Central Visayas Tunga-tungang Kabisay-an Gitnang Kabisayaan/Gitnang Visayas Region VII | |
|---|---|
     From upper-left to bottom-right: Sugar BeachBantayan,Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral (Cebu);Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (Negros Oriental);Chocolate Hills (Bohol);Salagdoong Beach (Siquijor); | |
| Nickname(s): Center of Christianity Rehiyon sa mga Sugboanon (Region of the Cebuanos) | |
 Location in the Philippines | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
| Coordinates:10°0′N123°30′E /10.000°N 123.500°E /10.000; 123.500 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Visayas |
| Regional center | Cebu City (pop. 922,611) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15,895.66 km2 (6,137.35 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 13th |
| Highest elevation | 2,465 m (8,087 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[1] | |
| • Total | 6,640,875 |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Density | 420/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 3rd |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ISO 3166 code | PH-07 |
| Provinces | |
| Cities | |
| Municipalities | 116 |
| Barangays | 3,003 |
| Cong. districts | 11 |
| Languages | |
Central Visayas, designated as Region VII, is aregion of thePhilippines. It is in the central part of theVisayasisland group. It consists of twoprovinces–Bohol,Cebu, and thehighly urbanized cities ofCebu City,Lapu-Lapu City, andMandaue. The region is dominated by the native speakers ofCebuano. Cebu City is its regional center.
The land area of the region is 15,875 km². As of the 2010 census, 6,800,180 people lived there. Only three of the country's 17 regions had more people.[2]
The Central Visayas region is composed of 4 provinces and 3 independent cities:
| Province/City | Capital | Population (2010)[2] | Area (km²) | Pop. density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bohol | Tagbilaran City | 1,255,128 | 4,117.3 | 304.8 |
| Cebu | Cebu City | 2,619,362 | 4,800.11 | 545.7 |
| Cebu City | – | 866,171 | 280.2 | 3091.3 |
| Lapu-Lapu City | – | 350,467 | 64.22 | 5457.3 |
| Mandaue | – | 331,320 | 34.87 | 9501.6 |
AlthoughCebu City,Mandaue, andLapu-Lapu City are often grouped under the province ofCebu for statistical purposes by the National Statistics Office, ashighly urbanized cities they are administratively independent from the province.
Surrounded by Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), Central Visayas does not get many typhoons. Region VII has a weather of cloudy skies with scattered rains. Central Visayas has 80-90% humidity. The dry season is from April-May wet during the rest of the year.
As of the 2010 census, Central Visayas had a population of 6,800,180 people. At the 2007 census, the population was 6,398,628 with apopulation density of 403.1 people per square kilometer (6,129.4/mi²). The 2007 census showed an average annual population growth rate of 1.59% from 2000 to 2007, significantly less than the national average of 2.04%.
Cebuano is the dominant language of the region. In Bohol, Cebuano is referred to asBoholano. In theCamotes Islands, which is part of Cebu, Cebuano language is spoken in the towns of Tudela, Pilar and San Francisco. Except the town of Poro, in which,Porohanon is spoken (a variation or mixture of Cebuano, Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) and Masbateño language).
The Port ofCebu is the region's main gateway. There are also ports inDumaguete City inNegros Oriental,Tagbilaran inBohol and Larena inSiquijor. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, two of them fastcraft companies which serve all the provinces in the region.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, in Lapu-Lapu City, is the country's second busiest airport (after Ninoy Aquino International Airport inMetro Manila) and the only airports in the Visayas serving international flights. It is anairline hub of Cebu Pacific,Philippine Airlines,PAL Express, andAir Philippines, with flights to key cities throughout the country. It also serves international flights to other Asian destinations.[3]
Other airports in the region areSibulan Airport, serving Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental with flights to Manila and Cebu, andTagbilaran Airport, serving Tagbilaran City and Bohol with flights to Manila.
