Central Visayas

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Central Visayas
Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an
Gitnang Visayas
Region
Magellan's Cross Cebu.jpg
Pescadorescebu-cathedral.jpg
"road side".jpg
Bohol beach club.jpg
Chocolate Hills overview.JPG
Clockwise from the top: Magellan's Cross, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Panglao Island, Chocolate Hills, Moalboal Reef
Nickname(s): 
Center of Christianity
Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of the Cebuanos)
Central Visayas in Philippines.svg
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Central Visayas
Coordinates: 10°0′N123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°E / 10.000; 123.500
CountryFlag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Island group Visayas
Regional center
and largest city		 Cebu City
Area
 • Total10,114.52 km2 (3,905.24 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Osmeña Peak)
1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population
 (2020 census) [1]
 • Total6,545,603
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 code PH-07
Provinces
2
Independent cities
3
Component cities
7
Municipalities 91
Barangays 2,312
Cong. districts 11
Languages
GDP (2022) ₱1.20 trillion
$20.5 billion [2]
Growth rateIncrease2.svg (7.3%) [2]
HDI Increase2.svg 0.704 (High)
HDI rank 8th in the Philippines (2019)

Central Visayas (Cebuano : Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an; Tagalog : Gitnang Kabisayaan or Filipino : Gitnang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. With only two provinces: Cebu and Bohol, as well as three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, it has the fewest number of provinces out of any region in the country. Despite this, it is the most populous region in the Visayas, with a population of 6,545,603.

Contents

The regional center, as well as its largest city, is Cebu City. The Cebuano language is the region's lingua franca. The region is also dominated by the native speakers of three Visayan languages: Bantayanon, Boholano and Porohanon.

In 2015, Central Visayas was redefined when it lost the province of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the Negros Island Region was dissolved in 2017, returning Negros Oriental to Central Visayas. After seven years, it lost Negros Oriental again, as well as the island province of Siquijor, after the Negros Island Region was re-established in 2024.

Etymology

The name of the region, Central Visayas, was mostly chosen by American colonists to denote the centrality of the islands within the bigger Visayas area.

There have been proposals to rename the current Central Visayas region, which is dominated by the Cebuano (Sugbuanon) ethnic group, to Sugbu, the former name of the region prior to Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The name refers to the former kingdom of the region, the Rajahnate of Cebu, or Sugbu in Cebuano. [3] [4]

History

Regions first came into existence on September 24, 1972, when the provinces of the Philippines were organized into 11 regions by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.. The provinces of Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental (including its then-subprovince of Siquijor) were grouped together to form the Central Visayas region.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015, issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, moved Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. [5]

On August 9, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signing of Executive Order No. 38. [6] This returned Negros Oriental to Central Visayas.

In 2024, Negros Oriental was again moved to the re-established Negros Island Region. Siquijor was also moved to the NIR through Republic Act No. 12000 signed by President Bongbong Marcos. [7]

Geography

Political map of Central Visayas (since June 2024) Central Visayas in June 2024.png
Political map of Central Visayas (since June 2024)
Former map of Central Visayas prior to the revival of Negros Island Region in June 2024 Ph central visayas.png
Former map of Central Visayas prior to the revival of Negros Island Region in June 2024

Central Visayas consists of the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, as well as the three independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City. The region also includes the straits of Cebu and parts of the Tañon Strait. Its land area is 10,144.52 km2 (3,916.82 sq mi), 3.3% of the country's total land area.

Central Visayas is bounded on the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in Negros island, south by the Bohol Sea and the province of Siquijor, and east by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas.

Administrative divisions

Provinces

Central Visayas consists of 2 provinces, 3 highly urbanized cities, 7 component cities, 91 municipalities, and 2,312 barangays.

Province orHUCCapitalPopulation (2020) [8] Area [9] DensityCitiesMuni.Barangay
km2sq mi/km2/sq mi
Bohol Tagbilaran City 21.3%1,394,3294,772.521,842.682907501471,109
Cebu Cebu City 50.8%3,325,3854,943.721,908.786701,7006441,066
Cebu City †—14.7%964,169315.00121.623,1008,000——80
Lapu-Lapu †—7.6%497,60458.1022.438,60022,000——30
Mandaue †—5.6%364,11625.189.7214,50038,000——27
Total6,545,60310,114.523,905.246501,70010912,312

 †  Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu City are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Cebu Province.

