Foreign Travelers Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Dear Senior Citizen (SC), did you know that there are 145 cities¹ in the Philippines? Do you know what they are and their locations? Here’s a table which alphabetically presents the cities, along with their years of ratification, legal class*, province² and region³.

This post is also for foreigners who would like to know more about the Philippines.

CITY	Year of Ratifi-cation as a City	LEGAL  CLASS*	PROVINCE	REGION
Alaminos	2001	CC	Pangasinan	I – Ilocos
Angeles	1964	HUC	Pampanga	III – Central Luzon
Antipolo	1998	CC	Rizal	4-A – CALABARZON
Bacolod	1938	HUC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Bacoor	2012	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Bago	1966	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Baguio	1909	HUC	Benguet	CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
Bais	1968	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
Balanga	2000	CC	Bataan	III – Central Luzon
Batac	2007	CC	Ilocos Norte	I – Ilocos
Batangas City	1969	CC	Batangas	4-A – CALABARZON
Bayawan	2000	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
Baybay	2007	CC	Leyte	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Bayugan	2007	CC	Agusan del Sur	XIII – Caraga
Biñan	2010	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
Bislig	2000	CC	Surigao del Sur	XIII – Caraga
Bogo	2007	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Borongan	2007	CC	Eastern Samar	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Butuan	1950	HUC	Agusan del Norte	XIII – Caraga
Cabadbaran	2007	CC	Agusan del Norte	XIII – Caraga
Cabanatuan	1950	CC	Nueva Ecija	III – Central Luzon
Cabuyao	2012	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
Cadiz	1967	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Cagayan de Oro	1950	HUC	Misamis Oriental	X – Northern Mindanao
Calamba	2001	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
Calapan	1998	CC	Oriental Mindoro	XVII – Southwestern Tagalog
Calbayog	1948	CC	Samar	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Caloocan	1962	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Candon	2001	CC	Ilocos Sur	I – Ilocos
Canlaon	1961	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
Carcar	2007	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Catbalogan	2007	CC	Samar	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Cauayan	2001	CC	Isabela	II – Cagayan Valley
Cavite City	1940	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Cebu City	1937	HUC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Cotabato City	1959	ICC	Maguindanao	XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
Dagupan	1947	ICC	Pangasinan	I – Ilocos
Danao	1961	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Dapitan	1963	CC	Zamboanga del Norte	IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Dasmariñas	2009	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Davao City	1937	HUC	Davao Del Sur	XI – Davao
Digos	2000	CC	Davao Del Sur	XI – Davao
Dipolog	1970	CC	Zamboanga del Norte	IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Dumaguete	1948	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
El Salvador	2007	CC	Misamis Oriental	X – Northern Mindanao
Escalante	2001	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Gapan	2001	CC	Nueva Ecija	III – Central Luzon
General Santos	1968	HUC	South Cotabato	XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
General Trias	2015	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Ginggog	1960	CC	Misamis Oriental	X – Northern Mindanao
Guihulngan	2007	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
Himamaylan	2001	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Ilagan	2012	CC	Isabela	II – Cagayan Valley
Iligan	1950	HUC	Lanao del Norte	X – Northern Mindanao
Iloilo City	1937	HUC	Iloilo	VI – Western Visayas
Imus	2012	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Iriga	1968	CC	Camarines Sur	V – Bicol
Isabela	2001	CC	Basilan	IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Kabankalan	1997	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Kidapawan	1998	CC	(North) Cotabato	XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
Koronadal	2000	CC	South Cotabato	XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
La Carlota	1966	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Lamitan	2007	CC	Basilan	ARMM
