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BACKGROUND

Central Philippines is one of the four ‘mega regions” in the national government’s development plan.  It is aptly described as the “RP’s Tourism Hub” in a bid to spur economic growth in the countryside and eventually lead the Philippines to achieve First World status in the next two decades. 

 In this new development strategy, Central Philippines as a “mega region” comprises of Region 5 (Bicol), Region 6 (Western Visayas), Region 7 (Central Visayas), Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), and incorporating the provinces of Romblom and Palawan from Region 4-B.

 The other “mega regions” are North Luzon comprising of Regions 1 (Ilocos), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), and CAR plus Aurora and Nueva Ecija to be developed as the “Agri-business Center in the North;” Metro Luzon consisting of NCR, Region IV-A (CALABARZON), Region 3 (Central Luzon), and the provinces of Mindoro and Marinduque from Region 4-B aptly described as the “Urban Beltway;” and Mindanao, comprising of Regions 9 (Zamboanga), Region 10 (Cagayan de Oro), Region 11 (Davao), Region 12 (Cotabato), Region 13 (Caraga), and the ARMM to be developed as the “Agribusiness Center in the South.”

 It is envisioned that the “mega-regions” will pave the way to greater participation of the LGUs in development planning. The enlarged grouping of the regions believed to boost economic and market potentials beyond what each region can generate, with economies of scale, synergies, and complementation that will be more attractive to investors.

KNOW MORE ABOUT WESTERN VISAYAS AND ITS PROVINCES

Western Visayas or Region 6 is in the center of the Philippine archipelago and lies between two large bodies of water, the Sibuyan Sea and the Visayan Sea.  It has a land area of 20,223.2 sq km, approximately 6.7 percent of the Philippines land area. The entire region is made up of six provinces, 16 cities, 117 municipalities, and 4,051 barangays.                                                                                                    

How to get there: Western Visayas is accessible by air, water and by RO-RO transport from Manila and other ports of origin. Four airlines service the region - Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines, and Asian Spirit - through the 4 airports, 2 of which are of international standards, Iloilo Airport and Bacolod-Silay City Airport. Other airports are in Caticlan, Kalibo, Capiz, and Antique. Five shipping lines service water transport in the region - Negros Navigation, WG&A, Milagrosa-J, Montenegro, and FF Cruz, Shipping, Inc.

Aklan Province with a land area of 1821.1 sq km comprises 17 municipalities and 327 barangays. The province has become a prime tourist destination because of its world-renowned Boracay, the paradise island of the Philippines, famous for its finest palm-fringed white sand beaches, azure waters, coral reefs, and rare shells.  The popular Ati-Atihan festival celebrated in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño is held every 3^rd week of January.  

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How to get there:  Aklan can be reached by air, water, and by RO-RO transport. Kalibo, the capital of Aklan, is 45 minutes fly from Manila and 30 minutes from Cebu. Four airlines regularly service the province - Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, and Cebu Pacific Air.  By sea, Malay port in Aklan is 15 hours travel from Manila and 18 hours from Cebu. Those who opt to fly or sail via Iloilo can take Antique or Roxas City route for bonus site seeing while going to Aklan by land.  Bus Liners and vans for hire ply tourists from Iloilo, Roxas City, and Antique to the province.

Antique Province is a narrow strip of land stretching the entire west coasts of Panay Island. The total land area of 2,729.2 sq km with about 83% upland is a mountainous terrain making up the 18 municipalities and 590 barangays of the province.  The province is known of its Binirayan Festival commemorating the landing of 10 Malay datus in Malandog, Hamtic, celebrated every 2^nd to 4^th week of April.

How to get there: Antique can be reached from any point of origin by air, water, and by RO-RO transport. Asian Spirit Airline services the province 3 times in a week from Manila to Evelio Javier Airport in San Jose. Two major seaports are found in the province - one in the capital town in San Jose and the other one in Lipata, Culasi - catering to small inter-island vessels that ferry cargo and passengers to and from Caluya, Cuyo-Palawan, Romblon, Mindoro, and Manila. The Semirara Coal Corporation in Semirara Island in Caluya has its own private air and seaport transport facilities.

From Iloilo, three big bus companies ply passengers to any point in the province and complemented by smaller buses that ply passengers through Iloilo-San Jose route to any point of Antique. Travel time from Iloilo to San Jose takes 2 to 2.5 hours. From Kalibo or Caticlan airports, big buses pass through Pandan, Libertad, and Culasi to San Jose, the province’s capital. 

