In the Philippines, provinces ( or ) are the country's primary political and administrative divisions. There are 82 provinces, which are further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The local government units in the National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are administratively independent of any provincial government. Each province is governed by an elected governor and an elected legislative body known as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The provinces are grouped into 18 regions based on geographic, cultural, and ethnolinguistic characteristics. Thirteen of these regions are numerically designated from north to south, while the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Southwestern Tagalog Region (Mimaropa), the Negros Island Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are identified by their names or acronyms.

Each province is a member of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, an organization that represents provincial governments and promotes cooperation on issues affecting provincial administration.

Government A provincial government is autonomous of other provinces within the republic. Each province is governed by two main elected branches of the government: executive and legislative. Judicial affairs are separated from provincial governance and are administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Each province has at least one branch of a Regional Trial Court.

Executive

The provincial governor is chief executive and head of each province. Provincial governors are elected to a term of three years and limited to three consecutive terms and appoint the directors of each provincial department which include the office of administration, engineering office, information office, legal office, and treasury office.

Legislative

The vice governor acts as the president for each Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP; "Provincial Board"), the province's legislative body. Every SP is composed of regularly elected members from provincial districts, as well as ex officio members. The number of regularly elected SP members allotted to each province is determined by its income class. First- and second-class provinces are provided ten regular SP members; third- and fourth-class provinces have eight, while fifth- and sixth-class provinces have six. Exceptions are provinces with more than five congressional districts, such as Cavite with 16 regularly elected SP members, and Cebu, Negros Occidental and Pangasinan which have twelve each.

Every SP has designated seats for ex officio members, given to the respective local presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), Philippine Councilors' League (PCL), and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK; "Youth Council").

The vice governor and regular members of an SP are elected by the voters within the province. Ex officio members are elected by members of their respective organizations.

Relation to other levels of government National government National intrusion into the affairs of each provincial government is limited by the Philippine Constitution. The President of the Philippines however coordinates with provincial administrators through the Department of the Interior and Local Government. For purposes of national representation, each province is guaranteed its own congressional district, ensuring that communities across the Philippines have a voice in the House of Representatives regardless of the population of their province.

Cities and municipalities

Those classified as either "highly urbanized" or "independent component" cities are independent from the province, as provided for in Section 29 of the Local Government Code of 1991. Although such a city is a self-governing second-level entity, in many cases it is often presented as part of the province in which it is geographically located, or in the case of Zamboanga City, the province it last formed part the congressional representation of.

Local government units classified as "component" cities and municipalities are under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. In order to make sure that all component city or municipal governments act within the scope of their prescribed powers and functions, the Local Government Code mandates the provincial governor to review executive orders issued by mayors, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to review legislation by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) or Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council), of all component cities and municipalities under the province's jurisdiction.

Barangays The provincial government does not have direct relations with individual barangays. Supervision over a barangay government is the mandate of the mayor and the Sanggunian of the component city or municipality of which the barangay in question is a part.

Classification

Provinces are classified according to average annual income based on the previous 4 calendar years. Effective July 29, 2008, the thresholds for the income classes for cities are:

Class Average annual income First ₱450 million or more Second ₱360 million or more but less than ₱450 million Third ₱270 million or more but less than ₱360 million Fourth ₱180 million or more but less than ₱270 million Fifth ₱90 million or more but less than ₱180 million Sixth below ₱90 million A province's income class determines the size of the membership of its Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and also how much it can spend on certain items, or procure through certain means.

