Central Visayas
Central Visayas (Cebuano: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an; Tagalog: Gitnang Kabisayaan) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. It consists of four provinces: (Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor) and three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue).
Central Visayas Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an Gitnang Kabisayaan Region VII | |
|---|---|
From upper-left to bottom-right: Sugar Beach Bantayan, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (Cebu); Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (Negros Oriental); Chocolate Hills (Bohol); Salagdoong Beach (Siquijor); | |
| Nickname(s): Center of Christianity Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of the Cebuanos) | |
Location in the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°ECoordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Visayas |
| Regional center | Cebu City (pop. 922,611) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 13th |
| Highest elevation | 2,465 m (8,087 ft) |
| Population (2020 census) [1] | |
| • Total | 8,081,988 |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Density | 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 3rd |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-07 |
| Provinces | |
| Cities | |
| Municipalities | 116 |
| Barangays | 3,003 |
| Cong. districts | 11 |
| Languages | |
| GDP (2021) | ₱1.2 trillion $25 billion[2] |
| Growth rate | (5.4%)[2] |
| HDI | 0.704 (High) |
| HDI rank | 4th in Philippines (2019) |
Major islands are the eponymous Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor, together with the eastern part of Negros. The regional center and largest city is Cebu City. The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan languages: Cebuano, Bantayanon, Boholano, and Porohanon. The land area of the region is 15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi), and with a population of 8,081,988 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the Visayas.
On May 29, 2015, the region was redefined, when Central Visayas (Region VII) lost the province of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the region was dissolved, with Negros Oriental returned to Central Visayas on August 9, 2017.
Etymology
The name of the region 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 region, 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. 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 issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Oriental was removed from Central Visayas to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros Occidental and its provincial capital, Bacolod.[5] But later Negros Oriental and its capital, Dumaguete City back into Central Visayas on August 9, 2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 by signing Executive Order No. 38, citing lack of funds to fully establish the NIR, according to Benjamin Diokno, then Secretary of Budget and Management.[6]
Geography
Central Visayas consists of the two major island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, as well as the smaller island of Siquijor and several outlying islands. It also includes the eastern half of the larger island of Negros. The straits of Cebu and Tañon are also part of the region as well. The region is bordered to the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the province of Negros Occidental in Western Visayas, south by the Bohol Sea, and east by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas.
Administrative divisions
Provinces
The Central Visayas region consists of four provinces and three independent cities:
| Province or HUC | Capital | Population (2015) [1] | Area[7] | Density | Cities | Muni. | Barangay | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||||||
| Bohol | Tagbilaran | 21.7% | 1,313,560 | 4,772.52 | 1,842.68 | 280 | 730 | 1 | 47 | 1,109 | ||
| Cebu | Cebu City | 48.6% | 2,938,982 | 4,943.72 | 1,908.78 | 590 | 1,500 | 6 | 44 | 1,066 | ||
| Negros Oriental | Dumaguete | 30.7% | 1,354,995 | 5,420.57 | 2,092.89 | 250 | 650 | 6 | 19 | 557 | ||
| Siquijor | Siquijor | 1.6% | 95,984 | 337.49 | 130.31 | 280 | 730 | 0 | 6 | 134 | ||
| Cebu City | † | — | 15.3% | 922,611 | 315.00 | 121.62 | 2,900 | 7,500 | — | — | 80 | |
| Lapu-Lapu | † | — | 6.8% | 408,112 | 58.10 | 22.43 | 7,000 | 18,000 | — | — | 30 | |
| Mandaue | † | — | 6.0% | 362,654 | 25.18 | 9.72 | 14,400 | 37,000 | — | — | 27 | |
| Total | 7,396,898 | 15,872.58 | 6,128.44 | 470 | 1,200 | 10 | 116 | 3,003 | ||||
| † Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Cebu province. | ||||||||||||
Governors and vice governors
| Province | Image | Governor | Political Party | Vice Governor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erico Aristotle Aumentado | NPC | Dionisio Victor Balite | |||
| Gwendolyn Garcia | 1-Cebu | Hilario Davide III | |||
| Roel Degamo | Nacionalista | Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes | |||
| Jake Vincent Villa | NPC | Mei Ling Quezon-Brown | |||
Cities
- † Regional center
| City | Population (2015) [1] | Area | Density | City class | Income class | Province | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||
| Bais | 76,291 | 319.64 | 123.41 | 240 | 620 | Component | 3rd | Negros Oriental |
