List of Cities in the Philippines

Map of the Philippines

A city is a tier of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities, whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own specific charters in addition to the Local Government Code of 1991, which specifies the administrative structure and political powers of subnational government entities.

Cities are entitled to one congressional district and representative per 250,000 population count, and are legally provided their own police force and allowed to use a common seal. As corporate entities, cities have the power to take, purchase, receive, hold, lease, convey, and dispose of real and personal property for its general interests, condemn private property for public use (eminent domain), contract and be contracted with, sue and exercise all the powers conferred to it by Congress. Only an Act of Congress can create or amend a city charter, and with this city charter Congress confers to a city certain powers that regular municipalities or even other cities may not have. Despite the differences in the powers accorded to each city, all cities regardless of status are given special treatment in terms of being given a bigger share of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) compared to regular municipalities, as well as being generally more autonomous than regular municipalities.

There are twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Metro Manila is the largest conurbation or urban agglomeration in the country and its official metropolitan area is composed of the city of Manila plus 15 neighboring cities and a municipality. Other metropolitan areas are centered around the cities of Baguio, Dagupan, Angeles,Olongapo, Batangas, Naga, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

Creation of cities

Congress is the lone legislative entity that can incorporate cities. Provincial and municipal councils can pass resolutions indicating a desire to have a certain area (usually an already-existing municipality or a cluster of barangays) declared a city after the requirements for becoming a city are met. As per Republic Act No. 9009, these requirements include: locally generated income of at least PHP 100 million (based on constant prices in the year 2000) for the last two consecutive years, as certified by the Department of Finance, AND

a population of 150,000 or more, as certified by the National Statistics Office (NSO); OR a contiguous territory of 100 square kilometers, as certified by the Land Management Bureau, with contiguity not being a requisite for areas that are on two or more islands.

City classification

The Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) classifies all cities into one of three categories:

Highly Urbanized Cities - Cities with a minimum population of two hundred thousand (200,000) inhabitants, as certified by the National Statistics Office, and with the latest annual income of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P50,000,000.00) based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the city treasurer. There are currently 33 highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, 16 of them located in Metro Manila.

Independent Component Cities - Cities whose charters prohibit their voters from voting for provincial elective officials. Independent component cities are independent of the province. There are five such cities: Dagupan, Cotabato, Naga, Ormoc andSantiago.

Component Cities - Cities which do not meet the above requirements are considered component cities of the province in which they are geographically located. If a component city is located within the boundaries of two (2) or more provinces, such city shall be considered a component of the province of which it used to be a municipality.

Note: Definitions taken from National Statistical Coordination Board. Income classification

Cities are classified according to average annual income based on the previous 3 calendar years. Effective July 28, 2008 the thresholds for the income classes for cities are:

Class              Average annual income

 First                             PHP 400 million or more 

Second                         PHP 320 million or more but less than PHP 400 million

Third                            PHP 240 million or more but less than PHP 320 million

Fourth                          PHP 160 million or more but less than PHP 240 million 

Fifth                             PHP   80 million or more but less than PHP 160 million

Sixth                            below PHP 80 million

City facts:

By population (2007 census figures):

Smallest: Palayan City (32,790)

Largest: Quezon City (2,679,450)

By population density (calculated using 2007 census figures):

Most densely populated: Manila, with 43,079 people per square kilometer

Most sparsely populated: Puerto Princesa, with 81 people per square kilometer

By land area:

Smallest: San Juan, with an area of 5.94 km2

Largest: Davao City, with an area of 2,433.61 km2. However, while some sources claim that Puerto Princesa covers an area of more than 2,500 km2, its officially-recognized land area figure (according to IRA share calculation data) is 2,381.02 km2. Contrary to popular belief within the Philippines, Davao City does not hold the record of being the world's largest city in terms of land area.

By elevation:

Lowest: Most Philippine cities are located on sea level. However, some parts of Navotas, Caloocan and Malabon are below sea level, and continue to experience subsidence.

Highest: much of Baguio is situated more than 1,300 meters above sea level. However, part of Mount Apo, the highest Philippine peak, is under Davao City's jurisdiction; the cities of Kidapawan and Digos both have claims on the territorial jurisdiction of the mountain too.

Ten most populous cities in the Philippines

1.         Quezon City

Former capital of the country (1948–1976). Largest city in Metro Manila in population and land area. Hosts the House of Representatives of the Philippines at the Batasang Pambansa Complex and the metropolis' largest source of water, the Novaliches Reservoir.

2.         Manila

Capital of the country (from 1571-1948 and 1976–present). Historically centered around the walled city of Intramuros, by the mouth of the Pasig River. Host to the seat of the chief executive, the Malacañang Palace. By far the most densely populated city in the country.

