Subdivisions of the Philippines in Tagalog and English: lalawigan
The Philippines has 17 regions and 82 provinces in ISO 3166-2. Every province is listed here in Tagalog (lalawigan, province) and English with its code and its capital, grouped under the 16 regions that contain provinces; the National Capital Region around Manila has none.
- Provinces
- 82
- Groups
- 16
Updated
Lalawigan, lambak, tangway: the Tagalog words in the names
The Tagalog column translates what the English names describe. Lalawigan means province, so Mountain Province is Lalawigang Bulubundukin, the mountainous province. Lambak is a valley: Cagayan Valley is Lambak ng Kagayan. Tangway is a peninsula, as in Tangway ng Sambuwangga for the Zamboanga Peninsula, and pulo or kapuluan stands for islands in the Dinagat Islands, Pulo ng Dinagat.
The compass words recur across the list. Hilaga (north) gives Hilagang Iloko for Ilocos Norte, timog (south) Timog Iloko for Ilocos Sur, silangan (east) Silangang Samar, kanluran (west) Kanlurang Negros for Negros Occidental, and gitna (middle) Gitnang Luson for Central Luzon. Many place names are respelled by sound: Kabite for Cavite, Sebu for Cebu, Sambales for Zambales, Bulakan for Bulacan, Nuweva Esiha for Nueva Ecija.
The 82 provinces of the Philippines by region, in Tagalog and English
Regions in the order of the island groups Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, each with the provinces ISO 3166-2 assigns to it. The last column notes what differs from the 2016 list.
Rehiyon ng Administratibo ng Kordilyera Cordillera Administrative Region 6
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
AbraAbra
|
BangedBangued
|
PH-ABR
|
|
ApayawApayao
|
KabugawKabugao
|
PH-APA
|
|
BengetBenguet
|
La Trinidad
|
PH-BEN
|
|
IpugawIfugao
|
Lagawe
|
PH-IFU
|
|
KalingaKalinga
|
Tabuk
|
PH-KAL
|
|
Lalawigang BulubundukinMountain Province
|
BontokBontoc
|
PH-MOU
|
Rehiyon ng Iloko Ilocos 4
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Hilagang IlokoIlocos Norte
|
LawagLaoag
|
PH-ILN
|
|
Timog IlokoIlocos Sur
|
Vigan
|
PH-ILS
|
|
La UnyonLa Union
|
San PernandoSan Fernando
|
PH-LUN
|
|
PangasinanPangasinan
|
Lingayen
|
PH-PAN
|
Rehiyon ng Lambak ng Kagayan Cagayan Valley 5
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BatanesBatanes
|
BaskoBasco
|
PH-BTN
|
|
KagayanCagayan
|
TugegarawTuguegarao
|
PH-CAG
|
|
IsabelaIsabela
|
Ilagan
|
PH-ISA
|
|
Nuweva BiskayaNueva Vizcaya
|
Bayombong
|
PH-NUV
|
|
KirinoQuirino
|
KabarrogisCabarroguis
|
PH-QUI
|
Rehiyon ng Gitnang Luson Central Luzon 7
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
AuroraAurora
|
Baler
|
PH-AUR
|
|
BataanBataan
|
Balanga
|
PH-BAN
|
|
BulakanBulacan
|
Malolos
|
PH-BUL
|
|
Nuweva EsihaNueva Ecija
|
Palayan
|
PH-NUE
|
|
PampangaPampanga
|
San PernandoSan Fernando
|
PH-PAM
|
|
TarlakTarlac
|
TarlakTarlac City
|
PH-TAR
|
|
SambalesZambales
|
Iba
|
PH-ZMB
|
Rehiyon ng Calabarzon Calabarzon 5
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BatangasBatangas
|
BatangasBatangas City
|
PH-BTG
|
|
KabiteCavite
|
Imus
|
PH-CAV
|
capital given as Trece Martires in 2016, which remains the seat of the provincial government
|
LagunaLaguna
|
Santa KrusSanta Cruz
|
PH-LAG
|
|
KesonQuezon
|
LusenaLucena
|
PH-QUE
|
|
RisalRizal
|
Antipolo
|
PH-RIZ
|
