Central Luzon (or "
Gitnang Luzon" in
FilipinoFilipino is the national language of the Philippines and, along with English, is an official language; designated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Filipino is an Austronesian language that is based on various existing native languages in the Philippines, with a significant number of Spanish...
) , also known as
Region III (or
Region 3), is an administrative division or
regionIn the Philippines, regions are administrative division that serve primarily to organize the 80 provinces for administrative convenience...
of the Republic of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces (probinsiya or lalawigan) of the vast central plain of the island of
LuzonLuzon is the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Visayas and Mindanao being the other two...
(the largest island), for administrative convenience. The region contains the largest
plainIn geography, a plain is a land with relatively high relief, as well as flat. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or vegetation may be...
in the country and produces most of the country's
riceRice is the seed of a monocot plant Oryza sativa, of the grass family . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East, South, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies...
supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines".
Central Luzon (or "
Gitnang Luzon" in
FilipinoFilipino is the national language of the Philippines and, along with English, is an official language; designated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Filipino is an Austronesian language that is based on various existing native languages in the Philippines, with a significant number of Spanish...
) , also known as
Region III (or
Region 3), is an administrative division or
regionIn the Philippines, regions are administrative division that serve primarily to organize the 80 provinces for administrative convenience...
of the Republic of the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces (probinsiya or lalawigan) of the vast central plain of the island of
LuzonLuzon is the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country, with Visayas and Mindanao being the other two...
(the largest island), for administrative convenience. The region contains the largest
plainIn geography, a plain is a land with relatively high relief, as well as flat. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or vegetation may be...
in the country and produces most of the country's
riceRice is the seed of a monocot plant Oryza sativa, of the grass family . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East, South, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies...
supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". Its provinces are: Aurora,
BataanBataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
,
BulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super...
,
Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
,
PampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
,
TarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, and
ZambalesZambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
.
Central Luzon Region is located north of
ManilaThe City of Manila , or simply Manila or Maynila, is the capital of the Philippines and one of the 17 cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila. It is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay, on the western portion of the National Capital Region, in the western side of Luzon...
, the nation's capital. Bordering the region are the regions of
IlocosIlocos collectively refers to two provinces in the Philippines: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Inhabitants are called Ilocanos and they speak the language Iloko, also called Ilocano.The term Ilocos Region is derived from this term...
,
Cordillera Administrative RegionThe Cordillera Administrative Region is the Philippines' only land-locked region. It is consisted of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City . The Cordillera region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera Central mountain range of...
and
Cagayan ValleyCagayan Valley is a region of the Philippines, also designated as Region II or Region 02. It is composed of five provinces, namely: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino...
regions to the north; National Capital Region and
CALABARZONCALABARZON is one of the regions of the Philippines. It is also designated as Region IV-A and its regional capital is Calamba City in Laguna. The region is composed of five provinces, namely: CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, and QueZON...
to the south; and of waters of
Manila BayManila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines. The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world. It has an area of , and a coastline of . The entrance is wide and expands to a width of...
to the south;
South China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea*south of mainland China and Taiwan,*west of the Philippines,*north west of Sabah , Sarawak and Brunei,*north of Indonesia,*north east of the Malay peninsula and Singapore, and...
to the west; and The
Philippine SeaThe Philippine Sea is a marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated surface area of 2 Million mi² on the western part of the North Pacific Ocean...
to the east.
There are thirteen
citiesA 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...
which include:
BalangaThe City of Balanga is a second class city in the province of Bataan, Region III - Central Luzon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Bataan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 84,105 people in 14,065 households. Its citizens are called Balangueños.Balanga City is primarily...
in Bataan;
MalolosCity of Malolos , , is a 4th class urban component city in the Republic of the Philippines. Malolos is considered as the 115th city in the country. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the seat of the provincial government...
, Meycauayan and
San Jose del MonteCity of San Jose del Monte Filipino: is a 1st class urban component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is bordered by Caloocan City and Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, in the south; by Rodriguez, Rizal in the east; Santa Maria and Marilao, both of Bulacan, in the west and...
in Bulacan;
CabanatuanThe City of Cabanatuan is a first class, urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commerce, industrial and educational hub of the province...
,
GapanGapan City is a 4th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Gapan is nicknamed the "Footwear Capital of the North", and it is an inseparable part of the Rice Granary of the Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,795 people in 18,200 households...
,
MuñozThe Science City of Muñoz is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 65,586 people in 13,940 households....
,
PalayanPalayan City is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the capital city of Nueva Ecija...
and
San JoseSan Jose City is a 2nd class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the northernmost city of the province. According to the latest Philippine census, it has a population of 122,353 people in 23,191 households....
in Nueva Ecija;
AngelesAngeles City , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city...
and
San FernandoThe City of San Fernando, is a first class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon...
in Pampanga;
TarlacTarlac City is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac City was governed by former Philippines senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Tarlac is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features him...
in Tarlac; and
OlongapoThe City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 43,107 households.-History:...
in Zambales.
