The () is the Primary Local Government Unit in the Philippines . The country is divided into 81 Province s, which are further subdivided into Cities (''lungsod'') and Municipalities (''bayan''). The National Capital Region , which includes the capital city Manila , is not divided into provinces.
The provinces are grouped into 17 Regions (''rehiyon'') based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics. Fourteen of the regions are designated with numbers corresponding roughly with their geographic location from north to south. The National Capital Region , Cordillera Administrative Region , and Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao do not have a number designation.
The provincial government is headed by a governor (''gobernador''). For purposes of legislative representation, the province is divided into one or more Congressional District s (''distrito''). Each city or municipality belongs to one of these districts. One Congressman (''kinatawan'') represents each district in the House Of Representatives . Every district also has board members in the Provincial Board (see the succeeding section on the ''Provincial government'').
On October 30 , 2006 , the people of the 1st district of Maguindanao approved the creation of the new province, Shariff Kabunsuan in a plebescite officiated by the COMELEC .
On December 2 , 2006 , the people of Surigao Del Norte approved the creation the new province of Dinagat Islands through a plebiscite after the Philippine Congress approved the law creating the said province.
When the United States acquired the Philippines from Spain in 1898, the islands were divided into four ''gobiernos'', which were further subdivided into provinces and districts. The American administration initially inherited the Spanish divisions and placed them under military government. As insurgencies were pacified, civil government was gradually restored.
- 1901-06-11: Morong district merged with part of Manila province to form Rizal province.
- 1902: Mindoro province merged with Marinduque ; Amburayan province split from La Union ; Later, Marinduque province merged with Tayabas .
- 1903: Moro province formed, consisting of the districts of Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga. Its capital was Zamboanga.
- 1905: Name of Paragua province changed to Palawan. Masbate province merged with Sorsogon.
- 1907: Romblon province merged with Capiz; split from it again in 1917.
- 1907-08-20: Agusan province split from Surigao.
- 1908: Abra province merged with Ilocos Sur; split from it again on 1917-03-09.
- 1908-08-13: Mountain province formed by merging Amburayan, Apayao, Benguet, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Lepanto province, which became its sub-provinces.
- 1909: Batanes province split from Cagayan.
- 1916-08-29: Name and status of Moro province changed to the Department Of Mindanao And Sulu . Status of its districts (Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Lanao, Sulu, and Zamboanga) changed to provinces.
- 1917-03-10: Ambos Camarines province divided into Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur provinces.
- 1920-02-21: Marinduque province split from Tayabas .
- 1920-12-15: Masbate province split from Sorsogon .
- 1921-02-20: Mindoro province split from Marinduque .
- 1929-11-02: Misamis province divided into Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental provinces (implemented 1939-11-28).
- 1945-09-26: Catanduanes province split from Albay .
- 1946: Romblon province merged with Capiz ; split from it again on 1947-01-01.
- 1946-09-07: Name of Tayabas province changed to Quezon .
- 1950-06-13: Mindoro province split into Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental .
- 1952-06-06: Zamboanga province split into Zamboanga Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Sur .
- 1956-04-25: Aklan province split from Capiz (implemented 1956-11-08).
- 1959-05-22: Lanao province divided into Lanao Del Norte and Lanao Del Sur ; Southern Leyte province split from Leyte .
- 1960-06-19: Surigao province divided into Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur provinces.
- 1965-06-19: Samar province divided into Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Western Samar.
- 1966-06-18: South Cotabato province split from Cotabato; Benguet, Ifugao, and Kalinga-Apayao provinces split from Mountain; Camiguin province split from Misamis Oriental.
- 1967-05-08: Davao province divided into Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental provinces (implemented 1967-07-01).
- 1967-06-17: Agusan province divided into Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur provinces (implemented 1970-01-01).
- 1969-06-21: Name of Western Samar province changed to Samar.
- 1971-09-10: Quirino province split from Nueva Vizcaya.
- 1972-01-08: Siquijor province split from Negros Oriental.
- 1972-06-17: Name of Davao del Norte province changed to Davao.
- 1973-09-11: Tawi-Tawi province split from Sulu.
- 1973-11-22: Cotabato province divided into Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
- 1973-12-27: Status of Basilan (formerly within Zamboanga del Sur province) changed from chartered city to province.
- 1975-11-08: Metro Manila split from Rizal province.
- 1979-08-13: Aurora province split from Quezon , following a referendum.
- 1983-12-19: Name of North Cotabato province changed to Cotabato.
- 1986-01-03: Negros del Norte province split from Negros Occidental . This action was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and Negros Occidental reverted to its original status on 1986-08-18.
- 1992-03-16: Sarangani province split from South Cotabato .
- 1992-05-11: Biliran province split from Leyte ; Guimaras province split from Iloilo .
- 1995-02-14: Kalinga-Apayao province split into Kalinga and Apayao provinces.
- 1998-03-07: Compostela Valley province split from Davao province. Name of Davao province changed back to Davao del Norte.
- 2001-02-23: Zamboanga Sibugay province split from Zamboanga Del Sur .