Laoag	1966	CC	Ilocos Norte	I – Ilocos
Lapu-Lapu	1961	HUC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Las Piñas	1997	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Legazpi	1959	CC	Albay	V – Bicol
Ligao	2001	CC	Albay	V – Bicol
Lipa	1947	CC	Batangas	4-A – CALABARZON
Lucena	1962	HUC	Quezon	4-A – CALABARZON
Maasin	2000	CC	Southern Leyte	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Mabalacat	2012	CC	Pampanga	III – Central Luzon
Makati	1995	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Malabon	2001	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Malaybalay	1998	CC	Bukidnon	X – Northern Mindanao
Malolos	1999	CC	Bulacan	III – Central Luzon
Mandaluyong	1994	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Mandaue	1969	HUC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Manila	1901	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Marawi	1950	CC	Lanao del Sur	ARMM
Marikina	1996	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Masbate City	2000	CC	Masbate	V – Bicol
Mati	2007	CC	Davao Oriental	XI – Davao
Meycauayan	2006	CC	Bulacan	III – Central Luzon
Muñoz	2000	CC	Nueva Ecija	III – Central Luzon
Muntinlupa	1995	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Naga	1948	ICC	Camarines Sur	V – Bicol
Naga	2007	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Navotas	2007	HUC	–	NCR
Olongapo	1966	HUC	Zambales	III – Central Luzon
Ormoc	1947	ICC	Leyte	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Oroquieta	1970	CC	Misamis Occidental	X – Northern Mindanao
Ozamiz	1948	CC	Misamis Occidental	X – Northern Mindanao
Pagadian	1969	CC	Zamboanga del Sur	IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
Palayan	1965	CC	Nueva Ecija	III – Central Luzon
Panabo	2001	CC	Davao del Norte	XI – Davao
Parañaque	1998	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Pasay	1947	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Pasig	1995	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Passi	1998	CC	Iloilo	VI – Western Visayas
Puerto Princesa	1970	HUC	Palawan	XVII – Southwestern Tagalog
Quezon City	1939	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Roxas	1951	CC	Capiz	VI – Western Visayas
Sagay	1996	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Samal	1998	CC	Davao del Norte	XI – Davao
San Carlos	1960	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
San Carlos	1966	CC	Pangasinan	I – Ilocos
San Fernando	1998	CC	La Union	I – Ilocos
San Fernando	2001	CC	Pampanga	III – Central Luzon
San Jose	1969	CC	Nueva Ecija	III – Central Luzon
San Jose del Monte	2000	CC	Bulacan	III – Central Luzon
San Juan	2007	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
San Pablo	1941	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
San Pedro	2013	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
Santa Rosa	2004	CC	Laguna	4-A – CALABARZON
Santiago	1994	ICC	Isabela	II – Cagayan Valley
Silay	1957	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Sipalay	2001	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Sorsogon City	2000	CC	Sorsogon	V – Bicol
Surigao City	1970	CC	Surigao del Norte	XIII – Caraga
Tabaco	2001	CC	Albay	V – Bicol
Tabuk	2007	CC	Kalinga	CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
Tacloban	1953	HUC	Leyte	VIII – Eastern Visayas
Tacurong	2000	CC	Sultan Kudarat	XII – SOCCSKSARGEN
Tagaytay	1938	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Tagbilaran	1966	CC	Bohol	VII – Central Visayas
Taguig	2004	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Tagum	1998	CC	Davao del Norte	XI – Davao
Talisay	2000	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Talisay	1998	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Tanauan	2001	CC	Batangas	4-A – CALABARZON
Tandag	2007	CC	Surigao del Sur	XIII – Caraga
Tangub	1968	CC	Misamis Occidental	X – Northern Mindanao
Tanjay	2001	CC	Negros Oriental	VII – Central Visayas
Tarlac City	1998	CC	Tarlac	III – Central Luzon
Tayabas	2007	CC	Quezon	4-A – CALABARZON
Toledo	1960	CC	Cebu	VII – Central Visayas
Trece Martires	1956	CC	Cavite	4-A – CALABARZON
Tuguegarao	1999	CC	Cagayan	II – Cagayan Valley
Urdaneta	1998	CC	Pangasinan	I – Ilocos
Valencia	2000	CC	Bukidnon	X – Northern Mindanao
Valenzuela	1998	HUC	–	NCR – National Capital Region
Victorias	1998	CC	Negros Occidental	VI – Western Visayas
Vigan	2001	CC	Ilocos Sur	I – Ilocos
Zamboanga City	1937	HUC	Zamboanga del Sur	IX – Zamboanga Peninsula

