List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines

The Philippines has nine metropolitan areas established either through national legislation or urban planning, eight of which have 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] Metro Baguio (MBLISTTDA),[6] Metro Olongapo (SBMA; Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone or Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) only), and Metro Clark, Metro Pampanga–Tarlac or Pampanga Megalopolis (BCDA and CDC; New Clark City and Clark Freeport Zone).

Among these nine, 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 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] The other six metropolitan areas are Metro Clark, Metro Bacolod, Metro Cagayan de Oro, Metro Iloilo–Guimaras, Metro Olongapo, and Metro Baguio. Earlier planning frameworks under the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), DEPDev's predecessor, listed them together with Metro Batangas and Metro Dagupan. While no longer included in the 2017–2022 Philippine Development Plan, other sectors still recognized them as metropolitan areas, with Dagupan and Batangas are still in the proposal stage and Naga lost its metropolitan status.[9][10][11][12][13]

Despite these official definitions, the actual extent of continuous urbanization often exceeds administrative boundaries where provinces near the respective metropolitan areas experience progress resulting from them called as built-up areas. Examples are Metro Manila that extends its urbanization to Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal known as Greater Manila Area, and Metro Olongapo and Pampanga Megalopolis to Bataan notably with the Hermosa and Morong portions of SBFZ.[14]

