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Central Visayas

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Central Visayas is an administrative region in the Philippines known as Region VII.

Central Visayas in June 2024
Central Visayas in June 2024

It occupies about 3.3% of the total land area of the country. While it has the fewest number of provinces of any Philippine region, it is highly active. The region consists of the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol. It also includes three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue.

Cebu Business Park and IT Park skyline, Kamputhaw (Cebu City; 09-07-2022)
Cebu Business Park and IT Park skyline, Kamputhaw (Cebu City; 09-07-2022)

Cebu City serves as the regional center and the largest city in the area.

The geography of the region is defined by its surrounding waters and islands. Central Visayas is bounded by the Visayan Sea to the north. To the west, it sits near the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. The Bohol Sea and the province of Siquijor lie to the south. To the east, the region is bordered by the Camotes Sea and the island of Leyte. The region also contains the Cebu Strait and parts of the Tañon Strait.

Ph central visayas
Ph central visayas

Administrative boundaries for this region have shifted several times due to political changes. The regions were first organized on September 24, 1972. President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. established them through Presidential Decree No. 1. Originally, the region included Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental, along with Siquijor. In 2015, President Benigno Aquino III moved Negros Oriental to the Negros Island Region. This change was reversed in 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved that new region. However, in 2024, Negros Oriental and Siquijor were moved again. They joined the re-established Negros Island Region through Republic Act No. 12000, signed by President Bongbong Marcos.

The population of the region is quite large and has grown over time. In 2015, the population was approximately 6,545,603 people. By the 2024 census, this number rose to 6,640,875. Before the 2024 changes, the population had been as high as 8,081,988. The region is linguistically diverse with several native languages. Cebuano is the lingua franca, which is a common language used for communication between different groups. Other specific languages include Boholano in Bohol, Bantayanon on Bantayan Island, and Porohanon in the Camotes Islands.

Central Visayas plays a major role in the national economy of the Philippines. It holds the position of the fourth-largest economy in the entire country. Cebu City acts as the primary economic hub for the region. Transportation is vital for supporting this economic activity. The Mactan–Cebu International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the Philippines.

Mactan Cebu International Airport
Mactan Cebu International Airport

It serves as a major gateway for both domestic and international flights. The Bohol–Panglao International Airport is the newest airport serving the region.

Sea travel is another essential component of the region's infrastructure. The Port of Cebu is the main gateway for maritime travel.

Santander port
Santander port

Other important seaports include the Port of Tagbilaran in Bohol and the Liloan Port in Santander, Cebu. Various shipping lines provide inter-island service. These include companies like Montenegro Lines and Lite Ferries, which use ro-ro vessels. Fastcraft companies such as OceanJet and Supercat also provide rapid transport between the islands.

Media and communication are also concentrated within the region. Cebu City serves as the main media hub. Many large national networks, such as ABS-CBN and GMA Network, maintain local branches there. These stations provide local news, public affairs, and entertainment to the regional viewers. In addition to 24 national daily newspapers, there are 20 local newspapers available. Notable local publications include SunStar Cebu, Cebu Daily News, and The Freeman. The name "Central Visayas" was originally chosen by American colonists. They used the name to describe the location of these islands within the larger Visayas area.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Central Visayas in June 2024.png
Central Visayas in June 2024.png
File:Ph central visayas.png
Ph central visayas.png
File:Bohol Seal 1.svg
Bohol Seal 1.svg
File:Gov Aumentado.png
Gov Aumentado.png
File:Cebu province seal 2.svg
Cebu province seal 2.svg
File:Pam Baricuatro (cropped).jpg
Pam Baricuatro (cropped).jpg
File:Cebu Business Park and IT Park skyline, Kamputhaw (Cebu City; 09-07-2022).jpg
Cebu Business Park and IT Park skyline,...
File:Santander port.jpg
Santander port.jpg
File:Mactan Cebu International Airport.jpg
Mactan Cebu International Airport.jpg
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