Legend: Legal Classes – CC –Component City⁴; ICC – Independent Component City⁵;HUC – Highly Urbanized City⁶

See my related posts – simply click the links below, so you will know more about the regions³ and provinces² of the Philippines.

Well, dear Senior Citizens (SCs), how many of these cities have you visited? I have computed that if we visit one city per week, it would take us 3 years and 1 week to visit all our cities. Let’s start soon, ok?

Do visit related posts: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES? and Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Did you find this post informative? Filipino SC, from what city do you come from? Please share the wonderful destinations, sites, or events that you recommend for SCs like us to enjoy when we visit your city. I would like to hear from you. Simply scroll and click “Leave a comment”. Do share this post with your Facebook friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post.  Thank you!

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially non-Filipinos, those with “Senior-Moments”, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹A city is the local government unit in the Philippines headed by a mayor elected by popular vote. A vice mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council), which serves as the city’s legislative body. Congress is the only legislative entity that can incorporate a city in the country. All Philippine cities are chartered cities⁷, generally are more autonomous and are given a bigger share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) compared to regular municipalities⁸. Upon receiving its charter, a city also receives a full complement of executive departments to best serve its constituents. A city is governed by both the Local Government Code of 1991 and its own municipal charter⁹, under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. There are 145 cities, as of 2016, in the country: 33 are highly urbanized⁶; 5 areindependent component⁵ and 107 are component cities⁴ of the provinces² in which they are geographically located. NOTE: If the population of a city reaches 250,000, a city is entitled to at least one representative in the Philippine House of Representatives. The income classes for cities, based on average annual income for a 4-year period, are: first class city (400 million pesos or more); second class city (320 million but less than 400 million pesos); third class city (240 million but less than 320 million pesos); fourth class city (160 million but less than 240 million pesos); fifth class city (80 million but less than 160 million pesos); and, sixth class city (below 80 million pesos). All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Cities of the Philippines.”¹⁰

²A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region³. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and by an elected governor. NOTE: A province in thePhilippines is divided into cities and municipalities⁸ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹¹, formerly called barrios. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”¹²

³A region is the first-order administrative division in the Philippines. There are 18 regions in the Philippines, based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. NOTE: It is further subdivided in provinces², composed of cities and municipalities⁸ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹¹, formerly called barrios. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines.”¹³

⁴A component city (CC) is a type of city¹ in the Philippines which does not meet the requirements of a highly urbanized city⁶. It is under the jurisdiction of a province². If such a city is located along the boundaries of 2 or more provinces, it shall be considered part of the province of which it used to be a municipality⁸. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Cities of the Philippines.”¹⁰

⁵An independent component city (ICC) is a type of city¹ in the Philippines which is autonomous from the province in which it is geographically located and has a charter that explicitly prohibits its residents to vote for provincial officials (unless allowed to do so). It does not meet the requirements of a highly urbanized city⁶. There are 5 such cities in the country: Cotabato, Dagupan, Naga, Ormoc, and Santiago. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Cities of the Philippines.”¹⁰

⁶A highly urbanized city (HUC) is a type of city¹ in the Philippines with a minimum population of 200,000 as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and with the latest annual income of at least 50 million pesos. There are currently 33 such cities in the Philippines (see table). All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Cities of the Philippines.”¹⁰

⁷A chartered city is a type of city¹ in the Philippines which exists as an administrative and a corporate entity governed by its own specific municipal charter⁹, along with the Local Government Code of 1991 which specifies its administrative structure and powers. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Cities of the Philippines.”¹⁰

⁸A municipality is a small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province², subdivided into barangays¹¹, and is locally called “bayan”. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. There are almost 1,500 municipalities in the Philippines and there are 6 income classes of municipalities in the country, based on annual income: first class municipality (with at least 400 million pesos); second class municipality (between 320 million -less than 400 million); third class municipality (between 240 million -less than 320 million pesos); fourth class municipality (between 160 million -less than 240 million pesos); fifth class municipality (between 80 million -less than 160 million pesos); and, sixth class municipality (below 80 million). All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”¹⁴

⁹A municipal charter is a legal document (charter) establishing a city¹ in the Philippines. The Philippine Congress has established cities since 1946 with majority holding a plebiscite among the city’s voting population to ratify city charters.

¹⁰“Cities of the Philippines,” accessed March 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_of_the_Philippines.

¹¹A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a district or village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb or a suburban neighborhood. NOTE: The word barangay originated from the term “balangay”, a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesian people who migrated to the Philippines. All these were obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”¹⁵

¹²“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed March 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines.

¹³“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed March 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Phjilippines.

¹⁴“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed March 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines.

¹⁵“Barangay,” accessed March 17, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay.