolos City
  • Nueva Ecija — Palayan City
  • Pampanga — City of San Fernando
  • Tarlac — Tarlac City
  • Zambales — Iba

CALABARZON (Region IV‑A)

  • Batangas — Batangas City
  • Cavite — Trece Martires City
  • Laguna — Santa Cruz
  • Quezon — Lucena City
  • Rizal — Antipolo City

MIMAROPA (Region IV‑B)

  • Marinduque — Boac
  • Occidental Mindoro — Mamburao
  • Oriental Mindoro — Calapan City
  • Palawan — Puerto Princesa City
  • Romblon — Romblon

Bicol Region (Region V)

  • Albay — Legazpi City
  • Camarines Norte — Daet
  • Camarines Sur — Pili
  • Catanduanes — Virac
  • Masbate — Masbate City
  • Sorsogon — Sorsogon City

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR / Region XIV)

  • Abra — Bangued
  • Apayao — Kabugao
  • Benguet — La Trinidad
  • Ifugao — Lagawe
  • Kalinga — Tabuk City
  • Mountain Province — Bontoc

Visayas

Western Visayas (Region VI)

  • Aklan — Kalibo
  • Antique — San Jose de Buenavista
  • Capiz — Roxas City
  • Guimaras — Jordan
  • Iloilo — Iloilo City
  • Negros Occidental — Bacolod City

Central Visayas (Region VII)

  • Bohol — Tagbilaran City
  • Cebu — Cebu City
  • Negros Oriental — Dumaguete City
  • Siquijor — Siquijor

Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)

  • Biliran — Naval
  • Eastern Samar — Borongan City
  • Leyte — Tacloban City
  • Northern Samar — Catarman
  • Samar (Western) — Catbalogan City
  • Southern Leyte — Maasin City

Mindanao

Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)

  • Zamboanga del Norte — Dipolog City
  • Zamboanga del Sur — Pagadian City
  • Zamboanga Sibugay — Ipil

Northern Mindanao (Region X)

  • Bukidnon — Malaybalay City
  • Camiguin — Mambajao
  • Lanao del Norte — Tubod
  • Misamis Occidental — Oroquieta City
  • Misamis Oriental — Cagayan de Oro City

Davao Region (Region XI)

  • Davao de Oro — Nabunturan
  • Davao del Norte — Tagum City
  • Davao del Sur — Digos City
  • Davao Occidental — Malita
  • Davao Oriental — Mati City

SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)

  • Cotabato (North Cotabato) — Kidapawan City
  • Sarangani — Alabel
  • South Cotabato — Koronadal City
  • Sultan Kudarat — Isulan

Caraga (Region XIII)

  • Agusan del Norte — Cabadbaran City
  • Agusan del Sur — Prosperidad
  • Dinagat Islands — San Jose
  • Surigao del Norte — Surigao City
  • Surigao del Sur — Tandag City

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

  • Basilan — Isabela City
  • Lanao del Sur — Marawi City
  • Maguindanao del Norte — Datu Odin Sinsuat
  • Maguindanao del Sur — Buluan
  • Sulu — Jolo
  • Tawi‑Tawi — Bongao

Key Takeaways

  • The Philippines has 83 provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
  • Provinces are administrative units with distinct cultural and geographic identities.
  • This header page serves as the national index for all province‑related content.
  • It will later expand into a full silo with province landing pages, regional groupings, and tourism connections.