| Bayawan | 117,900 | 699.08 | 269.92 | 170 | 440 | Component | 2nd | Negros Oriental |
| Bogo | 78,120 | 103.52 | 39.97 | 750 | 1,900 | Component | 6th | Cebu |
| Carcar | 119,664 | 116.78 | 45.09 | 1,000 | 2,600 | Component | 5th | Cebu |
| † Cebu City | 922,611 | 315.00 | 121.62 | 2,900 | 7,500 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Cebu |
| Canlaon | 54,509 | 170.93 | 66.00 | 320 | 830 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
| Danao | 136,471 | 107.30 | 41.43 | 1,300 | 3,400 | Component | 3rd | Cebu |
| Dumaguete | 131,377 | 33.62 | 12.98 | 3,900 | 10,000 | Component | 2nd | Negros Oriental |
| Guihulngan | 95,969 | 388.56 | 150.02 | 250 | 650 | Component | 5th | Negros Oriental |
| Lapu-Lapu | 408,112 | 58.10 | 22.43 | 7,000 | 18,000 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Cebu |
| Mandaue | 362,654 | 25.18 | 9.72 | 14,000 | 36,000 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Cebu |
| Naga | 115,750 | 101.97 | 39.37 | 1,100 | 2,800 | Component | 3rd | Cebu |
| Tagbilaran | 105,051 | 36.50 | 14.09 | 2,900 | 7,500 | Component | 3rd | Bohol |
| Talisay | 227,645 | 39.87 | 15.39 | 5,900 | 15,000 | Component | 3rd | Cebu |
| Tanjay | 80,532 | 276.05 | 106.58 | 290 | 750 | Component | 4th | Negros Oriental |
| Toledo | 170,335 | 216.28 | 83.51 | 790 | 2,000 | Component | 3rd | Cebu |
Demographics
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data in 2015 includes Negros Oriental. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [1] [8] [9] [10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 8,081,988. The population density was 770/km2 (2,000/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:
- Bantayanon, spoken in Bantayan Island of Cebu province.
- Boholano, a Cebuano dialect spoken in Bohol.
- Cebuano, spoken in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor. It is the regional lingua franca.
- Hiligaynon, spoken in western Negros Oriental.
- Porohanon, spoken in Camotes Islands of Cebu province.
Economy
Transportation
Ports
The Port of Cebu is the region's main gateway. There are also ports in Tagbilaran in Bohol, Larena in Siquijor, and Sibulan and Dumaguete, both in Negros Oriental. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, two of them fastcraft companies which serve all the provinces in the region.
Airports
Mactan–Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City, is the country's second busiest airport (after Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila) and one of the only three airports in the Visayas serving international flights (aside from Kalibo International Airport and Iloilo International Airport). It is the primary airline hub of Cebu Pacific, and secondary hub for Philippine Airlines and its subsidiaries, with flights to locations throughout the country. It also serves international flights to other Asian and intercontinental destinations.[18]
Other airports in the region are Bohol-Panglao International Airport which serves Tagbilaran and the rest of Bohol, and Sibulan Airport which serves Dumaguete and the rest of Negros Oriental.
Mass media
Cebu City is the main media hub for both 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 the local viewers.
Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Cebu City also has 20 local newspapers. Among the widely read are Sun.Star Cebu, Cebu Daily News, and The Freeman. The country's main Islamic news journal, The Voice of Islam, was founded in 1961 and published in this city.
References
- ^ a b c d e Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gross Regional Domestic Product". openstat.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ "Change in name will be good for Philippines". Inquirer Opinion.
- ^ "Should the Philippines be renamed? Historian weighs in".
- ^ "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region". Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ . Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
- ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/NSCB_LocalPovertyPhilippines_0.pdf; publication date: 29 November 2005; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2009%20Poverty%20Statistics.pdf; publication date: 8 February 2011; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C%20Poverty%20Incidence%20and%20Magnitude%20of%20Poor%20Population%2C%20by%20Region%20and%20Province%20%20-%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C%20Poverty%20Incidence%20and%20Magnitude%20of%20Poor%20Population%2C%20by%20Region%20and%20Province%20%20-%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C%20Poverty%20Incidence%20and%20Magnitude%20of%20Poor%20Population%2C%20by%20Region%20and%20Province%20%20-%202006%2C%202009%2C%202012%20and%202015.xlsx; publication date: 27 August 2016; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Table%202.%20%20Updated%20Annual%20Per%20Capita%20Poverty%20Threshold%2C%20Poverty%20Incidence%20and%20Magnitude%20of%20Poor%20Population%20with%20Measures%20of%20Precision%2C%20by%20Region%20and%20Province_2015%20and%202018.xlsx; publication date: 4 June 2020; publisher: Philippine Statistics Authority.
- ^ . mactan–cebuairport.com.ph. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
External links
- Media related to Central Visayas at Wikimedia Commons
- Central Visayas travel guide from Wikivoyage