capital given as Pasig in 2016
|
Rehiyon ng Mimaropa Mimaropa 5
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
MarindukeMarinduque
|
BoakBoac
|
PH-MAD
|
|
Kanlurang MindoroMindoro Occidental
|
MamburawMamburao
|
PH-MDC
|
|
Silangang MindoroMindoro Oriental
|
KalapanCalapan
|
PH-MDR
|
|
PalawanPalawan
|
Puwerto PrinsesaPuerto Princesa
|
PH-PLW
|
listed under Western Visayas Region in 2016
|
RomblonRomblon
|
Romblon
|
PH-ROM
|
Rehiyon ng Bikol Bicol 6
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
AlbayAlbay
|
LegaspiLegazpi
|
PH-ALB
|
|
Hilagang KamarinesCamarines Norte
|
Daet
|
PH-CAN
|
|
Timog KamarinesCamarines Sur
|
Pili
|
PH-CAS
|
|
KatanduwanesCatanduanes
|
VirakVirac
|
PH-CAT
|
|
MasbateMasbate
|
MasbateMasbate City
|
PH-MAS
|
|
SorsogonSorsogon
|
SorsogonSorsogon City
|
PH-SOR
|
Rehiyon ng Kanlurang Bisaya Western Visayas 6
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
AklanAklan
|
Kalibo
|
PH-AKL
|
|
AntikeAntique
|
San HoseSan Jose de Buenavista
|
PH-ANT
|
|
KapisCapiz
|
RohasRoxas City
|
PH-CAP
|
|
GimarasGuimaras
|
HordanJordan
|
PH-GUI
|
|
IloiloIloilo
|
IloiloIloilo City
|
PH-ILI
|
|
Kanlurang NegrosNegros Occidental
|
BakolodBacolod
|
PH-NEC
|
Rehiyon ng Gitnang Bisaya Central Visayas 4
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BoholBohol
|
Tagbilaran
|
PH-BOH
|
|
SebuCebu
|
SebuCebu City
|
PH-CEB
|
|
Silangang NegrosNegros Oriental
|
DumageteDumaguete
|
PH-NER
|
|
SikihorSiquijor
|
SikihorSiquijor
|
PH-SIG
|
Rehiyon ng Silangang Bisaya Eastern Visayas 6
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BiliranBiliran
|
Naval
|
PH-BIL
|
|
Silangang SamarEastern Samar
|
Borongan
|
PH-EAS
|
|
LeyteLeyte
|
TaklobanTacloban
|
PH-LEY
|
|
Hilagang SamarNorthern Samar
|
KatarmanCatarman
|
PH-NSA
|
|
SamarSamar
|
KatbaloganCatbalogan
|
PH-WSA
|
ISO also gives the local variant Western Samar
|
Katimogang LeyteSouthern Leyte
|
Maasin
|
PH-SLE
|
Tagalog given as Katimugang Leyte in 2016
|
Rehiyon ng Tangway ng Sambuwangga Zamboanga Peninsula 4
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BasilanBasilan
|
Lamitan
|
PH-BAS
|
listed under Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2016; capital given as Isabela in 2016
|
Hilagang SambuwanggaZamboanga del Norte
|
Dipolog
|
PH-ZAN
|
|
Timog SambuwanggaZamboanga del Sur
|
Pagadian
|
PH-ZAS
|
|
Sambuwangga SibugayZamboanga Sibugay
|
Ipil
|
PH-ZSI
|
Rehiyon ng Hilagang Mindanaw Northern Mindanao 4
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
BukidnonBukidnon
|
Malaybalay
|
PH-BUK
|
|
KamiginCamiguin
|
MambahawMambajao
|
PH-CAM
|
|
Kanlurang MisamisMisamis Occidental
|
OrokiyetaOroquieta
|
PH-MSC
|
|
Silangang MisamisMisamis Oriental
|
Kagayan de OroCagayan de Oro
|
PH-MSR
|
Rehiyon ng Dabaw Davao 7
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Davao de Oro
|
Nabunturan
|
PH-COM
|
Compostela Valley (Lambak ng Kompostela) until 2019; ISO dropped the Tagalog name in 2020
|
Hilagang DabawDavao del Norte
|
Tagum
|
PH-DAV
|
|
Timog DabawDavao del Sur
|
Digos
|
PH-DAS
|
|
Kanlurang DabawDavao Occidental
|
Malita
|
PH-DVO
|
split from Davao del Sur in 2013, added by ISO in 2015
|
Silangang DabawDavao Oriental
|
Mati
|
PH-DAO
|
|
SaranganiSarangani
|
Alabel
|
PH-SAR
|
listed under SOCCSKSARGEN Region in 2016
|
Timog KotabatoSouth Cotabato