List

ISO ProvinceFlag Capital Founded Region Total LGUs PH-ABRAbra Bangued Luzon CAR 27 — 303 PH-AGNAgusan del Norte Cabadbaran Mindanao XIII 10 2 253 PH-AGSAgusan del Sur Prosperidad Mindanao XIII 13 1 314 PH-AKLAklan Kalibo Visayas VI 17 — 327 PH-ALBAlbay Legazpi Luzon V 15 3 720 PH-ANTAntique San Jose de Buenavista Visayas VI 18 — 590 PH-APAApayao Kabugao Luzon CAR 7 — 133 PH-AURAurora Baler Luzon III 8 — 151 PH-BASBasilan Lamitan Bangsamoro Development Plan: Mindanao BARMM 11 2 255 PH-BANBataan Balanga Luzon III 11 1 237 PH-BTNBatanes Basco Luzon II 6 — 29 PH-BTGBatangas Batangas City Luzon IV-A 29 5 1,078 PH-BENBenguet La Trinidad Luzon CAR 13 1 269 PH-BILBiliran Naval Visayas VIII 8 — 132 PH-BOHBohol Tagbilaran Visayas VII 47 1 1,109 PH-BUKBukidnon Malaybalay Mindanao X 20 2 464 PH-BULBulacan Malolos Luzon III 21 3 569 PH-CAGCagayan Tuguegarao Luzon II 28 1 820 PH-CANCamarines Norte Daet Luzon V 12 — 282 PH-CASCamarines Sur Pili Luzon V 35 2 1,063 PH-CAMCamiguin Mambajao Mindanao X 5 — 58 PH-CAPCapiz Roxas City Visayas VI 16 1 473 PH-CATCatanduanes Virac Luzon V 11 — 315 PH-CAVCavite ImusThe provincial government of Cavite makes it clear that Imus is the provincial capital, while the seat of the provincial government is Trece Martires. Official Website of the Province of Cavite – Quick Facts Imus is capital of Cavite — Maliksi Census of the Philippine Islands (1920). "Census of the Philippine Islands Vol. I, 1918", pg. 132. Bureau of Printing, Manila. Luzon IV-A 15 8 829 PH-CEBCebu Cebu CityBecause the provincial government holds office within an independent city, in effect the province maintains the seat of its government outside its jurisdiction. Visayas VII 44 9 1,203 PH-NCOCotabato Kidapawan Mindanao XII 17 1 543 Davao de Oro Nabunturan Mindanao XI 11 — 237 PH-DAVDavao del Norte Tagum Mindanao XI 8 3 223 PH-DASDavao del Sur Digos Mindanao XI 9 2 414 PH-DVODavao Occidental Malita Mindanao XI 5 — 105 PH-DAODavao Oriental Mati Mindanao XI 10 1 183 PH-DINDinagat Islands San Jose Mindanao XIII 7 — 100 PH-EASEastern Samar Borongan Visayas VIII 22 1 597 PH-GUIGuimaras Jordan Visayas VI 5 — 98 PH-IFUIfugao Lagawe Luzon CAR 11 — 176 PH-ILNIlocos Norte Laoag Luzon I 21 2 559 PH-ILSIlocos Sur Vigan Luzon I 32 2 768 PH-ILIIloilo Iloilo City Visayas VI 42 2 1,901 PH-ISAIsabela Ilagan Luzon II 34 3 1,055 PH-KALKalinga Tabuk Luzon CAR 7 1 153 PH-LUNLa Union San Fernando Luzon I 19 1 576 PH-LAGLaguna Santa Cruz Luzon IV-A 24 6 681 PH-LANLanao del Norte Tubod Mindanao X 22 1 506 PH-LASLanao del Sur Marawi Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Lanao del Sur (The value given at NSCB is unreasonable and must be assumed as erroneous, see Talk:Lanao del Sur#Area.) Mindanao BARMM 39 1 1,159 PH-LEYLeyte Tacloban Visayas VIII 40 3 1,641 PH-MDNMaguindanao del Norte Datu Odin Sinsuat Mindanao BARMM 12 1 189 PH-MDSMaguindanao del Sur Buluan Mindanao BARMM 24 — 167 PH-MADMarinduque Boac Luzon Mimaropa 6 — 218 PH-MASMasbate Masbate City Luzon V 20 1 550 PH-MSCMisamis Occidental Oroquieta Mindanao X 14 3 490 PH-MSRMisamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro Mindanao X 23 3 504 