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Central Visayas

Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°E / 10.000; 123.500
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Central Visayas
Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an
Gitnang Visayas
Region
Clockwise from the top: Magellan's Cross, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Panglao Island, Chocolate Hills, Moalboal Reef
Nickname(s): 
Center of Christianity
Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of the Cebuanos)
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Map
Coordinates: 10°0′N 123°30′E / 10.000°N 123.500°E / 10.000; 123.500
Country Philippines
Island groupVisayas
Regional center
and largest city		Cebu City
Area
 • Total
10,114.52 km2 (3,905.24 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Osmeña Peak)
1,072 m (3,517 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[1]
 • Total
6,545,603
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 codePH-07
Provinces
2
Independent cities
3
Component cities
7
Municipalities91
Barangays2,312
Cong. districts11
Languages
GDP (2022)₱1.20 trillion
$20.5 billion[2]
Growth rateIncrease (7.3%)[2]
HDIIncrease 0.704 (High)
HDI rank8th in the Philippines (2019)

Central Visayas (Cebuano: Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an; Tagalog: Gitnang Kabisayaan or Filipino: Gitnang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VII. With only two provinces: Cebu and Bohol, as well as three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, it has the fewest number of provinces out of any region in the country. Despite this, it is the most populous region in the Visayas, with a population of 6,545,603.

The regional center, as well as its largest city, is Cebu City. The Cebuano language is the region's lingua franca. The region is also dominated by the native speakers of three Visayan languages: Bantayanon, Boholano and Porohanon.

In 2015, Central Visayas was redefined when it lost the province of Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the Negros Island Region was dissolved in 2017, returning Negros Oriental to Central Visayas. After seven years, it lost Negros Oriental again, as well as the island province of Siquijor, after the Negros Island Region was re-established in 2024.

Etymology

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The name of the region, Central Visayas, 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, 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

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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 Sr.. 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, s. 2015, issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, moved Negros Oriental to the newly formed Negros Island Region.[5]

On August 9, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signing of Executive Order No. 38.[6] This returned Negros Oriental to Central Visayas.

In 2024, Negros Oriental was again moved to the re-established Negros Island Region. Siquijor was also moved to the NIR through Republic Act No. 12000 signed by President Bongbong Marcos.[7]

Geography

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Political map of Central Visayas (since June 2024)
Former map of Central Visayas prior to the revival of Negros Island Region in June 2024
See also: Cebu § Geography, and Bohol § Geography

Central Visayas consists of the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, as well as the three independent cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City. The region also includes the straits of Cebu and parts of the Tañon Strait. Its land area is 10,144.52 km2 (3,916.82 sq mi), 3.3% of the country's total land area.

Central Visayas is bounded on the north by the Visayan Sea, west by the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental in Negros island, south by the Bohol Sea and the province of Siquijor, and east by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte in Eastern Visayas.

Administrative divisions

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Provinces

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Central Visayas consists of 2 provinces, 3 highly urbanized cities, 7 component cities, 91 municipalities, and 2,312 barangays.

Province or HUC Capital Population (2020)[8] Area[9] Density Cities Muni. Barangay
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Bohol Tagbilaran City 21.3% 1,394,329 4,772.52 1,842.68 290 750 1 47 1,109
Cebu Cebu City 50.8% 3,325,385 4,943.72 1,908.78 670 1,700 6 44 1,066
Cebu City † — 14.7% 964,169 315.00 121.62 3,100 8,000 — — 80
Lapu-Lapu † — 7.6% 497,604 58.10 22.43 8,600 22,000 — — 30
Mandaue † — 5.6% 364,116 25.18 9.72 14,500 38,000 — — 27
Total 6,545,603 10,114.52 3,905.24 650 1,700 10 91 2,312

 †  Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu City are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Cebu Province.