- 2006-08-30: Shariff Kabunsuan province split from Maguindanao .
- 2006-10-02: Dinagat Islands province split from Surigao Del Norte .
The provincial government has an executive and a legislative branch. The judicial powers in the province are under the supervision of the Supreme Court Of The Philippines . The provincial government is an autonomous unit, given direct supervision of the affairs of the province. The president of the Philippines coordinates with the provinces through the Department Of Interior And Local Government (DILG).
The provincial government is headed by a governor (''gobernador''), who is the chief executive and head of the province. Under the governor are the various provincial departments such as the Administration, Legal Office, Information Office, Engineering Office, and Treasury Office.
The governor is elected a term of three years and may be elected for a maximum of three terms. The provincial department heads are appointed by the governor.
Heading the Legislature of the province is the vice-governor (''bise-gobernador'') who presides over the Provincial Board (''Sangguniang Panlalawigan''), which is composed of board members from each district in the province. Depending on the income class of the province, it may either have eight or ten board members. First and second class provinces have ten board members while third and fourth class provinces have eight. Cebu , Negros Occidental and Pangasinan are exceptions, having 12 board members each.
The board also has, as ex-officio members, the provincial president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) (''Liga ng mga Barangay''), the provincial president of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), and the provincial president of Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) Federation (the youth council).
All of the board members are elected by the citizens of the province along with the governor. The ex-officio members are elected within their organizations.
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Antique_(province)" class="copylinks">Antique San Jose Region VI 471,088 2,5220 1868
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Apayao" class="copylinks">Apayao Kabugao CAR 97,129 3,9279 247
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Aurora_(province)" class="copylinks">Aurora Baler Region III 173,797 3,2395 536
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Basilan" class="copylinks">Basilan Isabela City ARMM 322,828 1,2342 2438
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bataan" class="copylinks">Bataan Balanga City Region III 557,659 1,3730 4062
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Batanes" class="copylinks">Batanes Basco Region II 16,467 2093 787
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Batangas" class="copylinks">Batangas Batangas City Region IV-A 1,905,348 3,1658 6019
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Benguet" class="copylinks">Benguet La Trinidad CAR 582,515 2,6554 2194
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Biliran" class="copylinks">Biliran Naval Region VIII 140,274 5555 2525
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bohol" class="copylinks">Bohol Tagbilaran City Region VII 1,139,130 4,1173 2767
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bukidnon" class="copylinks">Bukidnon Malaybalay City Region X 1,060,265 8,2938 1278
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bulacan" class="copylinks">Bulacan Malolos Region III 2,234,088 2,6250 8511
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Cagayan" class="copylinks">Cagayan Tuguegarao City Region II 993,580 9,0027 1104
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Camarines_Norte" class="copylinks">Camarines Norte Daet Region V 458,840 2,1125 2172
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Camarines_Sur" class="copylinks">Camarines Sur Pili Region V 1,551,549 5,2668 2946
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Camiguin" class="copylinks">Camiguin Mambajao Region X 74,232 2298 3230
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Capiz" class="copylinks">Capiz Roxas City Region VI 654,156 2,6332 2484
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Catanduanes" class="copylinks">Catanduanes Virac Region V 215,356 1,5115 1425
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Cavite" class="copylinks">Cavite Trece Martires City Region IV-A 2,063,161 1,2876 1,6023
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Cebu" class="copylinks">Cebu Cebu City Region VII 3,356,137 5,0884 6596
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Compostela_Valley" class="copylinks">Compostela Valley Nabunturan Region XI 580,244 4,6670 1243
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Cotabato" class="copylinks">Cotabato Kidapawan City Region XII 958,643 6,5699 1459
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Davao_del_Norte" class="copylinks">Davao Del Norte Tagum City Region XI 743,811 3,4630 2148
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Davao_del_Sur" class="copylinks">Davao Del Sur Digos City Region XI 1,905,917 6,3776 2988
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Davao_Oriental" class="copylinks">Davao Oriental Mati Region XI 446,191 5,1645 864
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dinagat_Islands" class="copylinks">Dinagat Islands San Jose Region XIII 106,951 80212 1333
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eastern_Samar" class="copylinks">Eastern Samar Borongan Region VIII 375,822 4,3396 866
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Guimaras" class="copylinks">Guimaras Jordan Region VI 141,450 6047 2339
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Ifugao" class="copylinks">Ifugao Lagawe CAR 161,623 2,5178 642
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Ilocos_Norte" class="copylinks">Ilocos Norte Laoag City Region I 514,241 3,3993 1513
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Ilocos_Sur" class="copylinks">Ilocos Sur Vigan City Region I 594,206 2,5796 2303
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Iloilo" class="copylinks">Iloilo Iloilo City Region VI 1,925,002 4,7194 4079
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Isabela_(province)" class="copylinks">Isabela On February 20 , 1995 , legislation was approved for the division of Isabela into Isabela del Norte and Isabela del Sur It was disapproved in the provincial plebiscite The division never took place Ilagan Region II 1,287,575 10,6646 1207