The
City of San FernandoThe City of San Fernando, is a first class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon...
, in Pampanga, is the regional center.
Aurora was transferred from Region IV by Executive Order No. 103.
Political Divisions
| Province The provinces of the Philippines are the primary administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region as well as independent cities are autonomous from any provincial government...
/CityA 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...
| Capital | Population
(2000) | Area
(km²) | Pop. density
(per km²) |
|---|
| Aurora |
Baler Baler is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Aurora. According to the latest census, it has a population of 34,492 people and 5.955 members per household....
|
173,797 |
3,239.5 |
53.6 |
BataanBataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
|
Balanga CityThe City of Balanga is a second class city in the province of Bataan, Region III - Central Luzon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Bataan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 84,105 people in 14,065 households. Its citizens are called Balangueños.Balanga City is primarily...
|
557,659 |
1,202.7 |
463.67 |
BulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super...
|
City of Malolos |
2,234,088 |
2,625.0 |
851.1 |
Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
|
Palayan CityPalayan City is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the capital city of Nueva Ecija...
|
1,659,883 |
5,284.3 |
314.1 |
PampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
|
City of San FernandoThe City of San Fernando, is a first class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon...
|
1,882,730 |
2,118.74 |
888.6 |
TarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
|
Tarlac City Tarlac City is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac City was governed by former Philippines senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Tarlac is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features him...
|
1,068,783 |
3,053.4 |
350.0 |
| Zambales Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
|
Iba Iba is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Zambales. According to the latest census, it has a population of 44,344 people in 7,260 households....
|
433,538 |
3,714.4 |
116.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Angeles CityAngeles City , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city...
|
— |
263,971 |
62.16 |
4,246.6 |
Olongapo CityThe City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 43,107 households.-History:...
|
— |
194,260 |
170.30 |
1,141.0 |
¹ Angeles CityAngeles City , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city...
and Olongapo CityThe City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 43,107 households.-History:...
are highly urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Pampanga and Zambales respectively.
Cities
The Central Luzon Region has thirteen cities.
- Angeles City
Angeles City , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city...
, PampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
- Balanga City
The City of Balanga is a second class city in the province of Bataan, Region III - Central Luzon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Bataan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 84,105 people in 14,065 households. Its citizens are called Balangueños.Balanga City is primarily...
, BataanBataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
- Cabanatuan City
The City of Cabanatuan is a first class, urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commerce, industrial and educational hub of the province...
, Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
- Gapan City
Gapan City is a 4th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Gapan is nicknamed the "Footwear Capital of the North", and it is an inseparable part of the Rice Granary of the Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,795 people in 18,200 households...
, Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
- Malolos City
City of Malolos , , is a 4th class urban component city in the Republic of the Philippines. Malolos is considered as the 115th city in the country. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the seat of the provincial government...
, BulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super...
- Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super...
- Science City of Muñoz
The Science City of Muñoz is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 65,586 people in 13,940 households....
, Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
- Olongapo City
The City of Olongapo is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 227,270 people in 43,107 households.-History:...
, ZambalesZambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
- Palayan City
Palayan City is a 5th class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the capital city of Nueva Ecija...
, Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
- City of San Fernando
The City of San Fernando, is a first class, component city in the Philippine province of Pampanga. It is the capital city of Pampanga and the regional center of Central Luzon...
, PampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
- San Jose City
San Jose City is a 2nd class city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is the northernmost city of the province. According to the latest Philippine census, it has a population of 122,353 people in 23,191 households....
, Nueva EcijaNueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
- San Jose del Monte City
City of San Jose del Monte Filipino: is a 1st class urban component city in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. It is bordered by Caloocan City and Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, in the south; by Rodriguez, Rizal in the east; Santa Maria and Marilao, both of Bulacan, in the west and...
, BulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway Super...
- Tarlac City
Tarlac City is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac City was governed by former Philippines senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Tarlac is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features him...
, TarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
Governors
- Bellaflor Angara-Castillo
Bellaflor J. Angara-Castillo is the Governor of the Philippine Province of Aurora. She was elected governor in 2004 and reelected in 2007. She is Aurora's second woman governor. She was the first and so far the only woman in Philippine history to become House Majority Floor Leader. She is the...
- Aurora
- Enrique T. Garcia jr. - Bataan
- Joselito R. Mendoza - Bulacan
- Aurelio Matias-Umali - Nueva Ecija
- Eduardo Panlilio
Eddie "Among Ed" Tongol Panlilio is a Filipino Roman Catholic priest and Governor of the province of Pampanga. He was suspended from his priestly ministry upon announcing his intention to run as governor. He is the second priest to be elected to public office in the Philippines, the first being Fr....
- Pampanga
- Victor Yap - Tarlac
- Amor Deloso - Zambales
External links