List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines

The Philippines has six metropolitan areas established through Philippine Law (Development Body is in Parentheses): Manila (MMDA) ^[1] , Metro Cebu (MCDCB) ^[2] , Metro Naga (MNDA) ^[3] , Metro Iloilo-Guimaras (MIGEDC) ^[4] , Metro Davao (MDDA) ^[5] and Metro BLISTT / Metro Baguio (MBLISTTDA) ^[6] .

List

Metropolitan areas

	Metro area  [7]	Population (2020)  [8]		Area  [9] [10]		Density (2020)		Managing agency
				km2	sq mi	/km2	/sq mi
	Metro Cebu	3,165,799		1,053.19	406.64	3,000	7,800	Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board [11]
10°06′12″N123°38′26″E / 10.1033°N 123.6405°E / 10.1033; 123.6405 (Carcar)	Carcar	4.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 136,453	116.78	45.09	1,200	3,100
10°18′32″N123°53′35″E / 10.3090°N 123.8930°E / 10.3090; 123.8930 (Cebu City)	Cebu City	30.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 964,169	315.00	121.62	3,100	8,000
10°27′26″N124°00′37″E / 10.4571°N 124.0104°E / 10.4571; 124.0104 (Compostela)	Compostela	1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 55,874	53.90	20.81	1,000	2,600
10°22′35″N123°57′26″E / 10.3765°N 123.9572°E / 10.3765; 123.9572 (Consolacion)	Consolacion	4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 148,012	37.03	14.30	4,000	10,000
10°15′05″N123°57′00″E / 10.2515°N 123.9499°E / 10.2515; 123.9499 (Cordova)	Cordova	2.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 70,595	17.15	6.62	4,100	11,000
10°31′14″N124°01′37″E / 10.5205°N 124.0270°E / 10.5205; 124.0270 (Danao)	Danao	4.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 156,321	107.30	41.43	1,500	3,900
10°18′39″N123°56′58″E / 10.3109°N 123.9494°E / 10.3109; 123.9494 (Lapu-Lapu)	Lapu-Lapu (Opon)	15.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 497,604	58.10	22.43	8,600	22,000
10°24′01″N123°59′57″E / 10.4002°N 123.9993°E / 10.4002; 123.9993 (Liloan)	Liloan	4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 153,197	45.92	17.73	3,300	8,500
10°19′28″N123°56′34″E / 10.3245°N 123.9428°E / 10.3245; 123.9428 (Mandaue)	Mandaue	11.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 364,116	25.18	9.72	14,000	36,000
10°14′42″N123°47′47″E / 10.2450°N 123.7964°E / 10.2450; 123.7964 (Minglanilla)	Minglanilla	4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 151,002	65.60	25.33	2,300	6,000
10°12′33″N123°45′24″E / 10.2093°N 123.7567°E / 10.2093; 123.7567 (Naga)	Naga	4.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 133,184	101.97	39.37	1,300	3,400
10°09′51″N123°42′21″E / 10.1643°N 123.7058°E / 10.1643; 123.7058 (San Fernando)	San Fernando	2.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 72,224	69.39	26.79	1,000	2,600
10°14′41″N123°50′50″E / 10.2446°N 123.8473°E / 10.2446; 123.8473 (Talisay)	Talisay	8.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 263,048	39.87	15.39	6,600	17,000
	Metro Davao	3,339,284		6,492.84	2,506.90	510	1,300	Metropolitan Davao Development Authority [12]
7°21′20″N125°42′16″E / 7.3556°N 125.7045°E / 7.3556; 125.7045 (Carmen)	Carmen	2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 82,018	166.00	64.09	490	1,300
7°03′50″N125°36′30″E / 7.0639°N 125.6083°E / 7.0639; 125.6083 (Davao City)	Davao City	53.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,776,949	2,443.61	943.48	730	1,900
6°44′39″N125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Digos)	Digos	5.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 188,376	287.10	110.85	660	1,700
6°44′39″N125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Hagonoy)	Hagonoy	1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 56,919	114.28	44.12	500	1,300
6°44′39″N125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Maco)	Maco	2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 83,237	342.23	132.14	240	620
6°44′39″N125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Malalag)	Malalag	1.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 40,158	186.12	71.86	220	570
6°44′39″N125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Malita)	Malita	3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 118,197	883.37	341.07	130	340
6°34′12″N126°07′48″E / 6.5700°N 126.1300°E / 6.5700; 126.1300 (Mati)	Mati	4.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 147,547	588.63	227.27	250	650
6°56′N126°58′E / 6.94°N 126.97°E / 6.94; 126.97 (Padada)	Padada	0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 29,878	83.00	32.05	360	930
7°18′01″N125°40′57″E / 7.3004°N 125.6826°E / 7.3004; 125.6826 (Panabo)	Panabo	6.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 209,230	251.23	97.00	830	2,100
7°04′28″N125°42′31″E / 7.0744°N 125.7086°E / 7.0744; 125.7086 (Samal)	Samal	3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 116,771	301.30	116.33	390	1,000
6°50′02″N125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Cruz)	Santa Cruz	3.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 101,125	319.91	123.52	320	830
6°50′02″N125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Maria)	Santa Maria	1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 57,526	175.00	67.57	330	850
6°50′02″N125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Maria)	Sulop	1.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 35,151	155.26	59.95	230	600
7°26′48″N125°48′34″E / 7.4468°N 125.8095°E / 7.4468; 125.8095 (Tagum)	Tagum	8.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 296,202	195.80	75.60	1,500	3,900
	Metro Manila	13,484,462		633.11	244.45	21,000	54,000	Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
14°39′26″N120°59′03″E / 14.6571°N 120.9841°E / 14.6571; 120.9841 (Caloocan)	Caloocan	12.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,661,584	53.20	20.54	31,000	80,000
14°28′50″N120°58′55″E / 14.4806°N 120.9819°E / 14.4806; 120.9819 (Las Piñas)	Las Piñas	4.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 606,293	32.02	12.36	19,000	49,000
14°33′24″N121°01′25″E / 14.5568°N 121.0235°E / 14.5568; 121.0235 (Makati)	Makati	4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 629,616	27.36	10.56	23,000	60,000
14°40′31″N120°57′26″E / 14.6752°N 120.9573°E / 14.6752; 120.9573 (Malabon)	Malabon	2.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 380,522	15.96	6.16	24,000	62,000
14°34′39″N121°02′00″E / 14.5774°N 121.0334°E / 14.5774; 121.0334 (Mandaluyong)	Mandaluyong	3.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 425,758	11.06	4.27	38,000	98,000
14°35′26″N120°58′48″E / 14.5906°N 120.9799°E / 14.5906; 120.9799 (Manila)	Manila	13.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,846,513	42.88	16.56	43,000	110,000
14°37′59″N121°05′57″E / 14.6331°N 121.0993°E / 14.6331; 121.0993 (Marikina)	Marikina	3.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 456,059	22.64	8.74	20,000	52,000
15°42′47″N120°54′15″E / 15.7131°N 120.9041°E / 15.7131; 120.9041 (Muntinlupa)	Muntinlupa	4.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 543,445	41.67	16.09	13,000	34,000
14°39′25″N120°56′52″E / 14.6569°N 120.9478°E / 14.6569; 120.9478 (Navotas)	Navotas	1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 247,543	11.51	4.44	22,000	57,000
14°30′03″N120°59′29″E / 14.5007°N 120.9915°E / 14.5007; 120.9915 (Parañaque)	Parañaque	5.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 689,992	47.28	18.25	15,000	39,000
14°32′37″N120°59′43″E / 14.5437°N 120.9954°E / 14.5437; 120.9954 (Pasay)	Pasay	3.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 440,656	18.64	7.20	24,000	62,000
14°33′38″N121°04′36″E / 14.5605°N 121.0767°E / 14.5605; 121.0767 (Pasig)	Pasig	6.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 803,159	31.46	12.15	26,000	67,000
14°32′32″N121°03′55″E / 14.5421°N 121.0654°E / 14.5421; 121.0654 (Pateros)	Pateros	0.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 65,227	1.76	0.68	37,000	96,000
14°39′03″N121°02′55″E / 14.6509°N 121.0486°E / 14.6509; 121.0486 (Quezon City)	Quezon City	22.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 2,960,048	165.33	63.83	18,000	47,000
14°36′17″N121°01′48″E / 14.6047°N 121.0299°E / 14.6047; 121.0299 (San Juan)	San Juan	0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 126,347	5.87	2.27	22,000	57,000
14°31′36″N121°04′28″E / 14.5266°N 121.0744°E / 14.5266; 121.0744 (Taguig)	Taguig	6.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 886,722	45.18	17.44	20,000	52,000
14°42′28″N120°56′46″E / 14.7077°N 120.9462°E / 14.7077; 120.9462 (Valenzuela)	Valenzuela	5.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 714,978	45.75	17.66	16,000	41,000

