Western Visayas Kabisay-an Nakatundan Kanlurang Kabisayaan | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 11°08′N122°32′E / 11.13°N 122.53°E | |
Country | Philippines |
Island group | Visayas |
Regional center | Iloilo City |
Largest city | Bacolod |
Area | |
• Total | 20,794.18 km2 (8,028.68 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 2,465 m (8,087 ft) |
Population (2020 census) [1] | |
• Total | 7,954,723 |
• Density | 380/km2 (990/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
ISO 3166 code | PH-06 |
Provinces | |
Independent Cities | |
Component cities | |
Municipalities | 117 |
Barangays | 4,051 |
Cong. districts | 16 |
Languages | |
GDP (2023) | ₱1.24 trillion $22.38 billion [2] |
Growth rate | (7.2%) [2] |
HDI | 0.761 (High) |
HDI rank | 5th in the Philippines (2019) |
Western Visayas (Hiligaynon : Kabisay-an Nakatundan; Tagalog : Kanlurang Kabisayaan or Kanlurang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental) and two highly urbanized cities (Bacolod and Iloilo City). The regional center is Iloilo City. [3] The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan languages: Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Aklanon and Capiznon. The land area of the region is 20,794.18 km2 (8,028.68 sq mi), and with a population of 7,954,723 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the Visayas after Central Visayas. [4]
On May 29, 2015, the region was realigned, when Western Visayas (Region VI) lost both the province of Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the region was dissolved, resulting in the return of Negros Occidental and Bacolod to Western Visayas Region on August 9, 2017.
The region's current name is in reference to its geographic position in the greater Visayas area.
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. The provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo (including its then-subprovince of Guimaras), and Negros Occidental were grouped together to form the Western Visayas region.
The province of Palawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005, by Executive Order 429. [5] The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed. [6] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005, to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI. [7] Hence, Palawan is currently still part of Region IV-B.
By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod, were both removed from Western Visayas in order to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros Oriental. [8] But later regained Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City back into Western Visayas on August 9, 2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management. [9]
Western Visayas consists of the major island of Panay and the smaller Guimaras, as well as several outlying islands. It also includes the western half of the larger island of Negros. The region is bordered to the north by the Sibuyan Sea, northeast by the Visayan Sea, east by the province of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas, south by the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf, and west by the Sulu Sea.
Western Visayas consists of 6 provinces, 2 highly urbanized cities, 14 component cities, 117 municipalities and 4,051 barangays.
Province orHUC | Capital | Population (2020) [10] | Area [11] [ failed verification ] | Density | Cities | Muni. | Barangay | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||||||
Aklan | Kalibo | 7.7% | 615,475 | 1,760.30 | 679.66 | 350 | 910 | 0 | 17 | 327 | ||
Antique | San Jose de Buenavista | 7.7% | 612,974 | 2,730.67 | 1,054.32 | 220 | 570 | 0 | 18 | 590 | ||
Capiz | Roxas | 10.1% | 804,952 | 2,594.64 | 1,001.80 | 310 | 800 | 1 | 16 | 473 | ||
Guimaras | Jordan | 2.4% | 187,842 | 611.87 | 236.24 | 310 | 800 | 0 | 5 | 98 | ||
Iloilo | Iloilo City | 25.8% | 2,051,899 | 4,997.64 | 1,929.60 | 410 | 1,100 | 1 | 42 | 1,721 | ||
Negros Occidental | Bacolod | 33.0% | 2,623,172 | 7,844.12 | 3,028.63 | 330 | 850 | 12 | 19 | 601 | ||
Bacolod | † | — | 7.6% | 600,783 | 160.71 | 62.05 | 3,700 | 9,600 | — | — | 61 | |
Iloilo City | † | — | 5.8% | 457,626 | 78.34 | 30.25 | 5,800 | 15,000 | — | — | 180 | |
Total | 7,954,723 | 20,778.29 | 8,022.54 | 380 | 980 | 16 | 117 | 4,051 | ||||
|
Province | Image | Governor | Political Party | Vice Governor | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jose Enrique Miraflores | PDP–Laban | Reynaldo Quimpo | |||
Rhodora Cadiao | NUP | Edgar Denosta | |||
Fredenil Castro | Lakas | James Magbanua | |||
Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava | NUP | John Edward Gando | |||
Arthur Defensor Jr. | NUP | Christine Garin | |||
Eugenio Jose Lacson | NPC | Jeffrey Ferrer |
City | Population (2020) [10] | Area | Density | City class | Income class | Province | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||
Bacolod | 600,783 | 160.71 | 62.05 | 3,700 | 9,600 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Negros Occidental |
Bago | 191,210 | 401.20 | 154.90 | 480 | 1,200 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Cadiz | 158,544 | 524.57 | 202.54 | 300 | 780 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Escalante | 96,159 | 192.76 | 74.43 | 500 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Himamaylan | 116,240 | 367.04 | 141.71 | 320 | 830 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
† Iloilo City | 457,626 | 78.34 | 30.25 | 5,800 | 15,000 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Iloilo |
Kabankalan | 200,198 | 697.35 | 269.25 | 290 | 750 | Component | 1st | Negros Occidental |
La Carlota | 66,664 | 137.29 | 53.01 | 490 | 1,300 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Passi | 88,873 | 251.39 | 97.06 | 350 | 910 | Component | 4th | Iloilo |
Roxas | 179,292 | 95.07 | 36.71 | 1,900 | 4,900 | Component | 1st | Capiz |
Sagay | 148,894 | 330.34 | 127.54 | 450 | 1,200 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
San Carlos | 132,650 | 451.50 | 174.33 | 290 | 750 | Component | 2nd | Negros Occidental |
Silay | 130,478 | 214.80 | 82.93 | 610 | 1,600 | Component | 3rd | Negros Occidental |
Sipalay | 72,448 | 379.78 | 146.63 | 190 | 490 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Talisay | 108,909 | 201.18 | 77.68 | 540 | 1,400 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Victorias | 90,101 | 133.92 | 51.71 | 670 | 1,700 | Component | 4th | Negros Occidental |
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1903 | 1,083,474 | — |
1918 | 1,347,249 | +1.46% |
1939 | 2,173,579 | +2.30% |
1948 | 2,530,517 | +1.70% |
1960 | 3,078,305 | +1.65% |
1970 | 3,618,326 | +1.63% |
1975 | 4,146,390 | +2.77% |
1980 | 4,525,615 | +1.77% |
1990 | 5,393,333 | +1.77% |
1995 | 5,776,938 | +1.30% |
2000 | 6,211,038 | +1.57% |
2007 | 6,843,643 | +1.35% |
2010 | 7,102,438 | +1.36% |
2015 | 7,536,383 | +1.14% |
2020 | 7,954,723 | +1.07% |
Data in 2015 includes Negros Occidental and Bacolod. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [1] [12] |
The native languages of Western Visayas are:
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
The major trading and commercial centers of Western Visayas are the cities of Iloilo City in Iloilo; Bacolod and Kabankalan in Negros Occidental; Roxas City in Capiz; San Jose in Antique; and Kalibo in Aklan. Metro Iloilo, composed of Iloilo City and the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, and Cabatuan, and the island province of Guimaras, is the center for commercial, financial, and industrial activities in the region.
Proposals to re-connect again Iloilo-Roxas, Iloilo-Kalibo, Iloilo-Malay (Aklan) and Iloilo-San Jose (Antique) from the Iloilo City via rail was included in the revival of the currently defunct Panay Railways network which has a station in Santa Barbara town proper. [20]
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.
Panay is the sixth-largest and fourth-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 12,011 km2 (4,637 sq mi) and has a total population of 4,542,926 as of 2020 census. Panay comprises 4.4 percent of the entire population of the country. The City of Iloilo is its largest settlement with a total population of 457,626 inhabitants as of 2020 census.
Iloilo, officially the Province of Iloilo, is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital and largest city is Iloilo City, the regional center of Western Visayas. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of the Visayan island of Panay and is bordered by the province of Antique to the west, Capiz to the north, the Jintotolo Channel to the northeast, the Guimaras Strait to the east, and the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf to the southwest.
Negros Occidental, officially the Province of Negros Occidental (Hiligaynon: Kapuoran sang Nakatungdang Negros (Negros Occidental; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Kanlurang Negros, is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Bacolod, of which it is geographically situated and grouped under by the Philippine Statistics Authority, but remains politically independent from the provincial government. It occupies the northwestern half of the large island of Negros, and borders Negros Oriental, which comprises the southeastern half. Known as the "Sugarbowl of the Philippines", Negros Occidental produces more than half the nation's sugar output.
Guimaras, officially the Province of Guimaras, is an island province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. The capital is Jordan, while the largest local government unit for it is the municipality of Buenavista. The province is situated in Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental. The whole island is part of the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras, one of the twelve metropolitan areas of the Philippines.
Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz, is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Roxas. It is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan to the north, Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north.
Bacolod, officially the City of Bacolod, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the region of Western Visayas, Philippines. It is the capital of the province of Negros Occidental, where it is geographically situated but governed administratively independent.
Buenavista, officially the Municipality of Buenavista, is a 2nd class municipality and the largest settlement in the province of Guimaras, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 52,899 people.
The Archdiocese of Jaro is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church headquartered in Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. Its episcopal see is at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, as its seat. The metropolitan archdiocese covers the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, and Negros Occidental. Its titular patron saint is Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast is celebrated on November 17.
Libacao, officially the Municipality of Libacao, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 28,272 people.
Malay, officially the Municipality of Malay, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. It is the richest municipality in the province in terms of revenue. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 60,077 people making it the second most populated town in Aklan.
Nabas, officially the Municipality of Nabas, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. Nabas serves as the arrival gateway of Boracay Airport. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,632 people, making it the fifth most populous town in Aklan Province..
Kabankalan, officially the City of Kabankalan, is a 1st class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 200,198 people making it the second most populous city in Negros Occidental next to Bacolod.
Sipalay, officially the City of Sipalay, is a 4th class component city in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 72,448 people. It is the top tourist destination in the province of Negros Occidental.
Balasan, officially the Municipality of Balasan, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 35,064 people.
Carles, officially the Municipality of Carles, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 72,637 people.
The Hiligaynon people, often referred to as Ilonggo people or Panayan people, are the second largest subgroup of the larger Visayan ethnic group, whose primary language is Hiligaynon, an Austronesian language of the Visayan branch native to Panay, Guimaras, and Negros. They originated in the province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the region of Western Visayas. Over the years, inter-migrations and intra-migrations have contributed to the diaspora of the Hiligaynon to different parts of the Philippines. Today, the Hiligaynon, apart from the province of Iloilo, also form the majority in the provinces of Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Capiz, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato.
Metropolitan Iloilo–Guimaras, also shortened as Metro Iloilo–Guimaras or Metro Iloilo, or simply MIG, is a metropolitan area in the Western Visayas in the Philippines. It is situated on the southeastern coast of Panay, including the nearby island province of Guimaras, surrounded by the Iloilo and Guimaras straits.
Negros is the fourth largest and third most populous island in the Philippines, with a total land area of 13,309 km2 (5,139 sq mi). The coastal zone of the southern part of Negros is identified as a site of highest marine biodiversity importance in the Coral Triangle.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Western Visayas is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus reached Western Visayas on March 20, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Bacolod. All provinces have at least one confirmed COVID-19 case.