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] .

The Philippines has three metropolitan areas officially recognized by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) for their prominence, population, size, and economy: Manila, Cebu, and Davao. ^{[7] [8]} The most populous is Metro Manila, which includes the City of Manila, 15 neighboring cities, and one municipality. The largest by land area is Metro Davao in Mindanao.

Previously, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), DEPDev's predecessor, recognized ten other metropolitan areas: Metro Angeles, Metro Bacolod, Metro Baguio, Metro Batangas, Metro Cagayan de Oro, Metro Dagupan, Metro Iloilo–Guimaras, Metro Naga, and Metro Olongapo. However, these were not included as official metropolises in the 2017–2022 Philippine Development Plan prepared by NEDA. ^[9] By 2025, the population of Metro Cagayan de Oro is projected to reach a level that would qualify it for reclassification as a metropolitan area. ^[10]

The official definitions of these metropolitan areas, listed below, do not always reflect the actual extent of continuous urbanization. For instance, the built-up area of Metro Manila has long extended beyond its borders into the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. ^[11]

List

Metropolitan areas

	Metro area  [7]	Population (2020)  [12]		Area  [13] [14]		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 [15]
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 [16]
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. Cagayan de Oro
10. Calamba
11. Calapan
12. Clark
13. Cotabato City
14. Dagupan
15. Dasmariñas
16. Dipolog
17. Eastern Kalinga (Tabuk–Pinukpuk–Rizal)
18. General Santos
19. Iloilo
20. Jolo
21. Koronadal
22. Laoag
23. Legazpi
24. Lucena
25. Malolos
26. Naga (Camarines Sur)
27. Ormoc
28. Pagadian
29. Puerto Princesa
30. San Fernando (La Union)
31. Santiago
32. Subic–Olongapo
33. Surigao City
34. Tacloban
35. Tagbilaran
36. Tagum
37. Tarlac City
38. Tuguegarao
39. Zamboanga City

Sub-regional centers

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

History

In 2020, 54% of the Philippine population lived in urban areas ^[17] 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 ^[18] 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. ^[19]

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. "Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and Physical Characteristics" (PDF). National Economic Development Authority of the Philippines.
9. "Building Globally Competitive Metro Areas in the Philippines" (PDF). National Economic and Development Authority . August 30, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
10. Encarnacion, Ronnie; Magnaye, Dina; Castro, Annlouise Genevieve (January 4, 2023). "Spatial Analysis of Local Competitiveness: Relationship of Economic Dynamism of Cities and Municipalities in Major Regional Metropolitan Areas in the Philippines" (PDF). Sustainability. 15 (2): 4. doi: 10.3390/su15020950 – via ResearchGate.
11. "Demographia World Urban Areas, 12th Annual Edition: 2016:04" (PDF). 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017. Higher than other estimates, which are largely limited to the National Capital Region. Continuous urbanization extends into Cavite, Laguna, Bulucan [ sic ] and Rizal.
12. 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.
13. "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
14. "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
15. "What is MCDCB?". Mega Cebu Blog. March 2, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
16. Joviland Rita (April 27, 2022). "Duterte OKs creation of Metropolitan Davao Development Authority". GMA News Online . Retrieved 27 April 2022.
17. "Urban Population of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)". Philippine Statistics Authority. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
18. Keith, Gaby B. "Metro Baguio Devt Authority now a law" . The Manila Times . Manila Times Publishing Corp. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
19. Cox, Wendell (August 2023). "World Urban Areas 19th Annual: 2023" (PDF). Demographia. Retrieved 1 October 2024.