3. Continent Asia
Region Southeast Asia
Coordinates 13°00'N 122°00'E
Area Ranked 64th
• Total 300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi)
• Land 99.38%
• Water 0.62%
Demographic Profile
4. Coastline 36,289 km (22,549 mi)
Borders None
Highest point Mount Apo 2,954 m
(9,691 ft)
Lowest point
Galathea Depth
10,540 m/34,580 ft (sea
level)
Longest river Cagayan River
Largest lake Laguna de Bay
6. The Philippines is an archipelago that consist
7,107 islands with a total land area of 300,000
square kilometers (115,831 sq mi).
The 11 largest islands contain 94% of the total
land area. The largest of these islands is Luzon at
about 105,000 square kilometers (40,541 sq mi).
The next largest island is Mindanao at about 95,000
square kilometers (36,680 sq mi). The archipelago is
around 800 kilometers (500 mi) from the Asian
mainland and is located between Taiwan and Borneo.
7. The islands are divided into three
groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Luzon islands include Luzon
Island itself, Palawan, Mindoro,
Marinduque, Masbate and Batanes Islands.
The Visayas is the group of islands in the central
Philippines, the largest of which are: Panay, Negros,
Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.
The Mindanao islands include Mindanao itself, plus
the Sulu Archipelago, composed primarily
of Basilan, Sulu Island, and Tawi-Tawi.
10. The rain forests also offer prime habitat
for more than 500 species of birds,
including the Philippine eagle (or monkey-
eating eagle), some 800 species of
orchids, and some 8,500 species of
flowering plants.
11. Laguna de Bay, east of Manila Bay, is the largest
freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers
have been harnessed for hydroelectric power.
12. Political
Geography
The Philippines is divided into a hierarchy
of local government units (LGUs) with the
80 provinces as the primary unit.
Provinces are further subdivided
into cities and municipalities, which are
in turn composed of barangays.
The barangay is the smallest local
government unit.
13. The Philippines is divided into 17
regions with all provinces grouped
into one of 16 regions for
administrative convenience.
The National Capital Region however,
is divided into four special districts.
The regions themselves do not
possess a separate local government,
with the exception of
the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao.
14. Short Name Full name Regional center
NCR NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION MANILA CITY
CAR CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION BAGUIO CITY
REGION I ILOCOS REGION SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION
REGION II CAGAYAN VALLEY TUGUEGARAO CITY
REGION III CENTRAL LUZON SAN FERNANDO CITY,PAMPANGA
REGION IV-A CALABARZON CALAMBA, LAGUNA
REGION IV-B MIMAROPA CALAPA
REGION V BICOL REGION LEGAZPI CITY
REGION VI WESTERN VISAYAS ILOILO CITY
REGION VII CENTRAL VISAYAS CEBU CITY
REGION VIII EASTERN VISAYAS TACLOBAN CITY
REGION IX ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA PAGADIAN CITY
REGION X NORTHERN MINDANAO CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY
REGION XI DAVAO REGION DAVAO CITY
REGION XII SOCCSKSARGEN KORONADAL CITY
REGION XIII CARAGA REGION BUTUAN CITY
ARMM AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MIDANAO COTABATO CITY
48. Abra
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Aklan
Albay
Antique
Apayao
Aurora
Basilan
Bataan
Batanes
Batangas
Benguet
Biliran
Bohol
Bukidnon
Bulacan
Cagayan
Camarines Norte
Camarines Sur
Camiguin
Capiz
Catanduanes
Cavite
Cebu
Compostela Valley
Cotabato
Davao del Norte
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental
Davao Oriental
Dinagat Islands
Eastern Samar
Guimaras
Ifugao
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Iloilo
Isabela
Kalinga
La Union
Laguna
49. Lanao del Norte
Lanao del Sur
Leyte
Maguindanao
Marinduque
Masbate
Misamis
Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Mountain Province
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental
Northern Samar
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Vizcaya
Occidental
Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Pampanga
Pangasinan
Quezon
Quirino
Rizal
Romblon
Samar
Sarangani
Siquijor
Sorsogon
South Cotabato
Southern Leyte
Sultan Kudarat
Sulu
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur
Tarlac
Tawi-Tawi
Zambales
Zamboanga del
Norte
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga
Sibugay
50. List of landlocked provinces in
the Philippines
A landlocked province is one that
has no coastline, meaning no
access to sea or ocean. There are
16 landlocked provinces in the
Philippines:
51. All provinces of Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR): Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain
Province, Ifugao and Benguet
52. Two provinces of Cagayan Valley (Region
II): Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino
53. Two provinces of Central
Luzon (Region III): Nueva
Ecija and Tarlac
54. Three provinces of Mindanao:
Bukidnon of Northern Mindanao (Region X)
South Cotabato of SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Agusan del Sur of Caraga (Region XIII)
55. List of island provinces in the
Philippines
An island province completely
surrounded by water, is the opposite
of a landlocked one. There are 16
island provinces in the Philippines:
64. Three provinces of Autonomous Region in
Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM): Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi
65. Geographic center
The island province
of Marinduque prides itself as being the
geographic center of the Philippines.