3.         Caloocan

 Capital of the country (from 1571-1948 and 1976–present). Historically centered around the walled city of Intramuros, by the mouth of the Pasig River. Host to the seat of the chief executive, the Malacañang Palace. By far the most densely populated city in the country.

4.         Davao City

 Touted as country's largest city based on land area, a distinction thatPuerto Princesa also claims. Regional center of Region XI and former capital of the undivided province of Davao. Most populous city inMindanao.

5.         Cebu City

 Popularly nicknamed as "The Queen City of the South." First capital of the country. Capital of the province of Cebu and regional center ofRegion VII. Most populous city in the Visayas. Core of Metro Cebu.

6.         Zamboanga City

 Nicknamed "City of Flowers" and marketed by its city government as "Asia's Latin City" for its substantial Spanish-derived creole-speaking population, the largest in the world. Former capital of the Moro Province and of the undivided province of Zamboanga.

7.         Antipolo

 Nicknamed "City in the Sky" for its location on the hills immediately east of Metro Manila. Well-known pilgrimage and tourist center, being host to a Marian shrine and the Hinulugang Taktak National Park. Most populous city in Luzon outside of Metro Manila.

8.         Pasig

 Hosts most of the Ortigas Center, one of the top business districts in the country. Was part of the province of Rizal until 1975, when it was incorporated into Metropolitan Manila. Formerly hosted the capitol and other government buildings of that province.

9.         Taguig

 Currently exercises fiscal jurisdiction over Fort Bonifacio (whose two barangay governments still answer to Makati City), home to the Bonifacio Global City which is being developed as the country's new premier business district. Was part of Rizal Province until 1975, when it was incorporated into Metropolitan Manila. Lies on the western shores of Laguna de Bay.

10        Valenzuela

Originally called Polo, renamed after a local son who was a figure in the Philippine Revolution. Was part of the province of Bulacan until 1975. Formerly a primarily agricultural town, it now hosts many of the industrial enterprises of northern Metro Manila.

 

Metropolitan areas

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has defined twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines. The official definition of each area does not necessarily follow the actual extent of continuous urbanization. For example, Metro Manila's urban development has long spilled out of its officially-defined borders into the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite. Meanwhile the definition of Metro Cagayan de Oro includes some large municipalities in Bukidnon whose populations and economies are largely rural and agricultural, and are not in contiguity to the built-up urban area of the core city. In addition, not all the identified metropolitan areas have policy and management structures in place. If they do have them, the capacities of the structures, funding support, and degree of cooperation among member local governments can differ vastly between each metropolitan arrangement.

1.        Metro Manila 

           ( Manila, Caloocan, LasPiñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina,Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela)

  

2.         Metro Cebu  

            (Cebu City, Carcar, Compostela,Consolacion, Cordova, Danao, LapuLapu,Liloan, Mandaue,

             Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Talisay

3.         Metro Davao

            (Davao City, Digos, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, Santa Cruz, Carmen,Tagum)

4.         Metro Cagayan de Oro

(Cagayan de Oro City, Alubijid, Claveria, El Salvador City, Gitagum, Jasaan, Laguindingan, Opol, Tagoloan, Villanueva, Baungon, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Talakag)

5.         Metro Angeles

(Angeles, Bacolor, Mabalacat, Porac, San Fernando)

6.         Metro Iloilo-Guimaras

(Iloilo City, Guimaras Province, Leganes, Oton, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara)

7 .        Metro Bacolod 

(Bacolod, Silay, Talisay)

  

8          MetroNaga

(Naga, Bombon, Bula, Calabanga,Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza, Magarao,Milaor, Minalabac, Ocampo, Pamplona,Pasacao, Pili, San Fernando)

9 .        Metro Baguio (BLIST)

(Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba)

10.        Metro Batangas

     ( Batangas City, Bauan, San Pascual)

  

11.       Metro Dagupan (CAMADA)

(Calasiao, Mangaldan, Dagupan) 

12.       Metro Olongapo

(Olongapo, Subic)

  City by Region      

(City Name / Province / Legal Class / Income Class /Date of Effectivity -(Ratification of City Charter)

National Capital Region (16)

Caloocan -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1962-02-16)
Las Piñas -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1997-03-26)
Makati -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1995-02-04)
Malabon -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/2001-04-21)
Mandaluyong -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1994-04-10)
Manila -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1901-07-31)
Marikina -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1996-12-07)
Muntinlupa -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1995-05-08)
Navotas -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/2007-06-24)
Parañaque -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1998-03-22)
Pasay -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1947-06-21)
Pasig -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1995-01-21)

