Western Visayas

Western Visayas (Hiligaynon: Kabisay-an Nakatundan; Tagalog: Kanlurang Kabisayaan or Kanlurang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo. The region also includes one highly urbanized city, Iloilo City, which is the largest city and serves as the regional center.[3]

Western Visayas
Kabisay-an Nakatundan
Kanlurang Kabisayaan
Region
Clockwise from the top: Miagao Church, Jaro Belfry, Taklong Island, Islas de Gigantes, Tibiao Rice Terraces, Pan-ay Belfry, Boracay
Location in the Philippines
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 11°08′N 122°32′E
Country Philippines
Island groupVisayas
Regional center
and largest city		Iloilo City
Area
 • Total12,750.63 km2 (4,923.05 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Mount Madja-as)
2,117 m (6,946 ft)
Population
[1]
 • Total4,730,771
 • Density370/km2 (960/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 codePH-06
Provinces
5
  • Aklan
  • Antique
  • Capiz
  • Guimaras
  • Iloilo
Independent Cities
1
  • Iloilo City
Component cities
2
  • Passi
  • Roxas
Municipalities98
Barangays3,209
Cong. districts10
Languages
  • Hiligaynon
  • Kinaray-a
  • Aklanon/Malaynon
  • Capiznon
  • Tagalog
  • English
GDP (2023)₱1.024 trillion
$18.61 billion[2]
Growth rateIncrease (7.2%)[2]
HDIIncrease 0.761 (High)
HDI rank5th in the Philippines (2019)

The Hiligaynon language is the region's lingua franca. The region is also dominated by the native speakers of three Visayan languages: Kinaray-a, Aklanon and Capiznon. The land area of the region is 12,750.63 km2 (4,923.05 sq mi), and with a population of 4,730,771 inhabitants.

On May 29, 2015, the region was realigned, when Western Visayas (Region VI) lost both the province of Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the region was dissolved, resulting in the return of Negros Occidental and Bacolod to Western Visayas Region on August 9, 2017. The region again lost Negros Occidental and Bacolod when the Negros Island Region was reestablished on June 13, 2024.

Etymology

The region's current name is in reference to its geographic position in the greater Visayas area.

History
Satellite map of Western Visayas

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 Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo (including its then-subprovince of Guimaras), and Negros Occidental were grouped together to form the Western Visayas region.

The province of Palawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005, by Executive Order 429.[4] The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed.[5] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005, to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI.[6]Hence, Palawan is currently still part of Region IV-B.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod, were both removed from Western Visayas in order to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros Oriental.[7] But later regained Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City back into Western Visayas on August 9, 2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management.[8]

On June 13, 2024, the region again lost Negros Occidental and Bacolod when the Negros Island Region was reestablished under Republic Act No. 12000 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.[9]

Geography

Western Visayas consists of the major island of Panay and the smaller Guimaras, as well as several outlying islands. The region is bordered to the north by the Sibuyan Sea, northeast by the Visayan Sea, southeast by the island of Negros, south by the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf, and west by the Sulu Sea.

Map shows the Koppen-Geiger climate classification of the Western Visayas region, Philippines.

Provinces

Western Visayas consists of 5 provinces, 1 highly urbanized city, 2 component cities, 98 municipalities and 3,209 barangays.

Province or HUC Capital Population (2020)[1] Area[10] Density Cities Muni. Barangay
km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
Aklan Kalibo 7.7%615,475 1,760.30679.66 350910 0 17 327
Antique San Jose de Buenavista 7.7%612,974 2,730.671,054.32 220570 0 18 590
Capiz Roxas 10.1%804,952 2,594.641,001.80 310800 1 16 473
Guimaras Jordan 2.4%187,842 611.87236.24 310800 0 5 98
Iloilo Iloilo City 25.8%2,051,899 4,997.641,929.60 4101,100 1 42 1,721
Iloilo City † — 5.8%457,626 78.3430.25 5,80015,000 — — 180
Total 4,730,771 12,750.63 4,923.05 370 960 2 98 3,209
  •  †  Iloilo City is a highly urbanized city; figures are excluded from Iloilo.
Governors and vice governors
Province Image Governor Political Party Vice Governor
Aklan
 Jose Enrique Miraflores PDP–Laban Reynaldo Quimpo
Antique
 Rhodora Cadiao NUP Edgar Denosta
Capiz
 Fredenil Castro Lakas James Magbanua
Guimaras
 Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava NUP John Edward Gando
Iloilo
 Arthur Defensor Jr. NUP Christine Garin