Governors and vice governors

ProvinceImageGovernorPolitical PartyVice Governor
Bohol Seal 1.svg
Gov Aumentado.png Erico Aristotle Aumentado NPC Dionisio Victor Balite
Cebu province seal 2.svg
Gov Garcia.png Gwendolyn Garcia 1-Cebu Hilario Davide III

Cities

  •  † Regional center
CityPopulation (2020) [8] AreaDensityCity classIncome classProvince
km2sq mi/km2/sq mi
Bogo 88,867103.5239.978602,200Component6th Cebu
Carcar 136,453116.7845.091,2003,100Component5th Cebu
† Cebu City 964,169315.00121.623,1008,000Highly urbanized1st Cebu
Danao 156,321107.3041.431,5003,900Component3rd Cebu
Lapu-Lapu 497,60458.1022.438,60022,000Highly urbanized1st Cebu
Mandaue 364,11625.189.7214,00036,000Highly urbanized1st Cebu
Naga 133,184101.9739.371,3003,400Component3rd Cebu
Tagbilaran 104,97636.5014.092,9007,500Component3rd Bohol
Talisay 263,04839.8715.396,80018,000Component3rd Cebu
Toledo 207,314216.2883.519602,500Component3rd Cebu

Demographics

Population census of Central Visayas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,124,444—    
1918 1,485,976+1.88%
1939 1,954,366+1.31%
1948 2,119,975+0.91%
1960 2,522,802+1.46%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 3,032,719+1.86%
1975 3,387,274+2.24%
1980 3,787,374+2.26%
1990 4,594,124+1.95%
1995 5,014,588+1.65%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 5,706,953+2.81%
2007 6,400,698+1.59%
2010 6,800,180+2.23%
2015 7,396,898+1.61%
2020 8,081,988+1.76%
Data in 2015 includes Negros Oriental.
Data in 2020 includes Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [1] [10] [11] [12]

According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,545,603. Before Negros Oriental and Siquijor separated from the region in 2024, it was 8,081,988.

The population density was 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi). The 2015 census showed an average annual population growth rate of 1.76% from 2010 to 2015, slightly higher than the national average of 1.72%. [1]

Languages

The native languages of Central Visayas are:

Economy

A skyline view of Cebu City. Cebu Business Park and IT Park skyline, Kamputhaw (Cebu City; 09-07-2022).jpg
A skyline view of Cebu City.

Poverty incidence of Central Visayas

10
20
30
40
2006
35.90
2009
31.01
2012
30.22
2015
29.36
2018
17.7
2021
22.10

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Central Visayas has the fourth-largest economy in the Philippines. [21] Cebu City serves as the region's economic hub.

Transportation

Ports

Fastcraft terminal for ferrying passengers from Cebu to Negros Island. Santander port.jpg
Fastcraft terminal for ferrying passengers from Cebu to Negros Island.

The Port of Cebu is the region's main gateway by sea. Other seaports in the region include the Liloan Port in Santander, Cebu and the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, including ro-ro companies Montenegro Lines and Lite Ferries and fastcraft companies OceanJet and Supercat.

Airports

Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Mactan Cebu International Airport.jpg
Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

Mactan–Cebu International Airport, located on Mactan Island in Metro Cebu, is the country's second-busiest airport and a gateway to the region by air. It is the secondary hub of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (and their subsidiaries), with flights to locations throughout the country. It also serves international flights to other Asian and intercontinental destinations. [22]

Bohol–Panglao International Airport serves Bohol and is the region's newest airport.

Mass media

Cebu City is the main media hub for the region. Large media networks – ABS-CBN, GMA Network, TV5, People's Television Network, CNN Philippines, and IBC 13 – maintain their respective local stations and branches for viewership, commercial and news coverage purposes. Most of these stations broadcast local news and public affairs as well as entertainment and dramas to cater to the local viewers.

Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Cebu City also has 20 local newspapers. Among the widely read are SunStar Cebu , Cebu Daily News, and The Freeman .