List

Metropolitan areas

Metro area [7] Population (2020) [15] Area [16][17] Density (2020) Managing agency
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Metro Cebu 3,165,799 1,053.19406.64 3,0007,800 Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board[18]
10°06′12″N 123°38′26″E / 10.1033°N 123.6405°E / 10.1033; 123.6405 (Carcar) Carcar 4.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 136,453 116.7845.09 1,2003,100
10°18′32″N 123°53′35″E / 10.3090°N 123.8930°E / 10.3090; 123.8930 (Cebu City) Cebu City 30.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 964,169 315.00121.62 3,1008,000
10°27′26″N 124°00′37″E / 10.4571°N 124.0104°E / 10.4571; 124.0104 (Compostela) Compostela 1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 55,874 53.9020.81 1,0002,600
10°22′35″N 123°57′26″E / 10.3765°N 123.9572°E / 10.3765; 123.9572 (Consolacion) Consolacion 4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 148,012 37.0314.30 4,00010,000
10°15′05″N 123°57′00″E / 10.2515°N 123.9499°E / 10.2515; 123.9499 (Cordova) Cordova 2.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 70,595 17.156.62 4,10011,000
10°31′14″N 124°01′37″E / 10.5205°N 124.0270°E / 10.5205; 124.0270 (Danao) Danao 4.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 156,321 107.3041.43 1,5003,900
10°18′39″N 123°56′58″E / 10.3109°N 123.9494°E / 10.3109; 123.9494 (Lapu-Lapu) Lapu-Lapu (Opon) 15.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 497,604 58.1022.43 8,60022,000
10°24′01″N 123°59′57″E / 10.4002°N 123.9993°E / 10.4002; 123.9993 (Liloan) Liloan 4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 153,197 45.9217.73 3,3008,500
10°19′28″N 123°56′34″E / 10.3245°N 123.9428°E / 10.3245; 123.9428 (Mandaue) Mandaue 11.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 364,116 25.189.72 14,00036,000
10°14′42″N 123°47′47″E / 10.2450°N 123.7964°E / 10.2450; 123.7964 (Minglanilla) Minglanilla 4.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 151,002 65.6025.33 2,3006,000
10°12′33″N 123°45′24″E / 10.2093°N 123.7567°E / 10.2093; 123.7567 (Naga) Naga 4.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 133,184 101.9739.37 1,3003,400
10°09′51″N 123°42′21″E / 10.1643°N 123.7058°E / 10.1643; 123.7058 (San Fernando) San Fernando 2.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 72,224 69.3926.79 1,0002,600
10°14′41″N 123°50′50″E / 10.2446°N 123.8473°E / 10.2446; 123.8473 (Talisay) Talisay 8.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 263,048 39.8715.39 6,60017,000
Metro Davao 3,339,284 6,492.842,506.90 5101,300 Metropolitan Davao Development Authority[19]
7°21′20″N 125°42′16″E / 7.3556°N 125.7045°E / 7.3556; 125.7045 (Carmen) Carmen 2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 82,018 166.0064.09 4901,300
7°03′50″N 125°36′30″E / 7.0639°N 125.6083°E / 7.0639; 125.6083 (Davao City) Davao City 53.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,776,949 2,443.61943.48 7301,900
6°44′39″N 125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Digos) Digos 5.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 188,376 287.10110.85 6601,700
6°44′39″N 125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Hagonoy) Hagonoy 1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 56,919 114.2844.12 5001,300
6°44′39″N 125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Maco) Maco 2.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 83,237 342.23132.14 240620
6°44′39″N 125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Malalag) Malalag 1.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 40,158 186.1271.86 220570
6°44′39″N 125°21′23″E / 6.7443°N 125.3565°E / 6.7443; 125.3565 (Malita) Malita 3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 118,197 883.37341.07 130340
6°34′12″N 126°07′48″E / 6.5700°N 126.1300°E / 6.5700; 126.1300 (Mati) Mati 4.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 147,547 588.63227.27 250650
6°56′N 126°58′E / 6.94°N 126.97°E / 6.94; 126.97 (Padada) Padada 0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 29,878 83.0032.05 360930
7°18′01″N 125°40′57″E / 7.3004°N 125.6826°E / 7.3004; 125.6826 (Panabo) Panabo 6.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 209,230 251.2397.00 8302,100
7°04′28″N 125°42′31″E / 7.0744°N 125.7086°E / 7.0744; 125.7086 (Samal) Samal 3.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 116,771 301.30116.33 3901,000
6°50′02″N 125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Cruz) Santa Cruz 3.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 101,125 319.91123.52 320830
6°50′02″N 125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Maria) Santa Maria 1.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 57,526 175.0067.57 330850
6°50′02″N 125°24′55″E / 6.8340°N 125.4154°E / 6.8340; 125.4154 (Santa Maria) Sulop 1.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 35,151 155.2659.95 230600
7°26′48″N 125°48′34″E / 7.4468°N 125.8095°E / 7.4468; 125.8095 (Tagum) Tagum 8.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 296,202 195.8075.60 1,5003,900
Metro Manila 13,484,462 633.11244.45 21,00054,000 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
14°39′26″N 120°59′03″E / 14.6571°N 120.9841°E / 14.6571; 120.9841 (Caloocan) Caloocan 12.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,661,584 53.2020.54 31,00080,000
14°28′50″N 120°58′55″E / 14.4806°N 120.9819°E / 14.4806; 120.9819 (Las Piñas) Las Piñas 4.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 606,293 32.0212.36 19,00049,000
14°33′24″N 121°01′25″E / 14.5568°N 121.0235°E / 14.5568; 121.0235 (Makati) Makati 4.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 629,616 27.3610.56 23,00060,000
14°40′31″N 120°57′26″E / 14.6752°N 120.9573°E / 14.6752; 120.9573 (Malabon) Malabon 2.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 380,522 15.966.16 24,00062,000
14°34′39″N 121°02′00″E / 14.5774°N 121.0334°E / 14.5774; 121.0334 (Mandaluyong) Mandaluyong 3.2%|| style="text-align:right" | 425,758 11.064.27 38,00098,000
14°35′26″N 120°58′48″E / 14.5906°N 120.9799°E / 14.5906; 120.9799 (Manila) Manila 13.7%|| style="text-align:right" | 1,846,513 42.8816.56 43,000110,000
14°37′59″N 121°05′57″E / 14.6331°N 121.0993°E / 14.6331; 121.0993 (Marikina) Marikina 3.4%|| style="text-align:right" | 456,059 22.648.74 20,00052,000
15°42′47″N 120°54′15″E / 15.7131°N 120.9041°E / 15.7131; 120.9041 (Muntinlupa) Muntinlupa 4.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 543,445 41.6716.09 13,00034,000
14°39′25″N 120°56′52″E / 14.6569°N 120.9478°E / 14.6569; 120.9478 (Navotas) Navotas 1.8%|| style="text-align:right" | 247,543 11.514.44 22,00057,000
14°30′03″N 120°59′29″E / 14.5007°N 120.9915°E / 14.5007; 120.9915 (Parañaque) Parañaque 5.1%|| style="text-align:right" | 689,992 47.2818.25 15,00039,000
14°32′37″N 120°59′43″E / 14.5437°N 120.9954°E / 14.5437; 120.9954 (Pasay) Pasay 3.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 440,656 18.647.20 24,00062,000
14°33′38″N 121°04′36″E / 14.5605°N 121.0767°E / 14.5605; 121.0767 (Pasig) Pasig 6.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 803,159 31.4612.15 26,00067,000
14°32′32″N 121°03′55″E / 14.5421°N 121.0654°E / 14.5421; 121.0654 (Pateros) Pateros 0.5%|| style="text-align:right" | 65,227 1.760.68 37,00096,000
14°39′03″N 121°02′55″E / 14.6509°N 121.0486°E / 14.6509; 121.0486 (Quezon City) Quezon City 22.0%|| style="text-align:right" | 2,960,048 165.3363.83 18,00047,000
14°36′17″N 121°01′48″E / 14.6047°N 121.0299°E / 14.6047; 121.0299 (San Juan) San Juan 0.9%|| style="text-align:right" | 126,347 5.872.27 22,00057,000
14°31′36″N 121°04′28″E / 14.5266°N 121.0744°E / 14.5266; 121.0744 (Taguig) Taguig 6.6%|| style="text-align:right" | 886,722 45.1817.44 20,00052,000
14°42′28″N 120°56′46″E / 14.7077°N 120.9462°E / 14.7077; 120.9462 (Valenzuela) Valenzuela 5.3%|| style="text-align:right" | 714,978 45.7517.66 16,00041,000

