List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Philippines has six metropolitan areas established through national legislation, each with a designated governing body: Metro Manila (MMDA),[1] Metro Cebu (MCDCB),[2] Metro Naga (MNDA),[3] Metro Iloilo–Guimaras (MIGEDC),[4] Metro Davao (MDDA)[5] and Metro Baguio (MBLISTTDA).[6]
Among these six, three are officially recognized by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) as "metropolitan centers" based on their prominence, population, size, and economy: Manila, Cebu, and Davao.[7][8] These centers serve as the primary economic hubs for the country's three major island groups. Metro Manila is the national capital region and the center for government and finance in Luzon and of the Philippines in general; Metro Cebu is the key hub for trade and commerce in the Visayas; and Metro Davao is the major gateway and service center for Mindanao. Of the three, Metro Manila is the most populous, while Metro Davao is the largest in terms of land area, regardless of its definition.[a]
Earlier planning frameworks under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), DEPDev's predecessor, recognized seven other metropolitan areas: Metro Angeles, Metro Bacolod, Metro Batangas, Metro Cagayan de Oro, Metro Dagupan, Metro GenSan, and Metro Olongapo. However, these were no longer included as official metropolises in the 2017–2022 Philippine Development Plan.[9]
Despite these official definitions, the actual extent of continuous urbanization often exceeds administrative boundaries. The built-up area of Metro Manila, for instance, has long extended into the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.[10]
List
Metropolitan areas
| Metro area [7] | Population (2020) [11] | Area [12][13] | 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[14] | ||
| Carcar | 4.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 136,453 | 116.78 | 45.09 | 1,200 | 3,100 | |||
| Cebu City | 30.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 964,169 | 315.00 | 121.62 | 3,100 | 8,000 | |||
| Compostela | 1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 55,874 | 53.90 | 20.81 | 1,000 | 2,600 | |||
| Consolacion | 4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 148,012 | 37.03 | 14.30 | 4,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Cordova | 2.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 70,595 | 17.15 | 6.62 | 4,100 | 11,000 | |||
| Danao | 4.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 156,321 | 107.30 | 41.43 | 1,500 | 3,900 | |||
| Lapu-Lapu (Opon) | 15.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 497,604 | 58.10 | 22.43 | 8,600 | 22,000 | |||
| Liloan | 4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 153,197 | 45.92 | 17.73 | 3,300 | 8,500 | |||
| Mandaue | 11.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 364,116 | 25.18 | 9.72 | 14,000 | 36,000 | |||
| Minglanilla | 4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 151,002 | 65.60 | 25.33 | 2,300 | 6,000 | |||
| Naga | 4.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 133,184 | 101.97 | 39.37 | 1,300 | 3,400 | |||
| San Fernando | 2.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 72,224 | 69.39 | 26.79 | 1,000 | 2,600 | |||
| 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[15] | ||
| Carmen | 2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 82,018 | 166.00 | 64.09 | 490 | 1,300 | |||
| Davao City | 53.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,776,949 | 2,443.61 | 943.48 | 730 | 1,900 | |||
| Digos | 5.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 188,376 | 287.10 | 110.85 | 660 | 1,700 | |||
| Hagonoy | 1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 56,919 | 114.28 | 44.12 | 500 | 1,300 | |||
| Maco | 2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 83,237 | 342.23 | 132.14 | 240 | 620 | |||
| Malalag | 1.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 40,158 | 186.12 | 71.86 | 220 | 570 | |||
| Malita | 3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 118,197 | 883.37 | 341.07 | 130 | 340 | |||
| Mati | 4.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 147,547 | 588.63 | 227.27 | 250 | 650 | |||
| Padada | 0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 29,878 | 83.00 | 32.05 | 360 | 930 | |||
| Panabo | 6.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 209,230 | 251.23 | 97.00 | 830 | 2,100 | |||
| Samal | 3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 116,771 | 301.30 | 116.33 | 390 | 1,000 | |||