Governors and vice governors

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Province Image Governor Political Party Vice Governor
Bohol
 Erico Aristotle Aumentado NPC Dionisio Victor Balite
Cebu
 Gwendolyn Garcia 1-Cebu Hilario Davide III

Cities

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  •  †  Regional center
City Population (2020)[8] Area Density City class Income class Province
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Bogo 88,867 103.52 39.97 860 2,200 Component 6th Cebu
Carcar 136,453 116.78 45.09 1,200 3,100 Component 5th Cebu
† Cebu City 964,169 315.00 121.62 3,100 8,000 Highly urbanized 1st Cebu
Danao 156,321 107.30 41.43 1,500 3,900 Component 3rd Cebu
Lapu-Lapu 497,604 58.10 22.43 8,600 22,000 Highly urbanized 1st Cebu
Mandaue 364,116 25.18 9.72 14,000 36,000 Highly urbanized 1st Cebu
Naga 133,184 101.97 39.37 1,300 3,400 Component 3rd Cebu
Tagbilaran 104,976 36.50 14.09 2,900 7,500 Component 3rd Bohol
Talisay 263,048 39.87 15.39 6,800 18,000 Component 3rd Cebu
Toledo 207,314 216.28 83.51 960 2,500 Component 3rd Cebu

Demographics

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Population census of Central Visayas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,124,444—    
1918 1,485,976+1.88%
1939 1,954,366+1.31%
1948 2,119,975+0.91%
1960 2,522,802+1.46%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 3,032,719+1.86%
1975 3,387,274+2.24%
1980 3,787,374+2.26%
1990 4,594,124+1.95%
1995 5,014,588+1.65%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 5,706,953+2.81%
2007 6,400,698+1.59%
2010 6,800,180+2.23%
2015 7,396,898+1.61%
2020 8,081,988+1.76%
Data in 2015 includes Negros Oriental.
Data in 2020 includes Negros Oriental and Siquijor. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[1][10][11][12]

According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 6,545,603. Before Negros Oriental and Siquijor separated from the region in 2024, it was 8,081,988.

The population density was 510/km2 (1,300/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

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The native languages of Central Visayas are:

Economy

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A skyline view of Cebu City.

Poverty incidence of Central Visayas

10
20
30
40
2006
35.90
2009
31.01
2012
30.22
2015
29.36
2018
17.7
2021
22.10

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Central Visayas has the fourth-largest economy in the Philippines.[21] Cebu City serves as the region's economic hub.

Transportation

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Ports

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Fastcraft terminal for ferrying passengers from Cebu to Negros Island.

The Port of Cebu is the region's main gateway by sea. Other seaports in the region include the Liloan Port in Santander, Cebu and the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, including ro-ro companies Montenegro Lines and Lite Ferries and fastcraft companies OceanJet and Supercat.

Airports

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Mactan–Cebu International Airport.

Mactan–Cebu International Airport, located on Mactan Island in Metro Cebu, is the country's second-busiest airport and a gateway to the region by air. It is the secondary hub of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (and their subsidiaries), with flights to locations throughout the country. It also serves international flights to other Asian and intercontinental destinations.[22]

Bohol–Panglao International Airport serves Bohol and is the region's newest airport.

Mass media

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Cebu City is the main media hub for 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 to the local viewers.

Aside from the 24 national daily newspapers available, Cebu City also has 20 local newspapers. Among the widely read are SunStar Cebu, Cebu Daily News, and The Freeman.

Notable people

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Main articles: List of people from Cebu and List of Boholanos

References

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  1. ^ a b c Census of Population (2015). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "2021 to 2023 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)". openstat.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Change in name will be good for Philippines". Inquirer Opinion. July 15, 2016.
  4. ^ "Should the Philippines be renamed? Historian weighs in".
  5. ^ "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region". Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Marcos signs law creating Negros Island Region". ABS-CBN. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Census of Population (2020). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Population, Land Area, Population Density, and Percent Change in Population Density of the Philippines by Region, Province/Highly Urbanized City, and City/Municipality: 2010, 2015, and 2020" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  10. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF). National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  11. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VII (Central Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  12. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VII (Central Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  13. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  15. ^ "2009 Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. February 8, 2011.
  16. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  17. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  18. ^ "Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, by Region and Province: 1991, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. August 27, 2016.
  19. ^ "Updated Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold, Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2015 and 2018". Philippine Statistics Authority. June 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "2021 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 15, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L. "Central Visayas remains Philippine's 4th largest economy". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mactan Cebu International Airport - Cebu Pacific - Philippines". mactan–cebuairport.com.ph. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
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