Cavite
Provincial Statistics

Cavite was established in 1614 as a politico-military province since it lies along the shoreline of Manila Bay.  The province was a site of several historic battles between the Spaniards and the Filipino revolutionaries.  It was named after its hook-like shape, “Kawit”.  Bacoor, its northernmost town, is the gateway to Metro Manila.  It is linked to the National Capital Region (NCR) by the Emilio Aguinaldo Coastal Highway.  On the northeast of Cavite are the provinces of Laguna and Rizal while on the southwest is Batangas. 

Its total land area, 1,287.6 sq. km., is divided into 20 municipalities, 3 cities (Trece Martires, Cavite City and Tagaytay City) and 830 barangays.  Cavite’s capital is Trece Martires City.  Cavite City used to be the site of the biggest American naval base (Sangley Point) in Asia until 1970.  Meanwhile, Tagaytay City provides a breath-taking view of Lake Taal and Taal Volcano.  Tagaytay’s cool, refreshing climate has made it a favorite vacation spot of residents from Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. It has also become a more accessible and convenient alternative weekend retreat to Baguio City.

Previously, the province of Cavite was an agri-based economy.  Much of its land has been converted into industrial estates and housing projects like those found in Rosario (Cavite Export Processing Zone), Governor Drive (Puerto Azul Road) and Carmona.  Fishing continues to be a major economic activity along the coastal towns.  Cavite is also a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to Metro Manila.

View the Special edition CAVITE Factsheet