Cities
  •  †  Regional center

Demographics
Population census of Western Visayas
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 1,083,474—    
1918 1,347,249+1.46%
1939 2,173,579+2.30%
1948 2,530,517+1.70%
1960 3,078,305+1.65%
1970 3,618,326+1.63%
1975 4,146,390+2.77%
1980 4,525,615+1.77%
1990 5,393,333+1.77%
1995 5,776,938+1.30%
2000 6,211,038+1.57%
2007 6,843,643+1.35%
2010 7,102,438+1.36%
2015 7,536,383+1.14%
2020 7,954,723+1.07%
Data in 2015 includes Negros Occidental and Bacolod.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12]

Languages
Western Visayas Language Map.

The native languages of Western Visayas are:

  • Aklanon/Akeanon, spoken in Aklan and northwestern Capiz.
  • Capiznon, spoken in Capiz, northeastern Iloilo, and eastern Aklan.
  • Hiligaynon, spoken in Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan. It is the regional lingua franca.
  • Kinaray-a, spoken in Antique, southwestern half of Iloilo, Guimaras, western Capiz, and southwestern Aklan.
  • Malaynon, spoken in northwestern Aklan including Boracay Island.
  • Caluyanon, spoken in the Semirara Islands (Semirara, Caluya, and Sibay Islands).

Economy
A view of Iloilo City as seen in January 2019

Poverty incidence of Western Visayas

10
20
30
40
2006
29.08
2009
30.80
2012
29.14
2015
24.60
2018
16.32
2021
13.80

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

Western Visayas is the sixth largest economy in the Philippines.[21] Iloilo City serves as the region's economic hub. Other major trading and commercial centers in the region include Roxas City in Capiz, San Jose in Antique, and Kalibo in Aklan. Metro Iloilo, composed of Iloilo City and the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, and Cabatuan, along with the island province of Guimaras, is the center for commercial, financial, and industrial activities in the region.

Transportation

Airports
Iloilo International Airport
Kalibo International Airport

International
  • Iloilo International Airport
  • Kalibo International Airport

Domestic
  • Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (Caticlan, Malay, Aklan)
  • Roxas Airport (Roxas City, Capiz)
  • Evelio Javier Airport (Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique)

Municipal
  • Semirara Airport (Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique)

Other
  • Sicogon Airport (Sicogon Island, Carles, Iloilo)
  • Guimaras Airport (Buenavista, Guimaras)

Rail

Proposals to re-connect again Iloilo-Roxas, Iloilo-Kalibo, Iloilo-Malay (Aklan) and Iloilo-San Jose (Antique) from the Iloilo City via rail was included in the revival of the currently defunct Panay Railways network which has a station in Santa Barbara town proper.[22]

References
  1. Census of Population (2020). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  2. "2021 to 2023 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)". openstat.psa.gov.ph. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  3. "History of Urban Growth of Iloilo City". Iloilo City Government. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  4. President of the Philippines. "Executive order No. 429". Office of the Press Secretary. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007.
  5. "Palawan, Puerto Princesa Transfer to Region VI" (Press release). Government of the Philippines. June 3, 2005.
  6. President of the Philippines (August 19, 2005). "Administrative Order No. 129". Office of the Press Secretary. Archived from the original on July 13, 2006.
  7. "Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015". Official Gazette (Philippines). May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  8. "Duterte dissolves Negros Island Region". Rappler. August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  9. "Marcos signs law creating Negros Island Region". ABS-CBN. June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  10. "PSGC Interactive; List of Provinces". Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016.
  11. Census of Population (2015). "Region VI (Western Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  12. "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. Philippine Statistics Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  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. "Tables | Philippine Statistics Authority | Republic of the Philippines". psa.gov.ph. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  22. Salvilla, Rex S. (July 28, 2006). "Anything Under the Sun: Panay Railways". The News Today. TNT Publishing, Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
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