|
Koronadal
|
PH-SCO
|
listed under SOCCSKSARGEN Region in 2016
|
Rehiyon ng Soccsksargen Soccsksargen 3
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
KotabatoCotabato
|
Kidapawan
|
PH-NCO
|
|
Hilagang LanawLanao del Norte
|
Tubod
|
PH-LAN
|
listed under Northern Mindanao Region in 2016
|
Sultan KudaratSultan Kudarat
|
Isulan
|
PH-SUK
|
Rehiyon ng Karaga Caraga 5
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Hilagang AgusanAgusan del Norte
|
KabadbaranCabadbaran
|
PH-AGN
|
|
Timog AgusanAgusan del Sur
|
Prosperidad
|
PH-AGS
|
|
Pulo ng DinagatDinagat Islands
|
San Jose
|
PH-DIN
|
Tagalog given as Kapuluang Dinagat in 2016
|
Hilagang SurigawSurigao del Norte
|
SurigaoSurigao City
|
PH-SUN
|
Tagalog given as Hilagang Surigao in 2016
|
Timog SurigawSurigao del Sur
|
Tandag
|
PH-SUR
|
Tagalog given as Timog Surigao in 2016
|
Nagsasariling Rehiyon ng Muslim sa Mindanaw Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 5
| Province | Capital | ISO code | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Timog LanawLanao del Sur
|
Marawi
|
PH-LAS
|
|
Hilagang MagindanawMaguindanao del Norte
|
Datu Odin Sinsuat
|
PH-MGN
|
from Maguindanao (PH-MAG), divided in 2022, coded by ISO in 2023
|
Timog MagindanawMaguindanao del Sur
|
Buluan
|
PH-MGS
|
from Maguindanao (PH-MAG), divided in 2022, coded by ISO in 2023
|
SuluSulu
|
Jolo
|
PH-SLU
|
|
Tawi-TawiTawi-Tawi
|
Bongao
|
PH-TAW
|
capital given as Panglima Sugala in 2016
|
Codes, Tagalog and English names and the region of each province: ISO 3166-2:PH on the ISO Online Browsing Platform with its changes of 2015, 2020 and 2023, read from the English Wikipedia mirror on 28 October 2026. Capitals: Provinces of the Philippines, English Wikipedia, same date, citing the Philippine Statistics Authority. Tagalog forms of the capitals: the 2016 edition of this list. Regional centres as on the Philippines page.
New provinces, a new name and the regions ISO uses
Three provinces are missing from the 2016 list and one has been renamed. Davao Occidental (Kanlurang Dabaw) was separated from Davao del Sur after the plebiscite of 28 October 2013 and entered ISO in 2015. Compostela Valley became Davao de Oro in 2019; ISO changed the English name in 2020 and removed the Tagalog one, Lambak ng Kompostela. Maguindanao was divided into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur after the plebiscite of 18 September 2022, and ISO replaced PH-MAG with the two new codes in 2023.
ISO assigns some provinces to other regions than the 2016 list did: Basilan to the Zamboanga Peninsula, Sarangani and South Cotabato to Davao, Lanao del Norte to Soccsksargen, Palawan to Mimaropa. The table follows ISO and records the earlier grouping. The 2016 list also wrote the regions as Rehiyong Bikol where ISO writes Rehiyon ng Bikol; the group headings use the ISO form.
Questions about the Tagalog names of Philippine provinces
What is lalawigan in English?
Province. The word is part of one province name itself: Lalawigang Bulubundukin, Mountain Province, in the Cordillera.
What is lambak in English?
Valley, as in Lambak ng Kagayan for Cagayan Valley, the region with the code PH-02.
What is tangway in English?
Peninsula. Tangway ng Sambuwangga is the Zamboanga Peninsula, region PH-09, with Pagadian as its centre.