Regional centers

  1. Antipolo
  2. Bacolod
  3. Baguio
  4. Balanga
  5. Baliwag
  6. Batangas City
  7. Butuan
  8. Cabanatuan
  9. Calamba
  10. Calapan
  11. Clark
  12. Cotabato City
  13. Dagupan
  14. Dasmariñas
  15. Dipolog
  16. Eastern Kalinga (Tabuk–Pinukpuk–Rizal)
  17. General Santos
  18. Iloilo
  19. Jolo
  20. Koronadal
  21. Laoag
  22. Legazpi
  23. Lucena
  24. Malolos
  25. Naga (Camarines Sur)
  26. Ormoc
  27. Pagadian
  28. Puerto Princesa
  29. San Fernando (La Union)
  30. Santiago
  31. Subic–Olongapo
  32. Surigao City
  33. Tacloban
  34. Tagbilaran
  35. Tagum
  36. Tarlac City
  37. Tuguegarao
  38. Zamboanga City

Sub-regional centers

  1. Alaminos
  2. Alfonso Lista
  3. Arayat
  4. Aurora
  5. Bacoor
  6. Banaue
  7. Bangued
  8. Baras
  9. Bauko
  10. Bayog
  11. Besao
  12. Binangonan
  13. Bislig
  14. Biñan
  15. Boac
  16. Bogo
  17. Bongao
  18. Bontoc
  19. Buug
  20. Cabuyao
  21. Cainta
  22. Calbayog
  23. Capas
  24. Catbalogan
  25. Cauayan
  26. Concepcion
  27. Daet
  28. Danglas
  29. Digos
  30. Dumaguete
  31. Dumalinao
  32. Dumangas
  33. Dumingag
  34. Estancia
  35. Flora
  36. General Mariano Alvarez
  37. General Trias
  38. Gingoog
  39. Glan
  40. Hagonoy
  41. Ilagan
  42. Iligan
  43. Imus
  44. Ipil
  45. Iriga
  46. Isabela–Lamitan
  47. Jordan
  48. Kabankalan
  49. Kabasalan
  50. Kalibo
  51. Kiangan
  52. Kidapawan
  53. La Paz
  54. Laguindingan
  55. Lamut
  56. Langiden
  57. Ligao
  58. Lipa
  59. Lubao
  60. Luna
  61. Mabalacat
  62. Mahayag
  63. Malay
  64. Malaybalay
  65. Malita
  66. Maramag
  67. Marawi
  68. Margosatubig
  69. Marilao
  70. Mariveles
  71. Masbate City
  72. Mati
  73. Matnog
  74. Mexico
  75. Meycauayan
  76. Miagao
  77. Midsayap
  78. Molave
  79. Nasugbu
  80. Ozamiz
  81. Panabo
  82. Parang
  83. Passi
  84. Peñarrubia
  85. Pidigan
  86. Pili
  87. Polomolok
  88. Pudtol
  89. Rodriguez
  90. Romblon
  91. Roxas
  92. Sadanga
  93. San Carlos (Negros Occidental)
  94. San Fernando (Pampanga)
  95. San Francisco
  96. San Ildefonso
  97. San Isidro
  98. San Jose (Occidental Mindoro)
  99. San Jose (Nueva Ecija)
  100. San Jose de Buenavista
  101. San Jose del Monte
  102. San Mateo
  103. San Miguel
  104. San Pablo
  105. San Pedro
  106. Santa Ana
  107. Santa Marcela
  108. Santa Maria
  109. Santa Rosa
  110. Santo Tomas
  111. Sariaya
  112. Silang
  113. Sindangan
  114. Sorsogon City
  115. Tabaco
  116. Tacurong
  117. Tanauan
  118. Tandag
  119. Tanza
  120. Taytay
  121. Tayum
  122. Toledo
  123. Trece Martires
  124. Tubigon
  125. Tubo
  126. Tubod
  127. Urdaneta
  128. Valencia
  129. Vigan
  130. Virac

