Overview
Region IV-B, officially known as MIMAROPA, is a unique administrative region in the Philippines composed entirely of island provinces. The name is an acronym representing its five provinces: Mindoro (Occidental & Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. As part of the Luzon island group, MIMAROPA is known for its rich biodiversity, pristine beaches, marine sanctuaries, and culturally diverse communities.
Provinces of Region IV-B
- Occidental Mindoro — Located on the western half of Mindoro Island, known for agriculture, fishing, and indigenous Mangyan communities.
- Oriental Mindoro — Eastern Mindoro province, home to Puerto Galera and major agricultural zones.
- Marinduque — Heart-shaped island famous for Moriones Festival and coastal heritage towns.
- Romblon — Renowned as the “Marble Capital of the Philippines” with island-hopping destinations.
- Palawan — The largest province in the region, globally recognized for El Nido, Coron, and the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
Cities in Region IV-B
- Calapan City — Capital of Oriental Mindoro and the only component city in MIMAROPA.
- Puerto Princesa City — Highly urbanized city and the regional center of MIMAROPA.
Municipalities by Province
Occidental Mindoro
- Abra de Ilog
- Calintaan
- Looc
- Lubang
- Magsaysay
- Mamburao
- Paluan
- Rizal
- Sablayan
- San Jose
- Santa Cruz
Oriental Mindoro
- Baco
- Bongabong
- Bulalacao
- Gloria
- Mansalay
- Naujan
- Pinamalayan
- Pola
- Puerto Galera
- Roxas
- San Teodoro
- Socorro
- Victoria
Marinduque
- Boac
- Buenavista
- Gasan
- Mogpog
- Santa Cruz
- Torrijos
Romblon
- Alcantara
- Banton
- Cajidiocan
- Calatrava
- Concepcion
- Corcuera
- Ferrol
- Looc
- Magdiwang
- Odiongan
- Romblon
- San Agustin
- San Andres
- San Fernando
- Santa Fe
- Santa Maria
Palawan
- Aborlan
- Agutaya
- Araceli
- Balabac
- Bataraza
- Brooke’s Point
- Busuanga
- Cagayancillo
- Coron
- Cuyo
- Dumaran
- El Nido
- Kalayaan
- Linapacan
- Magsaysay
- Narra
- Quezon
- Rizal
- Roxas
- San Vicente
- Sofronio Española
- Taytay
Administrative Divisions
Region IV-B is divided into:
- 5 Provinces
- 2 Cities (1 Component, 1 Highly Urbanized)
- 71 Municipalities
- 1,460+ Barangays
Demographics
- Population: ~3.5 million (latest PSA estimate)
- Major Languages: Tagalog, Cuyonon, Mangyan languages, Romblomanon
- Ethnolinguistic Groups: Tagalog, Mangyan tribes, Visayan settlers, Cuyonon, Palaw’an
Geography
Region IV-B spans multiple island groups:
- Mindoro Island — Mountainous interior, coastal plains
- Marinduque Island — Volcanic terrain, rolling hills
- Romblon Archipelago — Cluster of small islands
- Palawan Island — Long, narrow island with karst cliffs and extensive forests
Key geographic features:
- Mount Halcon (Mindoro)
- Marble-rich mountains (Romblon)
- Limestone karst formations (Palawan)
- Apo Reef Natural Park
Economy
Major economic drivers:
- Agriculture (rice, corn, coconut, cashew)
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Marble industry (Romblon)
- Tourism (Palawan, Puerto Galera)
- Mining (select areas of Palawan)
Emerging sectors:
- Eco-tourism
- Renewable energy
- Marine conservation enterprises
Infrastructure
Key transport hubs:
- Calapan Port (Mindoro)
- Puerto Princesa International Airport (Palawan)
- Coron Airport (Busuanga)
- Romblon Ports (Odiongan, Romblon town)
Road networks:
- Mindoro Circumferential Road
- Palawan North & South National Highways
Tourism Highlights
- Puerto Princesa Underground River
- El Nido island lagoons
- Coron shipwreck diving
- Apo Reef Natural Park
- Puerto Galera White Beach
- Marinduque Moriones Festival
- Romblon marble heritage sites
Related Guides & Pages
- Region IV-B Overview
- MIMAROPA Provinces
- Cities of MIMAROPA
- Municipalities of MIMAROPA
- Palawan Tourism
- Mindoro Travel Guide
- Romblon Travel Guide
- Marinduque Travel Guide