Regional centers

1. Antipolo
2. Bacolod
3. Baguio
4. Balanga
5. Baliwag
6. Batangas City
7. Butuan
8. Cabanatuan
9. Calamba
10. Calapan
11. Clark
12. Cotabato City
13. Dagupan
14. Dasmariñas
15. Dipolog
16. Eastern Kalinga (Tabuk–Pinukpuk–Rizal)
17. General Santos
18. Iloilo
19. Jolo
20. Koronadal
21. Laoag
22. Legazpi
23. Lucena
24. Malolos
25. Naga (Camarines Sur)
26. Ormoc
27. Pagadian
28. Puerto Princesa
29. San Fernando (La Union)
30. Santiago
31. Subic–Olongapo
32. Surigao City
33. Tacloban
34. Tagbilaran
35. Tagum
36. Tarlac City
37. Tuguegarao
38. Zamboanga City

Sub-regional centers

1. Alaminos
2. Alfonso Lista
3. Arayat
4. Aurora
5. Bacoor
6. Banaue
7. Bangued
8. Baras
9. Bauko
10. Bayog
11. Besao
12. Binangonan
13. Bislig
14. Biñan
15. Boac
16. Bogo
17. Bongao
18. Bontoc
19. Buug
20. Cabuyao
21. Cainta
22. Calbayog
23. Capas
24. Catbalogan
25. Cauayan
26. Concepcion
27. Daet
28. Danglas
29. Digos
30. Dumaguete
31. Dumalinao
32. Dumangas
33. Dumingag
34. Estancia
35. Flora
36. General Mariano Alvarez
37. General Trias
38. Gingoog
39. Glan
40. Hagonoy
41. Ilagan
42. Iligan
43. Imus
44. Ipil
45. Iriga
46. Isabela–Lamitan
47. Jordan
48. Kabankalan
49. Kabasalan
50. Kalibo
51. Kiangan
52. Kidapawan
53. La Paz
54. Laguindingan
55. Lamut
56. Langiden
57. Ligao
58. Lipa
59. Lubao
60. Luna
61. Mabalacat
62. Mahayag
63. Malay
64. Malaybalay
65. Malita
66. Maramag
67. Marawi
68. Margosatubig
69. Marilao
70. Mariveles
71. Masbate City
72. Mati
73. Matnog
74. Mexico
75. Meycauayan
76. Miagao
77. Midsayap
78. Molave
79. Nasugbu
80. Ozamiz
81. Panabo
82. Parang
83. Passi
84. Peñarrubia
85. Pidigan
86. Pili
87. Polomolok
88. Pudtol
89. Rodriguez
90. Romblon
91. Roxas
92. Sadanga
93. San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
94. San Fernando (Pampanga)
95. San Francisco
96. San Ildefonso
97. San Isidro
98. San Jose (Occidental Mindoro)
99. San Jose (Nueva Ecija)
100. San Jose de Buenavista
101. San Jose del Monte
102. San Mateo
103. San Miguel
104. San Pablo
105. San Pedro
106. Santa Ana
107. Santa Marcela
108. Santa Maria
109. Santa Rosa
110. Santo Tomas
111. Sariaya
112. Silang
113. Sindangan
114. Sorsogon City
115. Tabaco
116. Tacurong
117. Tanauan
118. Tandag
119. Tanza
120. Taytay
121. Tayum
122. Toledo
123. Trece Martires
124. Tubigon
125. Tubo
126. Tubod
127. Urdaneta
128. Valencia
129. Vigan
130. Virac