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visayas</span> Archipelago in the Philippines

The Visayas, or the Visayan Islands, are one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao. Located in the central part of the archipelago, it consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are also considered the northeast extremity of the entire Sulu Sea. Its inhabitants are predominantly the Visayan peoples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siquijor</span> Province in Negros Island Region, Philippines

Siquijor, officially the Province of Siquijor, is a Philippine island province located within the Negros Island Region. Its largest town and capital is the municipality of Siquijor. The province lies south of Cebu, southeast of Negros Oriental, southwest of Bohol, and north of Mindanao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Mindanao</span> Administrative region of the Philippines

Northern Mindanao is an administrative region in the Philippines, designated as Region X. It comprises five provinces: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte, and two cities classified as highly urbanized, all occupying the north-central part of Mindanao island, and the island-province of Camiguin. The regional center and largest city is Cagayan de Oro. Lanao del Norte was transferred to Northern Mindanao from Region XII by virtue of Executive Order No. 36 in September 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negros Oriental</span> Province in Negros Island Region, Philippines

Negros Oriental, officially the Province of Negros Oriental, is a province in the Philippines located in the Negros Island Region. Its capital is the city of Dumaguete, one of the two regional centers of Negros Island Region. It occupies the southeastern half of the large island of Negros, and borders Negros Occidental, which comprises the northwestern half. It also includes Apo Island, a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lapu-Lapu City</span> Highly urbanized city in Cebu, Philippines

Lapu-Lapu City, officially the City of Lapu-Lapu, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 497,604.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talisay, Cebu</span> Component city in Cebu, Philippines

Talisay, officially the City of Talisay, is a 3rd class component city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 263,048 people, making it the most populous component city in Visayas.. The city is applying for a Highly Urbanized City (HUC) status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dauin</span> Municipality in Negros Oriental, Philippines

Dauin, officially the Municipality of Dauin is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 30,018 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamboanguita</span> Municipality in Negros Oriental, Philippines

Zamboanguita, officially the Municipality of Zamboanguita, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,569 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asturias, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Asturias, officially the Municipality of Asturias, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 55,397 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordova, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Cordova, officially the Municipality of Cordova, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 70,595 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilar, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Pilar, officially the Municipality of Pilar, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 12,506 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poro, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Poro, officially the Municipality of Poro, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,232 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santander, Cebu</span> Municipality in Cebu, Philippines

Santander, officially the Municipality of Santander, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 18,527 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larena</span> Municipality in Siquijor, Philippines

Larena, officially the Municipality of Larena, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Siquijor, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 14,454 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siquijor, Siquijor</span> Capital of Siquijor, Philippines

Siquijor, officially the Municipality of Siquijor, is a 4th class municipality and capital of the province of Siquijor, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 28,915 people making it the most populous town in the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bien Unido</span> Municipality in Bohol, Philippines

Bien Unido, officially the Municipality of Bien Unido, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 26,666 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calape</span> Municipality in Bohol, Philippines

Calape, officially the Municipality of Calape, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,079 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getafe, Bohol</span> Municipality in Bohol, Philippines

Getafe, officially the Municipality of Getafe and also spelled as Jetafe, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,422 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opol</span> Municipality in Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Opol, officially the Municipality of Opol, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,327 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebuano people</span> Ethnolinguistic group of the Philippines

The Cebuano people are the largest subgroup of the larger ethnolinguistic group Visayans, who constitute the largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group in the country. They originated in the province of Cebu in the region of Central Visayas, but then later spread out to other places in the Philippines, such as Siquijor, Bohol, Negros Oriental, southwestern Leyte, western Samar, Masbate, and large parts of Mindanao. It may also refer to the ethnic group who speak the same language as their native tongue in different parts of the archipelago. The term Cebuano also refers to the demonym of permanent residents in Cebu island regardless of ethnicity.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "2021 to 2023 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)". openstat.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Change in name will be good for Philippines". Inquirer Opinion. July 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Should the Philippines be renamed? Historian weighs in".
  5. ↑ "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region". Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Marcos signs law creating Negros Island Region". ABS-CBN. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Population, Land Area, Population Density, and Percent Change in Population Density of the Philippines by Region, Province/Highly Urbanized City, and City/Municipality: 2010, 2015, and 2020" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  10. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). National Statistics Office . Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. ↑ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office . Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  12. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  15. ↑ "2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. February 8, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018". Philippine Statistics Authority. June 4, 2020.
  20. ↑ "2021 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 15, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L. "Central Visayas remains Philippine's 4th largest economy". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Mactan Cebu International Airport - Cebu Pacific - Philippines". mactan–cebuairport.com.ph. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
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