History

In 2020, 54% of the Philippine population lived in urban areas[20] 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. 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[21] 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.[22]

RankUrban AreaEst. PopulationBuilt-up Area (sq miles)Built-up Area (sq km)Pop. Density (per sq miles)Pop. Density (per sq km)
1Manila24,156,0007381,91132,73212,638
2Cebu City2,482,0007920531,41812,130
3Davao City1,379,0005013027,58010,649
4Cagayan de Oro723,000277026,77810,339
5Angeles City712,000721869,8893,818
6Bacolod611,000328319,0947,372
7Iloilo City542,000359115,4865,979
8Zamboanga City539,000215425,6679,910
9General Santos529,000369314,6945,674

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "An Act Creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Providing Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes". The LawPhil Project. Arellano Law Foundation.
  2. ↑ Manticajon, Ian (December 28, 2024). "Fizzling of 'Ceboom': Insights from Hutchcroft and Gera's study (Part 2)". Bar None. The Freeman. The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Metro Naga Development Council: Treading New Grounds" (DOC). City Government of Naga.
  4. ↑ "Creating the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC)". Arellano Law Foundation.
  5. ↑ "An Act Creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority, Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor". Supreme Court E-Library.
  6. ↑ "An Act Creating the Metropolitan Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA), Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor". Supreme Court E-Library.
  7. 1 2 "Chapter 3: Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and Physical Characteristics" (PDF). Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022. National Economic and Development Authority: 37–38. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and Physical Characteristics" (PDF). National Economic Development Authority of the Philippines.
  9. ↑ "Clark pushed as alternative to decongest Metro Manila". SunStar Publishing Inc. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Del Rosario, Marna (February 8, 2018). "Pampanga Megalopolis Plan: Strongest counter-magnet to MM". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Building Globally Competitive Metro Areas in the Philippines" (PDF). National Economic and Development Authority. August 30, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  12. ↑ "New Metropolis Rising in Pangasinan". Wow Dagupan Today. January 7, 2011. Dagupan Metropolitan Area or Metro Dagupan (DMA) is a metropolitan area in north central Luzon.
  13. ↑ "Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, Chapter 3: An overlay of economic growth, demographic trends and physical characteristics" (PDF). National Economic and Development Authority. 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Demographia World Urban Areas, 12th Annual Edition: 2016:04" (PDF). 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017. Higher than other estimates, which are largely limited to the National Capital Region. Continuous urbanization extends into Cavite, Laguna, Bulucan [sic] and Rizal.
  15. ↑ Census of Population (2020). Table B - Population and Annual Growth Rates by Province, City, and Municipality - By Region. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Philippine Standard Geographic Code". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  18. ↑ "What is MCDCB?". Mega Cebu Blog. March 2, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  19. ↑ Joviland Rita (April 27, 2022). "Duterte OKs creation of Metropolitan Davao Development Authority". GMA News Online. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Urban Population of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)". Philippine Statistics Authority. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Keith, Gaby B. "Metro Baguio Devt Authority now a law". The Manila Times. Manila Times Publishing Corp. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  22. ↑ Cox, Wendell (August 2023). "World Urban Areas 19th Annual: 2023" (PDF). Demographia. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
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