66. The extreme points under Philippine control as of 2010 are:
Direction Location
Coordinates
Latitude (N) Longitude (E)
North Amianan Island, Batanes 21º7’18.41" 121º56’48.79"
East Pusan Point, Davao Oriental[a]
7º17’19.80" 126º36’18.26"
South Frances Reef, Tawi-Tawi 4º24’53.84" 119º14’50.71"
West Thitu Island[b]
, Kalayaan, Palawan 11°3’10.19" 114°16’54.66"
68. The Philippines has a tropical wet
climate dominated by a rainy season
and a dry season. The summer
monsoon brings heavy rains to most
of the archipelago from May to
October, whereas the winter
monsoon brings cooler and drier air
from December to February.
69. The Philippines is prone to about 6-9
storms which make landfall each year,
on average. The 1991 Mount
Pinatubo eruption also damaged
much of Central Luzon, the lahar
burying towns and farmland, and the
ashes affecting global temperatures.
71. The Philippine
Archipelago is
geologically part of
the Philippine Mobile
Belt located between
the Philippine Sea
Plate, the South China
Sea Basin of the
Eurasian Plate, and
the Sunda Plate.
72. The highest point in the
country is the peak ofMount
Apo in Mindanao, which is
2,954 meters (9,692 ft) above
sea level.
The second highest point can
be found on Luzon at Mount
Pulog, a peak 2,842 meters
(9,324 ft) above sea level.
73. The Philippine Trench (also called the
Mindanao Trench) is a submarine trench 1,320
kilometers (820 mi) in length found directly
east of the Philippine Mobile Belt and is the
result of a collision of tectonic plates.
Its deepest point, the Galathea Depth, has a
depth of 10,540 meters (34,580 ft).
The Philippine Fault System consists of a series
of seismic faults that produce
several earthquakes per year, most of which
are not felt.
74. Mount Mayon has the world's
most perfectly-shaped cone. It
has a violent history of 47
eruptions since 1616 and
another violent eruption is
currently feared.
Taal Volcano, also located on
Luzon, is one of the Decade
Volcanoes.
75. The longest river is
the Cagayan River or Rio
Grande de Cagayan in
northern Luzon measuring
354 kilometers.
In Mindanao, the longest
river is the Rio Grande de
Mindanao or Mindanao
River
76. Most of the islands used to be covered
by tropical rainforests.
77. Luzon
The Batanes and Babuyan Islands
are found on the Luzon Strait
north of the Philippines facing
Taiwan. It contains the
northernmost point of land, the
islet of Y'Ami in the Batanes
Islands, separated from Taiwan by
the Bashi Channel (c.80.4672
kilometers (50.0000 mi) wide).
78. Western Luzon
This region stretches from Mairaira Point
in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte in the north to
Cochinos Point in Mariveles, Bataan in the
south.
The terrain ranges from coastal plains to
rugged mountains bordered by the South
China Sea in the west and the Cordillera
Central and Zambales mountain ranges in the
east.
Western Luzon is known for its beaches, surf
spots and historic towns.
79. Cagayan Valley is a region of the Philippines, also
designated as Region II or Region 02.
It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes
with Basco as the capital, Cagayan, Tuguegarao
City as the capital, Isabela considered to be the
heart of the region with Ilagan City as the capital,
Nueva Vizcaya with Bayombong as the capital, and
Quirino with Cabarroguis as the capital.
It has four cities; Cauayan and Ilagan City in
Isabela, its regional center - Tuguegarao City in
Cagayan, and its commercial center - Santiago City
in Isabela.
80. Cordilleras and Caraballos
The Cordilleras and Caraballos, together with
the Sierra Madre Range, form the main
mountain system in Northern Luzon.
The Cordilleras consists of 2, sometimes 3,
mountain ranges that are found in
northwestern central Luzon.
81. Sierra Madre range
The Sierra Madre range is the longest mountain
range in the Philippines and lies in the
Northeastern part of Luzon Island.
82. Central Luzon plains
The largest plain in the country and
produces most of the country's rice
supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice
Bowl of the Philippines". Its provinces
are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva
Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.
83. Manila-Calabarzon plains
This region is where the capital of the
Philippines is located.
In the Northern part of the region, that is,
Manila and Rizal, most of the plain has
been converted into cities, and are thus
industrialized.
The plain harbors the largest inland
freshwater lake in Southeast Asia,
the Laguna de Bay
84. Mindoro coastal plains
Mindoro's coastal plains are characterized
by rice and corn fields, rivers, beaches, and
extensive open space areas.
The endangered tamaraw, or Mindoro
dwarf buffalo, is located on Mindoro.
85. PALAWAN
Kalayaan islands (Spratly Islands)
The Kalayaan islands are located to
the west of Palawan. "Kalayaan" is a
Filipino word meaning "freedom".
86. MINDANAO
It is the second largest island in the country
at 94,630 sq. mi.
Zamboanga Peninsula has a very
mountainous terrain. The chain of mountain
ranges in this region is called Zamboanga
Cordilleras. The highest mountain in these
ranges is Mt. Dapi, which is 2,617 meters
(8,586 ft) high.
87. Bukidnon-Lanao plateaus
The plateaus are located in the north-central
portion of Mindanao. They are extensive
flatlands around the height of 1,300 meters
(4,300 ft) above sea level.
88. STATISTICS
Area
Total: 300,000 square kilometres (115,831 sq mi)
Land: 298,170 square kilometres (115,124 sq mi)
Water: 1,830 square kilometres (707 sq mi)
The information is taken from CIA Factbook information for the
Philippines.
91. Irrigated land
15,500 square kilometers (5,985 sq mi)
(2003)
Natural hazards
The Philippines sit astride typhoon belt
and are usually affected by 15 and
struck by five to six cyclonic storms per
year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis.
92. Environment - current issues
Uncontrolled deforestation in watershed
areas; soil erosion; air and water
pollution in Manila; increasing pollution
of coastal mangrove swamps which are
important fish breeding grounds; severe
water pollution that caused the death of
one of the country's major rivers,
though there are ongoing efforts at
resuscitation.
94. Environment - international
agreements
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
105. Major Industries
ARMM (Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao)
• CROPS – Palay, Corn,
Banana, Coconut, Durian,
Pineapple
• FOOD PROCESSING
• MASS TRANSPORTATION
OPERATION
106. REGION 1 – ILOCOS REGION
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Ilocos Norte 3,467.9 568,017
Ilocos Sur 2,596.0 658,587
La Union 1,497.7 741,906
Pangasinan 5,451.0 2,779,862
Total 13,012.6 4,748,372
107. REGION 2 – CAGAYAN VALLEY
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Batanes 219.0 16,604
Cagayan 9,295.8 1,124,773
Isabela 12,414.9 1,489,645
Nueva Vizcaya 3,975.7 421,355
Quirino 2,323.5 176,786
Total 28,228.9 3,229,163
108. REGION 3 – CENTRAL LUZON
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Aurora 3,147.3 201,233
Bataan 1,373.0 687,482
Bulacan 2,796.1 2,924,433
Nueva Ecija 5,751.3 1,955,373
Pampanga 2,062.5 2,014,019
Angeles City 326, 336
Tarlac 3,053.6 1,273,240
Zambales 3,830.8 534,443
Olongapo City 221,178
Total 22,014.6 10,137,737
109. REGION 4.A – CALABARZON
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Batangas 3,119.8 2,377,395
Cavite 1,574.2 3,090,691
Laguna 1,917.9 2,669,847
Quezon 9,069.6 1,740,638
Lucena City 246,392
Rizal 1,191.9 2,484,840
Total 16,873.4 12,609,803
110. REGION 4.B – MIMAROPA
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Marinduque 952.6 227,828
Occidental Mindoro 5,865.7 452,971
Oriental Mindoro 4,238.4 785,602
Palawan 17,030.8 771,667
Puerto Princesa City 222,673
Romblon 1,533.5 283,930
Total 29,621 2,744,671
111. REGION 5 – BICOL REGION
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Albay 2,575.8 1,233,432
Camarines Norte 2,320.1 542,915
Camarines Sur 5,497.0 1,822,371
Catanduanes 1,492.2 246,300
Masbate 4,151.8 834,650
Sorsogon 2,119.0 740,743
Total 18,155.9 5,420,411
112. REGION 6 – WESTERN VISAYAS
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Aklan 1,821.4 535,725
Antique 2,729.2 546,031
Capiz 2,594.6 719,685
Guimaras 604.6 162,943
Iloilo 5,079.2 1,805,576
Iloilo City 424,619
Negros Occidental 7,965.2 2,396,039
Bacolod City 511,82o
Total 20,794.2 7,102,438
113. REGION 7 – CENTRAL VISAYAS
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Bohol 4,821.0 1,255,128
Cebu 5,342.0 2,619,362
Cebu City 866,171
Lapu-Lapu City 350,467
Mandaue City 331,320
Negros OrientaL 5,385.5 1,286,666
Siquijor 337.5 91,066
Total 15,886.0 6,800,180
114. NCR- National Capital Region
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Caloocan City 55.8 1,489,040
Las Piñas City 32.7 552,573
Makati City 21.6 529,039
Malabon City 15.7 353,337
Mandaluyong City 9.3 328,699
Manila 25.0 1,652,171
Marikina City 21.5 424,150
Muntinlupa City 39.8 459,941
Navotas City 8.9 249,131
115. NCR- National Capital Region
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Parañaque City 46.6 588,126
Pasay City 14.0 392,869
Pasig City 48.5 669,773
Pateros 10.4 64,147
Quezon City 171.7 2,761,720
San Juan City 6.0 121,430
Taguig City 45.2 644,473
Valenzuela City 47.0 575,356
Total 619.7 11,855,975
116. Region 8 – Eastern Visayas
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Biliran 536.0 161,760
Eastern Samar 4,660.5 428,877
Leyte 6,515.1 1,567,984
Northern Samar 3,692.9 589,013
Samar 6,048.0 733,377
Southern Leyte 1,798.6 399,137
Total 23,251.1 3,880,148
117. Region 9 – Zamboanga Peninsula
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Zamboanga Del Norte 7,301.0 957,997
Zamboanga Del Sur 5,194.2 959,685
Zamboanga City 807,129
Zamboanga Sibugay 3,607.8 584,685
City of Isabela 223.7 97,857
Total 17,046.6 3,407,353
118. Region 10 – Northern Mindanao
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Bukidnon 10,496.6 1,299,192
Camiguin 238.0 83,807
Lanao del Norte 4,159.9 607,917
Iligan City 322,821
Misamis Occidental 2,055.2 567,642
Misamis Oriental 3,544.3 813,856
Cagayan De Oro City 602,088
Total 20,494 4,297,323
119. Region 11 – Davao Region
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Compostela Valley 4,479.8 687,195
Davao del Norte 3,427.0 945,764
Davao del Sur 6,771.0 868,690
Davao City 1,449,296
Davao Oriental 5,679.6 517,618
Total 20,357.4 4,468,563
120. Region 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN
Land Area Sq. KM Population
North Cotabato 9,008.9 1,226,508
Sarangani 3,601.3 498,904
South Cotabato 4,428.8 827,200
General Santos City 538,086
Sultan Kudarat 5,298.3 747,087
Cotabato City 176.0 2 71,786
Total 22,513.3 4,109,571
121. Region 13 – Caraga
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Agusan Del Norte 3,546.9 332,487
Butuan City 309,709
Agusan Del Sur 9,989.5 656,418
Dinagat Island 1,036.3 126,803
Surigao Del Norte 1,972.9 442,588
Surigao Del Sur 4,932.7 561,219
Total 21,478.3 2,429,224
122. ARMM – Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao
Land Area Sq. KM Population
Basilan 2,295.0 293,322
Lanao Del Sur 13,494.4 933,260
Maguindanao 9,729.0 944,718
Sulu 3,436.99 718,290
Tawi-Tawi 3,626.6 366.550
Total 12,694.3 3,256,140
123. The Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park is one
of the most significant protected areas of he Philippines. It is
located in the mid-west Coast of Palawan, some 76 kms
northwest of Puerto Princesa City. The site features a
spectacular limestone or karst mountain landscape with one
of the most impressive cave systems in the world. It contains
an 8.2 kilometer-long underground river that flows directly
to the sea.
Puerto Princesa Underground River, Palawan
125. As the second highest mountain peak in the
Philippines, Mt Pulag attracts a lot of mountain
climers. Highlights of the climb include the
forest and the grassland summit with its ‘’ Sea of
Clouds” phenomenon. Described as a
rejuvenating experience, the mountain has one
o the best sunset and sunrise views in the
country where you can see the entire Cordillera
around you.
126. Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Burgos, Ilocos Norte
The Kapurpurawan Rock Formation was created through
weathering and erosion on the rocky coast of Burgos, Ilocos
Norte. It offers a breathtaking view of different rock shapes
that can completely amaze tourists who visit the place.
127. Mt. Pinatubo, Zambales
Mt. Pinatubo is an active volcano located on the island of Luzon at
the intersection of the borders of the provinces of Zambales,
Tarlac, and Pampanga. The volcano’s eruption in June 1991,which
was one of the largest and most violent eruptions of the 20th
century,came after 500 years of dormancy.
128. Callao Caves, Peñablanca, Cagayan
Callao Cave is a seven chambered cave with a Cathedral-
like chamber which was turned into a chapel by the Local
Government. Outstanding stalactites and stalagmites are
formed in the deeper chambers of the cave.
129. Banaue Rice Teracces, Ifugao
The world famous rice terraces is an engineering
marvel built more than 2,000 years ago by Ifugao
tribes people. It is listed in the UNESCO World
Herotage Sites and dubbed as the “Eight Wonder of
the World”
130. Boracay Island, Malay, aklan
Shaped like a dumbbell, Boracay Island is located on
the northwestern tip of Panay Island. The island is
about7kms long and consist of three communities
locally called barangays: Yapak in the north, balabag
in the Center and Manoc-Manoc in the South.
131. Apo island, Negros Oriental
Apo island is one of the
smallest volcanic islands
in the Philippines. It is
one of the world’s best
known marine
sanctuaries. Beneath the
clear sparkling blue
waters of the island lies a
breathtaking collection of
over 600 documented
fish species and 400
varieties of corals.
132. Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
Lake Sebu is a natural lake located in the
municipality of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato within
the Allah Valley Region. The government has
recognized it as one of the country’s most
important watersheds.