Quezon City -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1939-10-12)
San Juan -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/2007-06-16)
Taguig -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/2004-12-08)
Valenzuela -(None/Highly urbanized/1st class/1998-12-30)

List of Cities by Region

Region 1 – Ilocos Region (8) 

Laoag -(Ilocos Norte/Component/3rd class/1966-01-01)
Candon -(Ilocos Sur/Component/ 4th class/ 2001-03-28)
Vigan -(Ilocos Sur/Component/ 4th class/2001-01-22)
San Fernando -(La Union/Component/3rd class/1998-03-20)
Alaminos -(Pangasinan/Component/4th class/2001-03-28)
Dagupan -(Pangasinan/Ind. component/lass/1947-06-20)
San Carlos -(Pangasinan /Component/3rd class/1966-01-01)
Urdaneta -(Pangasinan/Component/2nd class/1998-03-21)

Region 2 – Cagayan Valley (3)

Tuguegarao -(Cagayan/Component/1st class/1999-12-18)
Cauayan -(Isabela/Component/3rd class/2001-03-28)
Santiago -(Isabela /Ind. component/1st class/1994-07-03)

Region 3 – Central Luzon (13)

Balanga - (Bataan/Component/4th class/2000-12-30)
Malolos -( Bulacan /Urban Component/3rd class/2002-10-08)
Meycauayan - (Bulacan/Urban Component/1st class/ 2006-12-10)
San Jose del Monte -( Bulacan/Urban Component/1st class/ 2000-09-10)
Cabanatuan -( Nueva Ecija/Component/1st class/1950-07-14)
Gapan -( Nueva Ecija/Component /4th class/2001-08-25)
Muñoz -( Nueva Ecija/Component /4th class/ 2000-12-09)
Palayan -( Nueva Ecija/Component/5th class /1965-06-19)
San Jose -( Nueva Ecija/Component /2nd class /1969-08-04)
Angeles -( Pampanga / Highly urbanized /1st class /1964-01-01)
San Fernando -(Pampanga /Highly urbanized /1st class/2001-02-03)
Tarlac City - (Tarlac/Component/1st class/1998-04-19)
Olongapo -( Zambales /Highly urbanized/1st class/966-06-01)

Region 4A – Calabarzon (13)

Batangas City -(Batangas/Component/1st class/1969-06-21)
Lipa -(Batangas/Component/1st class/947-06-20)
Tanauan -(Batangas/Component/2nd class/2001-03-10)
Cavite City -(Cavite/Component/4th class/1940-05-26)
Dasmariñas -(Cavite/Component/not classified /2009-11-26)
Tagaytay -(Cavite/Component/ 2nd class/1938-06-21)
Trece Martires -(Cavite/Component/4th class/1956-01-01)
Biñan City -(Laguna/Component/1st class/2010-02-03)
Calamba City -(Laguna/Component/1st class/2001-04-21)
San Pablo City -(Laguna/Component/1st class/1940-05-07)
Santa Rosa City -(Laguna/Component/1st class /2004-07-10)
Lucena -(Quezon/Highly urbanized/1st class/1961-06-17)
Antipolo -(Rizal /Component /1st class/1998-04-04)

Region 4B – Mimaropa (2)

Calapan - (Or.Mindoro/Component/ 3rd class/1998-03-21)

Puerto Princesa - (Palawan/ Highly urbanized/1st class/1969-06-21)

Region 5 Bicol Region – (7)

Legazpi -(Albay/Component / 2nd class/1959-06-12)

Ligao -(Albay/ Component/4th class/2001-03-24)

Tabaco  -(Albay / Component /4th class/ 2001-03-24)

Iriga  -(Camarines Sur /Component/ 4th class/1968-06-15)

Naga   -(Camarines Sur /Component/1st class/1948-06-18)

Masbate City  -(Masbate/Component /4th class/2000-09-30)

Sorsogon City  -(Sorsogon /Component /3rd class/2000-12-16)

Region 6 – Western Visayas (16)

Roxas City  - (Capiz/Component/3rd class/1951-04-11)

Iloilo City - (Iloilo/Highly urbanized/1st class/1936-10-20)

Passi -  (Iloilo/Component/4th class/1998-03-14)

Bacolod - (Negros Occ./Highly urbanized/ not classified /1938-06-18)

Bago  - (Negros Occ./Component/2nd class /1966-01-01)

Cadiz    - (Negros Occ./Component / 2nd class/1967-06-17)

Escalante  - (Negros Occ./Component / 4th class/ 2001-03-31)

Himamaylan - (Negros Occ./Component /3rd class/2001-03-31)

