Western Visayas Kabisay-an Nakatundan Kanlurang Visayas | |
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 Location in the Philippines | |
 Interactive map of Western Visayas | |
| Coordinates:11°08′N122°32′E / 11.13°N 122.53°E /11.13; 122.53 | |
| Country |  Philippines |
| Island group | Visayas |
| Regional center and largest city | Iloilo City |
| Area | |
• Total | 12,750.63 km2 (4,923.05 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,117 m (6,946 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[1] | |
• Total | 4,730,771 |
| • Density | 371.0225/km2 (960.9439/sq mi) |
| GDP(Nominal, 2024) | |
| • Total | US$13.9 billion[2] |
| • Per capita | US$2,878[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-06 |
| Provinces | |
| Independent cities | |
| Component cities | |
| Municipalities | 98 |
| Barangays | 3,209 |
| Cong. districts | 10 |
| Languages | |
| HDI |  0.723 (High)[3] |
| HDI rank | 6th (2023) |
Western Visayas (Hiligaynon:Kabisay-an Nakatundan;Tagalog:Kanlurang Kabisayaan;Filipino:Kanlurang Visayas), designated asRegion VI, is anadministrative region in the Philippines. The region comprises the islands ofPanay andGuimaras. It consists of fiveprovinces:Aklan,Antique,Capiz, andIloilo on Panay, and the island province ofGuimaras. The region also includes onehighly urbanized city,Iloilo City, which is the largest city and serves as the regional center.[4]
TheHiligaynon language, native to Iloilo City, is the region'slingua franca. The region is also dominated by native speakers of threeVisayan languages:Kinaray-a,Aklanon andCapiznon. 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.
The region's name is in reference to its geographic position in the greaterVisayas area.
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Regions first came into existence on September 24, 1972, when the provinces of the Philippines were organized into 11 regions byPresidential Decree No. 1 as part of theIntegrated Reorganization Plan by PresidentFerdinand Marcos Sr. The provinces ofAklan,Antique,Capiz,Iloilo (including its then-subprovince ofGuimaras), andNegros Occidental were grouped together to form the Western Visayas region.
The province ofPalawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005, byExecutive Order 429.[5] TheDepartment of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed.[6]However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents inPuerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay withRegion IV-B. Consequently,Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005, to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance ofExecutive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI.[7] Hence, Palawan is currently still part of Region IV-B.
By virtue ofExecutive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by PresidentBenigno Aquino III, the province ofNegros Occidental and its capital,Bacolod, were both removed from Western Visayas in order to form theNegros Island Region along withNegros Oriental.[8] But later regained Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City back into Western Visayas on August 9, 2017, when PresidentRodrigo 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 toBenjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management.[9]
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 PresidentBongbong Marcos[10]
Western Visayas consists of the major island ofPanay and the smallerGuimaras, as well as several outlying islands. Its land area is 12,750.63 km2 (4,923.05 sq mi), 4.25% of the country's total land area.
The region is bordered to the north by theSibuyan Sea, northeast by theVisayan Sea, southeast by the island ofNegros, south by theIloilo Strait andPanay Gulf, and west by theSulu Sea.
Western Visayas consists of 5provinces, 1highly urbanized city, 2 component cities, 98municipalities and 3,209barangays.
| ProvinceorHUC | Capital | Population(2020)[1] | Area[11] | Density | Cities | Muni. | Barangay | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||||||
| Aklan | Kalibo | 7.7% | 615,475 | 1,760.30 | 679.66 | 350 | 910 | 0 | 17 | 327 | ||
| Antique | San Jose de Buenavista | 7.7% | 612,974 | 2,730.67 | 1,054.32 | 220 | 570 | 0 | 18 | 590 | ||
| Capiz | Roxas City | 10.1% | 804,952 | 2,594.64 | 1,001.80 | 310 | 800 | 1 | 16 | 473 | ||
| Guimaras | Jordan | 2.4% | 187,842 | 611.87 | 236.24 | 310 | 800 | 0 | 5 | 98 | ||
| Iloilo | Iloilo City | 25.8% | 2,051,899 | 4,997.64 | 1,929.60 | 410 | 1,100 | 1 | 42 | 1,721 | ||
| Iloilo City | † | — | 5.8% | 457,626 | 78.34 | 30.25 | 5,800 | 15,000 | — | — | 180 | |
| Total | 4,730,771 | 12,750.63 | 4,923.05 | 370 | 960 | 2 | 98 | 3,209 | ||||
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| Province | Image | Governor | Political Party | Vice Governor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | Jose Enrique Miraflores | Lakas | Dexter M. Calizo | |
 | Paolo Everardo S. Javier | Aksyon | Genevive L. Reyes | ||
 |  | Fredenil Castro | 1-Capiz | James Magbanua | |
 | .jpg) | Ma. Lucille L. Nava | NUP | Cecile C. Gamarin | |
 | .jpg) | Arthur Defensor Jr. | Uswag Ilonggo | Nathalie Ann F. Debuque | |
| City | Population(2020)[1] | Area | Density | City class | Income class | Province | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | /km2 | /sq mi | |||||
| †Iloilo City | 457,626 | 78.34 | 30.25 | 5,800 | 15,000 | Highly urbanized | 1st | Iloilo |
| Passi | 88,873 | 251.39 | 97.06 | 350 | 910 | Component | 4th | Iloilo |
| Roxas City | 179,292 | 95.07 | 36.71 | 1,900 | 4,900 | Component | 2nd | Capiz |
| Year | Pop. | ±% 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 | +1.14% |
| 2024 | 4,861,911 | −11.15% |
| Data in 2015 and 2020 includes Negros Occidental and Bacolod. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority.[12][13] | ||
In the 2024 census, it has a population of 4,861,911. Before Negros Occidental and Bacolod separated from the region in 2024, it was 7,954,723.