PH-MOUMountain Province Bontoc Luzon CAR 10 — 144 PH-NECNegros Occidental Bacolod Visayas NIR 19 13 662 PH-NERNegros Oriental Dumaguete Visayas NIR 20 6 557 PH-NSANorthern Samar Catarman Visayas VIII 24 — 569 PH-NUENueva Ecija Palayan Luzon III 27 5 849 PH-NUVNueva Vizcaya Bayombong Luzon II 15 — 275 PH-MDCOccidental Mindoro Mamburao Luzon Mimaropa 11 — 162 PH-MDROriental Mindoro Calapan Luzon Mimaropa 14 1 426 PH-PLWPalawan Puerto Princesa Luzon Mimaropa 23 1 433 PH-PAMPampanga San Fernando Luzon III 19 3 538 PH-PANPangasinan Lingayen Luzon I 44 4 1,364 PH-QUEQuezon Lucena Luzon IV-A 39 2 1,242 PH-QUIQuirino Cabarroguis Luzon II 6 — 132 PH-RIZRizal Antipolo Luzon IV-A 13 1 189 PH-ROMRomblon Romblon Luzon Mimaropa 17 — 219 PH-WSASamar Catbalogan Visayas VIII 24 2 951 PH-SARSarangani Alabel Mindanao XII 7 — 141 PH-SIGSiquijor Siquijor Visayas NIR 6 — 134 PH-SORSorsogon Sorsogon City Luzon V 14 1 541 PH-SCOSouth Cotabato Koronadal Mindanao XII 10 2 225 PH-SLE Southern Leyte Maasin Visayas VIII 18 1 500 PH-SUKSultan Kudarat Isulan Mindanao XII 11 1 249 PH-SLUSulu Jolo Province of Sulu: Brief Profile (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 343,699 ha (NSCB 2007), 175,460 ha (NSCB 2000), 167,377 ha (NAMRIA)) Mindanao IX 19 — 410 PH-SUNSurigao del Norte Surigao City Mindanao XIII 20 1 335 PH-SURSurigao del Sur Tandag Mindanao XIII 17 2 309 PH-TARTarlac Tarlac City Luzon III 17 1 511 PH-TAWTawi-Tawi BongaoThe National Statistical Coordination Board recognizes both Bongao and Panglima Sugala as capitals of the province. However, the provincial capitol is located in Bongao, the de facto seat of government. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Agriculture: Tawi-Tawi (There seems to be major discrepancies among authoritative sources: 362,655 ha (NSCB 2007), 120,876 ha (NAMRIA), 1,197 km² (Department of Tourism), 999 km² (Mapcentral)) Mindanao BARMM 11 — 203 PH-ZMBZambales Iba Luzon III 13 1 247 PH-ZANZamboanga del Norte Dipolog Mindanao IX 25 2 691 PH-ZAS Pagadian Mindanao IX 26 2 779 PH-ZSIZamboanga Sibugay Ipil Mindanao IX 16 — 389 PH-00 Metro Manila Manila  — Luzon NCR 1 16 1,706 Special Geographic Area — 1 8 63 Table notes

Former provinces Manila (until 1901) Incorporated into Rizal; portions around Manila later consolidated to form present-day NCR. Lepanto-Bontoc (1902–1908) Incorporated into Mountain Province. Moro Province (1903–1913) Converted to the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, composed of seven provinces. Now part of several regions in Mindanao. Ambos Camarines (1901–1908) Divided into Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, although the wording of Act No. 2809 implies Camarines Norte was created from Ambos Camarines, the remainder of which was renamed Camarines Sur. Camarines Sur retained the provincial capital of Nueva Caceres. Misamis (1901–1939) Partitioned into Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental. Misamis Oriental retained the provincial capital of Cagayan. Mindoro (1902–1950) Divided into Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. Oriental Mindoro retained the provincial capital of Calapan.