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Kalinga" class="copylinks">Kalinga Tabuk CAR 174,023 3,1197 558
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/La_Union" class="copylinks">La Union San Fernando City Region I 657,945 1,4931 4407
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Laguna_(province)" class="copylinks">Laguna Santa Cruz Region IV-A 1,965,872 1,7597 1,1172
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lanao_del_Norte" class="copylinks">Lanao Del Norte Tubod Region X 758,123 3,0920 2452
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lanao_del_Sur" class="copylinks">Lanao Del Sur Marawi City ARMM 800,162 3,8729 2066
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Leyte" class="copylinks">Leyte Tacloban City Region VIII 1,592,336 5,7128 2787
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Maguindanao" class="copylinks">Maguindanao Shariff Aguak ARMM 599,103 4,9001 1635
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Marinduque" class="copylinks">Marinduque Boac Region IV-B 217,392 9593 2266
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Masbate" class="copylinks">Masbate Masbate City Region V 707,668 4,0477 1748
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Misamis_Occidental" class="copylinks">Misamis Occidental Oroquieta City Region X 486,723 1,9393 2510
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Misamis_Oriental" class="copylinks">Misamis Oriental Cagayan De Oro City Region X 1,126,215 3,5700 3155
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mountain_Province" class="copylinks">Mountain Province Bontoc CAR 140,439 2,0973 670
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Negros_Occidental" class="copylinks">Negros Occidental Negros del Norte was created from Negros Occidental on January 3 , 1986 Its creation was declared unconstitutional on July 11 , 1986 , and it was abolished on August 18 , 1986 Bacolod City Region VI 2,565,723 7,9261 3237
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Negros_Oriental" class="copylinks">Negros Oriental Dumaguete City Region VII 1,130,088 5,4023 2092
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Northern_Samar" class="copylinks">Northern Samar Catarman Region VIII 500,639 3,4980 1431
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Nueva_Ecija" class="copylinks">Nueva Ecija Palayan City Region III 1,659,883 5,2843 3141
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Nueva_Vizcaya" class="copylinks">Nueva Vizcaya Bayombong Region II 366,962 3,9039 940
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Occidental_Mindoro" class="copylinks">Occidental Mindoro Mamburao Region IV-B 380,250 5,8799 647
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Oriental_Mindoro" class="copylinks">Oriental Mindoro Calapan City Region IV-B 681,818 4,3647 1562
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Palawan" class="copylinks">Palawan Puerto Princesa City Region VI 755,412 14,8963 507
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Pampanga" class="copylinks">Pampanga San Fernando City Region III 1,882,730 2,1807 8634
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Pangasinan" class="copylinks">Pangasinan Lingayen Region I 2,434,086 5,3682 4534
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Quezon" class="copylinks">Quezon Lucena City Region IV-A 1,679,030 8,7066 1928
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Quirino" class="copylinks">Quirino Cabarroguis Region II 148,575 3,0572 486
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Rizal" class="copylinks">Rizal Antipolo City Region IV-A 1,707,218 1,3089 1,3043
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Romblon" class="copylinks">Romblon Romblon Region IV-B 264,357 1,3559 1950
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Samar" class="copylinks">Samar Catbalogan City Region VIII 641,124 5,5910 1147
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sarangani" class="copylinks">Sarangani Alabel Region XII 410,622 2,9800 1378
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Shariff_Kabunsuan" class="copylinks">Shariff Kabunsuan Datu Odin Sinsuat ARMM 365,848
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Siquijor" class="copylinks">Siquijor Siquijor Region VII 81,598 3435 2375
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sorsogon" class="copylinks">Sorsogon Sorsogon City Region V 650,535 2,1414 3038
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/South_Cotabato" class="copylinks">South Cotabato Koronadal City Region XII 1,102,550 4,4890 2456
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Southern_Leyte" class="copylinks">Southern Leyte Maasin City Region VIII 360,160 1,7348 2076
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sultan_Kudarat" class="copylinks">Sultan Kudarat Isulan Region XII 586,505 4,7148 1244
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sulu" class="copylinks">Sulu Jolo ARMM 619,668 1,6004 3872
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Surigao_del_Norte" class="copylinks">Surigao Del Norte Surigao City Region XIII 374,465 1,9369 1933
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Surigao_del_Sur" class="copylinks">Surigao Del Sur Tandag Region XIII 501,808 4,5522 1102
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tarlac" class="copylinks">Tarlac Tarlac City Region III 1,068,783 3,0534 3500
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tawi-Tawi" class="copylinks">Tawi-Tawi Panglima Sugala ARMM 322,317 1,0874 2964
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Zambales" class="copylinks">Zambales Iba Region III 627,802 3,7144 1690
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Zamboanga_del_Norte" class="copylinks">Zamboanga Del Norte Dipolog City Region IX 823,130 6,6180 1244
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Zamboanga_del_Sur" class="copylinks">Zamboanga Del Sur Pagadian City Region IX 1,438,011 4,9641 2897
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"http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Zamboanga_Sibugay" class="copylinks">Zamboanga Sibugay Ipil Region IX 497,239 3,0879 1610
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