The native languages of Western Visayas are:
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Poverty incidence of Western Visayas
Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
Western Visayas is the sixth largest economy in the Philippines, comprising three major sectors: agriculture, forestry, and fishery; services; and industry.[22] Iloilo City serves as the region's economic hub. Other major trading and commercial centers in the region includeRoxas City for Capiz and the entire northern Panay. Provincial capitals such asKalibo in Aklan,San Jose in Antique, andJordan in Guimaras serve as the commercial centers for their respective provinces.Metro Iloilo, composed of Iloilo City and the municipalities ofOton,San Miguel,Pavia,Leganes,Santa Barbara, andCabatuan, is the center for trading, commercial, financial, and industrial activities in the region.
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The region is known for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, featuring several key tourism highlights.Boracay Island, located inMalay, Aklan, is world-famous for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant nightlife.[23][24]Miag-ao Church inMiag-ao, Iloilo, aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, showcases uniqueBaroque-Romanesque architecture and detailed designs.[25]
Iloilo City, aUNESCOCreative City of Gastronomy, is also known for its colonial-era heritage houses, churches, and buildings. TheGigantes Islands inCarles, Iloilo, are known for their white sand beaches, sandbars, limestone cliffs, and clear blue waters.Panay Church inPanay, Capiz hosts the biggest church bell in Asia.Mount Madja-as inAntique is the highest mountain in the region. Guimaras mangoes from Guimaras are known as some of the sweetest in the world.[26] The region is also home to popular festivals such as theDinagyang of Iloilo City and theAti-Atihan of Kalibo, Aklan.
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Western Visayas is interconnected by major inter-provincial roads that facilitate travel across its provinces. Iloilo City, the region's primary urban center, relies heavily on various public transportation options, including passengerjeepneys, modern Public Utility Jeepneys (modern PUJs), white metered taxis, andtricycles within city limits. In other cities and municipalities, such as Roxas City, Kalibo, and San Jose de Buenavista, tricycles are the primary mode of transport for short distances. Travel between cities and municipalities across Panay Island is typically facilitated by jeepneys, vans, and buses operated by companies likeCeres.
In March 2019, theLand Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) launched aPremium Point-to-Point Bus Service in Iloilo City, providing express bus services to airports inCabatuan,Kalibo, andCaticlan (Boracay).
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ThePort of Iloilo is the primary seaport serving the region. Other seaports include Dumangas Port inDumangas, Iloilo, servesro-ro and fastcraft toNegros Island and vice versa; Jordan Port in Guimaras, serves ferries from Iloilo City and vice versa; Culasi Port in Roxas, Capiz, serves ferry routes toBatangas andCaticlan and vice versa; Caticlan Port in Malay, Aklan, serves ferries to Boracay Island and vice versa; and the Port of San Jose de Buenavista in Antique, which serves ferries toPalawan and Iloilo City and vice versa.
Western Visayas is served by two international airports and three domestic airports.Iloilo International Airport, located inCabatuan, Iloilo, serves the general area ofMetro Iloilo–Guimaras as well as the entire province of Iloilo, and a gateway into the region.Kalibo International Airport serves the general area of Aklan and is one of the two airports serving Boracay, the other being the domesticGodofredo P. Ramos Airport inCaticlan, Malay, Aklan. The other domestic airports areRoxas Airport, serving the general area of Roxas City and the province of Capiz, andEvelio B. Javier Airport, serving the general area of the province of Antique.
The other airports and airstrips in the region include Semirara Airport onSemirara Island inCaluya, Antique;Sicogon Airport onSicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo; andGuimaras Airstrip.
Proposals to re-connect Iloilo-Roxas, Iloilo-Kalibo, Iloilo-Malay (Aklan) and Iloilo-San Jose (Antique) from Iloilo City via rail were included in the revival of the currently defunctPanay Railways network which has a station in Santa Barbara town proper.[27]
Media related toWestern Visayas at Wikimedia Commons
Western Visayas travel guide from Wikivoyage
Geographic data related toWestern Visayas atOpenStreetMap 
Places adjacent to Western Visayas | |
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