Kabankalan   - (Negros Occ./Component/1st class /1997-08-02)

La Carlota - (Negros Occ./Component /4th class /1966-01-22)

Sagay - (Negros Occ./Component /3rd class/1996-08-10)

San Carlos - (Negros Occ./Component/ 2nd class /1960-06-18)

Silay  - (Negros Occ./Component /3rd class /1957-06-12)

Sipalay   - (Negros Occ./Component /4th class/2001-03-31)

Talisay   - (Negros Occ./Component/4th class/1998-03-21)

Victorias   - (Negros Occ./Component /4th class /1998-03-21)

Region  7 – Central Visayas (12) 

Tagbilaran -(Bohol/Component /3rd class /1966-07-01)

Cebu City   - (Cebu/Highly urbanized / not  classifed / 1936-10-20)

Danao  - (Cebu/ Component/3rd class /1961-06-07)

Lapu-Lapu City - (Cebu/ Component /1st class /1961-06-17)

Mandaue - (Cebu/Component /1st class /1969-06-21)

Talisay  - (Cebu/ Component/3rd class/2000-12-30)

Toledo   - (Cebu/Component /3rd class /1960-06-18)

Bais  - (Negros Or./ Component /3rd class /1968-09-01)

Bayawan - (Negros Or./ Component / 2nd class/ 2000-12-23)

Canlaon - (Negros Or./Component / 4th class /1961-06-18)

Dumaguete  - (Negros Or./Component / 3rd class/1948-06-15)

Tanjay  - (Negros Or./Component / 4th class / 2001-03-31)

Region 8 – Eastern Visayas ( 4)

Ormoc - (Leyte/Ind. component /1st class /1947-09-04)

Tacloban  - (Leyte/Highly urbanized / not  classifed /1952-06-20)

Calbayog  - (Samar(Western)/Component/1st class/1948-07-15)

Maasin  - (Southern Leyte/Component/4th class/2000-08-10)

Regon 9 – Zamboanga Peninsula (5) 

Isabela - (Basilan/Component /4th class/2001-04-25)

Dapitan  - (Zamboanga del Norte /Component/3rd class/1963-06-22)

Dipolog  - (Zamboanga del Norte /Component/3rd class/1970-01-01)

Pagadian  - (Zamboanga del Sur/Component /2nd class/1969-06-21)

Zamboanga City - (Zamboanga del Sur/Highly urbanized/1st class/1936-10-12)

Region 10 – Northern Mindanao (8)

Malaybalay -(Bukidnon/Component/1st class/1998-03-22)

Valencia  -(Bukidnon /Component /2nd class/ 2000-12-30)

Iligan  -(Lanao del Norte/ Highly urbanized/not classified/1950-06-16)

Oroquieta  -(Misamis Occidental/Component/4th class/970-01-01)

Ozamiz City -(Misamis Occidental/Component / 3rd class /1948-06-19)

Tangub -(Misamis Occidental /Component/ 4th class/1967-06-17)

Cagayan de Oro - (Misamis Oriental /Highly urbanized /1st class/1950-06-15)

Gingoog - (Misamis Oriental /Component / 2nd class/1960-06-18)

Region 11 – Davao Region ( 5)

Panabo - (Davao del Norte/Component/3rd class/2001-03-31)

Samal   - (Davao del Norte/ Component/4th class/1998-03-07)

Tagum   - (Davao del Norte/Component /1st class /1998-03-07)

Davao City  - (Davao del Sur/Highly urbanized /1st class/1936-10-16)

Digos  - (Davao del Sur/Component /2nd class /2000-09-08)

Region 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN (5)

Kidapawan - (Cotabato (North)/Component/1st class /1998-03-22)

Cotabato City- (Maguindanao/Ind. component /3rd class /1959-06-20)

General Santos - (South Cotabato/ Highly urbanized / 1st class/1968-06-15)

Koronadal  - (South Cotabato/Component/3rd class/2000-10-08)

Tacurong   - (Sultan Kudarat / Component/4th class /2000-09-18)

Region 13 – CARAGA (3)

Butuan  - (Agusan del Norte/Highly urbanized/1st class/1950-06-15)

Surigao City  - (Surigao del Norte/ Component/3rd class/1970-08-31)

Bislig - (Surigao del Sur /Component/3rd class/2000-09-18)

Cordillera Administrative Region (1)

Baguio  - (Benguet /Highly urbanized / 1st class/ 1909-09-01)

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (1)

Marawi  - Lanao del Sur/ Component/ 4th class/1940-08-19

Sources: 

Department of Tourism Site 

Department o Local Government Site