Super regions of the Philippines

Updated on Dec 08, 2023

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The "super" regions of the Philippines are an informal, and de facto defunct, grouping of parts of regions and provinces of the Philippines based on their economic strengths. According to Executive Order No. 561, which establishes these regions,

"[These] groupings neither supersede current political boundaries nor alter the regional development councils as established by existing laws and issuances."

The creation of "super" regions was first proposed by the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her sixth State of the Nation Address to group the selected regions/provinces by their economic strengths. Each "super" region is headed by a Development Champion.

North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle

Ilocos Region or Region 1 (I)

Cagayan Valley or Region 2 (II)

Cordillera Administrative Region

Northern portion of northern provinces of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)

Aurora (north of Baler)

Nueva Ecija (north of Cabanatuan City)

Tarlac (north of Tarlac City)

Zambales (north of Subic)

Metro Luzon Urban Beltway

or simply "Luzon Urban Beltway."

Southern portion of the northern provinces and the rest of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)

Aurora (south of Baler, including Baler)

Bataan

Bulacan

Nueva Ecija (south of Cabanatuan City, including Cabanatuan)

Pampanga

Tarlac (south of Tarlac City, including Tarlac)

Zambales (south of Subic, including Subic and Olongapo City)

National Capital Region or (NCR)

CALABARZON

MIMAROPA (excluding the provinces of Palawan and Romblon)

Marinduque

Occidental Mindoro

Oriental Mindoro

Central Philippines Region

also known as Tourism Super Region.

MIMAROPA (excluding the provinces of Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro)

Romblon

Palawan

Bicol Region or Region 5 (V)

Western Visayas or Region 6 (VI)

Negros Island Region (NIR) or Region 18 (XVIII)

Central Visayas or Region 7 (VII)

Eastern Visayas or Region 8 (VIII)

Camiguin of Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X)

Siargao Island of Caraga or Region 13 (XIII)

The Tourism Super Region is a concept of development plan of the government. Under this concept, the government intends to focus development and investments on tourism related projects. This Super Region is actually a cluster of five regions plus some parts of the Caraga Region. It boasts of a wide stretch of beachline, surfing spots, caves, lakes, and historical sites.

Included in the plan is building the infrastructures such as airports, roll-on-roll-off seaports, bus terminals and hotels. Aside from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the government intends to build international airport in each component region. Already, the Panglao International Airport in Bohol in Central Visayas has begun development, the new Legazpi International Airport in Daraga, Albay for the Bicol Region is in its initial phase while the unutilized Guiuan Airport in Guiuan, Eastern Samar is being planned to be converted into an international airport for Eastern Visayas region. Kalibo Airport which is still a categorized as a domestic airport, is now open to international flights from Incheon, South Korea due to increasing Korean tourists flocking to Boracay Island. The Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City is designated to serve the whole Negros Island Region, while the new Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, is designated as the international airport for Western Visayas region in tandem with Kalibo Airport.

Mindanao Super Region

also known as "Agribusiness Mindanao" Super Region.

Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9 (IX)

Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X), except Camiguin

Davao Region or Region 11 (XI)

SOCCSKSARGEN or Region 12 (XII)

Caraga or Region 13 (XIII), except Island of Siargao

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or (ARMM)

Cyber Corridor

Traverses the above "super" regions from Baguio to Cebu to Davao.

Development Themes

The "super" regions shall have the following primary, through not exclusive, development themes:

Northern Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle - Agribusiness

Luzon Urban Beltway - Globally competitive industrial and service center

Central Philippines - Tourism

Agribusiness Mindanao - Agribusiness

Cyber Corridor - Information and communication technology and knowledge economy

Development Champions (Super Region Heads)

The Development Champions are the following:

North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle - Mayor Delfin Telan Ting of Tuguegarao;

Luzon Urban Beltway - Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan;

Central Philippines - Secretary of Tourism Joseph Ace Durano; Secretary Cerge Remonde shall be the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of region VII;

Agribusiness Mindanao - Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Jesus Dureza;

Cyber Corridor - Commission on Information and Communications Technology Chairman Ramon Sales.

Development Champions Mandates

Each "super" region shall have a designated Development Champion whose mandate is to:

Serve as catalyst for development and prime advocate of the strategic development theme in his area;

Ensure the implementation of the priority programs and projects identified in the 2006 State of the Nation Address and the undated MTPIP, in close collaboration with the concerned local government units, national agencies and other partners in development, and undertake the necessary interventions to help ensure that these are completed on time and at a lowest cost to government.

Work out operational policies and remedial actions to ensure that the priority programs and projects are completed on schedule and a lowest cost to government;

Submit a monthly report to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) on the overall accomplishment of project implementation, issues and problems identified and recommend solutions pursuant to item (c) above.

References

Super regions of the Philippines Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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