| Santa Cruz | 3.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 101,125 | 319.91 | 123.52 | 320 | 830 | |||
| Santa Maria | 1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 57,526 | 175.00 | 67.57 | 330 | 850 | |||
| Sulop | 1.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 35,151 | 155.26 | 59.95 | 230 | 600 | |||
| 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 | ||
| Caloocan | 12.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,661,584 | 53.20 | 20.54 | 31,000 | 80,000 | |||
| Las Piñas | 4.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 606,293 | 32.02 | 12.36 | 19,000 | 49,000 | |||
| Makati | 4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 629,616 | 27.36 | 10.56 | 23,000 | 60,000 | |||
| Malabon | 2.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 380,522 | 15.96 | 6.16 | 24,000 | 62,000 | |||
| Mandaluyong | 3.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 425,758 | 11.06 | 4.27 | 38,000 | 98,000 | |||
| Manila | 13.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,846,513 | 42.88 | 16.56 | 43,000 | 110,000 | |||
| Marikina | 3.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 456,059 | 22.64 | 8.74 | 20,000 | 52,000 | |||
| Muntinlupa | 4.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 543,445 | 41.67 | 16.09 | 13,000 | 34,000 | |||
| Navotas | 1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 247,543 | 11.51 | 4.44 | 22,000 | 57,000 | |||
| Parañaque | 5.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 689,992 | 47.28 | 18.25 | 15,000 | 39,000 | |||
| Pasay | 3.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 440,656 | 18.64 | 7.20 | 24,000 | 62,000 | |||
| Pasig | 6.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 803,159 | 31.46 | 12.15 | 26,000 | 67,000 | |||
| Pateros | 0.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 65,227 | 1.76 | 0.68 | 37,000 | 96,000 | |||
| Quezon City | 22.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 2,960,048 | 165.33 | 63.83 | 18,000 | 47,000 | |||
| San Juan | 0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 126,347 | 5.87 | 2.27 | 22,000 | 57,000 | |||
| Taguig | 6.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 886,722 | 45.18 | 17.44 | 20,000 | 52,000 | |||
| Valenzuela | 5.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 714,978 | 45.75 | 17.66 | 16,000 | 41,000 | |||
Regional centers
- Antipolo
- Bacolod
- Baguio
- Balanga
- Baliwag
- Batangas City
- Butuan
- Cabanatuan
- Calamba
- Calapan
- Clark
- Cotabato City
- Dagupan
- Dasmariñas
- Dipolog
- Eastern Kalinga (Tabuk–Pinukpuk–Rizal)
- General Santos
- Iloilo
- Jolo
- Koronadal
- Laoag
- Legazpi
- Lucena
- Malolos
- Naga (Camarines Sur)
- Ormoc
- Pagadian
- Puerto Princesa
- San Fernando (La Union)
- Santiago
- Subic–Olongapo
- Surigao City
- Tacloban
- Tagbilaran
- Tagum
- Tarlac City
- Tuguegarao
- Zamboanga City
Sub-regional centers
- Alaminos
- Alfonso Lista
- Arayat
- Aurora
- Bacoor
- Banaue
- Bangued
- Baras
- Bauko
- Bayog
- Besao
- Binangonan
- Bislig
- Biñan
- Boac
- Bogo
- Bongao
- Bontoc
- Buug
- Cabuyao
- Cainta
- Calbayog
- Capas
- Catbalogan
- Cauayan
- Concepcion
- Daet
- Danglas
- Digos
- Dumaguete
- Dumalinao
- Dumangas
- Dumingag
- Estancia
- Flora
- General Mariano Alvarez
- General Trias
- Gingoog
- Glan
- Hagonoy
- Ilagan
- Iligan
- Imus
- Ipil
- Iriga
- Isabela–Lamitan
- Jordan
- Kabankalan
- Kabasalan
- Kalibo
- Kiangan
- Kidapawan
- La Paz
- Laguindingan
- Lamut
- Langiden
- Ligao
- Lipa
- Lubao
- Luna
- Mabalacat
- Mahayag
- Malay
- Malaybalay
- Malita
- Maramag
- Marawi
- Margosatubig
- Marilao
- Mariveles
- Masbate City
- Mati
- Matnog
- Mexico
- Meycauayan
- Miagao
- Midsayap
- Molave
- Nasugbu
- Ozamiz
- Panabo
- Parang
- Passi
- Peñarrubia
- Pidigan
- Pili
- Polomolok
- Pudtol
- Rodriguez
- Romblon
- Roxas
- Sadanga
- San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
- San Fernando (Pampanga)
- San Francisco
- San Ildefonso
- San Isidro
- San Jose (Occidental Mindoro)
- San Jose (Nueva Ecija)
- San Jose de Buenavista
- San Jose del Monte
- San Mateo
- San Miguel
- San Pablo
- San Pedro
- Santa Ana
- Santa Marcela
- Santa Maria
- Santa Rosa
- Santo Tomas
- Sariaya
- Silang
- Sindangan
- Sorsogon City
- Tabaco
- Tacurong
- Tanauan
- Tandag
- Tanza
- Taytay
- Tayum
- Toledo
- Trece Martires
- Tubigon
- Tubo
- Tubod
- Urdaneta
- Valencia
- Vigan
- Virac
History
In 2020, 54% of the Philippine population lived in urban areas[16] 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[17] 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.[18]
| 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 |