History

In 2020, 54% of the Philippine population lived in urban areas ^[13] encompassing many cities. Growth in some cities has led to urban spillover in adjacent municipalities.

Metro Manila was created in 1975 with the establishment of the Metro Manila Commission. This commission, reorganized in 1986 as the Metro Manila Authority, was renamed in 1995 as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). While MMDA has no power over the local government units (LGUs) it covers, it has worked with the LGUs to solve issues that affect all of them such as traffic management.

The practice of creating an intercity board or agency to determine the limits of a metropolitan area has become common.^{[ citation needed ]} A number of proposals have been created to create similar metropolitan arrangements in other areas of the country. In 1997, Cebu created the Metropolitan Cebu Development Council (MCDC), which was renamed the Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) in 2011. In 2022, Baguio ^[14] and Davao created their own metropolitan boards. Other proposed metropolitan boards include ones for Bulacan and Bataan.

List of built-up urban areas

The following table lists urban areas in the Philippines, with a population of over 500,000, according to Demographia's "World Urban Areas" study as of 2023. Demographia defines an urban area as a continuously built up land mass of urban development that is within a labor and housing market, without regard for administrative boundaries. ^[15]

Rank	Urban Area	Est. Population	Built-up Area (sq miles)	Built-up Area (sq km)	Pop. Density (per sq miles)	Pop. Density (per sq km)
1	Manila	24,156,000	738	1,911	32,732	12,638
2	Cebu City	2,482,000	79	205	31,418	12,130
3	Davao City	1,379,000	50	130	27,580	10,649
4	Cagayan de Oro	723,000	27	70	26,778	10,339
5	Angeles City	712,000	72	186	9,889	3,818
6	Bacolod	611,000	32	83	19,094	7,372
7	Iloilo City	542,000	35	91	15,486	5,979
8	Zamboanga City	539,000	21	54	25,667	9,910
9	General Santos	529,000	36	93	14,694	5,674

Gallery

• 
  Metro Manila
• 
  Metro Cebu
• 
  Metro Davao

See also

• List of cities in the Philippines
• List of metropolitan areas in Asia
• List of urban agglomerations in Asia

References

1. "AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES". Arellano Law Foundation.
2. "Fizzling of 'Ceboom': Insights from Hutchcroft and Gera's study (Part 2) by Ian Manticajon". Philippine Star.
3. "The Metro Naga Development Council: Treading New Grounds". Naga.gov.ph.
4. "CREATING THE METRO ILOILO-GUIMARAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (MIGEDC)". Arellano Law Foundation.
5. "AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN DAVAO DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR". Supreme Court E-Library.
6. "AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN BAGUIO CITY, LA TRINIDAD, ITOGON, SABLAN, TUBA, AND TUBLAY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MBLISTTDA), DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR Courtesy of Daily Tribune". Supreme Court E-Library.
7. "Chapter 3: Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and Physical Characteristics" (PDF). Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. National Economic and Development Authority: 37–38. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
8. Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
9. "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
10. "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
11. "What is MCDCB?". Mega Cebu Blog. March 2, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
12. Joviland Rita (April 27, 2022). "Duterte OKs creation of Metropolitan Davao Development Authority". GMA News Online . Retrieved 27 April 2022.
13. "Urban Population of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)". Philippine Statistics Authority. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
14. Keith, Gaby B. "Metro Baguio Devt Authority now a law" . The Manila Times . Manila Times Publishing Corp. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
15. Cox, Wendell (August 2023). "World Urban Areas 19th Annual: 2023" (PDF). Demographia. Retrieved 1 October 2024.