Capiz Province is situated in the center of Western Visayas on the northeast portion of Panay Island.  The province is made up of 473 barangays, 16 municipalities and a city. It has a total land area of 2,594.6 sq km with a 90 km coastline and vast swampy areas easily converted to fishponds. This makes Capiz one of the richest fishing grounds in the region and a major contributor to the aquamarine industry of the country, thus rightfully dubbed as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

The Sinadya sa Halaran (Joy Sharing) is the province and city’s most popular event celebrated every December 4-8, which portrays the Capizeños’ unique way of thanking the Lord and the Immaculate Concepcion for bounty harvest.

 How to get there:  To reach Capiz, one can travel by air, water, and by RO-RO transport. By plane, Roxas City airport is 45 minutes fly from Manila. Two airlines service the province, the Cebu Pasific Air and Philippine Airlines. Travel time by sea takes only 18 hours from Manila. By land, Roxas City is approximately 2-hour drive from Iloilo City, 1-1.5 hours from Kalibo, and 4 hours from Caticlan.  Big buses and L-300 vans for hire service commuters from Iloilo, Roxas City, Caticlan, and Kalibo.         

Guimaras is located southeast of Panay and northwest of Negros Island bounded by Iloilo Strait in the northwest, Guimaras strait in the northeast, and Panay Gulf in the south. It is the youngest and the smallest of the 6  provinces of the region both in terms of land area (604.6 sq km) and population size (151,238 as of August 1, 2007). It consists of 5 municipalities and 98 barangays. The province holds the title as the “Mango Country of the Philippines.” This is justified by the 8,000 hectares of mango orchards planted to the best mango variety, big fiber-free, very sweet fruit, and certified weevil free-seed and pulp by the US Department of Agriculture, the province’s passport of Guimaras mango in entering the world market. The province celebrates the Manggahan Festival every April of the year. 

How to get there:  From Iloilo City, the province is accessible by water and by RO-RO transport.  Pump boats ferry commuters from and to Iloilo City in a 30-minute trip. Motor boats to the different islets are available on special arrangements. PUJs and vans for hire are readily available in Jordan and  Buenavista wharfs to the different municipalities of the province.   

Iloilo Province is located at the central part of the Philippine archipelago.  It stands as the gateway to Southern Philippines. It has a land area of 5,079.2 sq km. composed of 42 municipalities, 1,901 barangays and 2 cities. The Province takes pride in being the "Food basket and Rice granary of Western Visayas" supplying more than 40% of the major agricultural production,  except sugarcane. The province is known of one biggest identity festival in the country, the Dinagyang, celebrated every 4^th weekend of January in commemoration of the Christianization of the natives and in honor of the Holy Child Jesus. 

How to get there: Iloilo is described as the “jump off center” of transport and the “center of education” of Western Visayas. It is accessible by air, water, land, and by RO-RO transport. Three airlines service the province: Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, and Cebu Pacific Air with direct flights to and from Manila, Cebu, and Davao, and to and from General Santos, Davao, Tacloban, and other points via Cebu. Travel by sea is serviced by 5 companies: WG&A with direct trips to Manila, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos/Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga; Negros Navigation with direct trips to Manila, Cagayan De Oro, and Iligan/Osamis/Dipolog; Milagrosa-J Shipping with direct trips to Cuyo-Palawan-Puerto Princesa; Montenegro Shipping Line by RO-RO to Palawan, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Dipolog, and Manila; and Trans-Asia Shipping with direct trip to Cebu.  Fast crafts also service Iloilo-Negros Occidental passengers daily. Ferry boats and pump boats service commuters from Iloilo City to Guimaras. By land, big buses service passengers from Iloilo City to Kalibo, Roxas City, and Antique.  Taxi Shuttle companies service passengers from the airport and port to any point in the province.

Negros Occidental Province is a first class province with a land area of 7,965.2 sq km stretching approximately 372 km from north to south. In the country, it has the most number of cities with 13, 19 municipalities and 662 barangays. The province is dubbed as the “Sugarlandia” of the Philippines. It has 10 mill districts and 3 sugar refineries and with vast plantations of sugar cane.

The province is also known for its Panaad Festival celebration every April of the year.  Bacolod City, the booming capital of the province, is a highly urbanized city described as the “city of smiles.” The city is the home of the famous Masskara Festival (festival of smiling masks) celebrated every October showcasing the happy disposition of the Negrenses.

How to get there:  From Manila, the province is accessible by air, water, and by RO-RO transport. Three airlines service the province: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Air Philippines. By sea travel, Negros Navigation ferrys passengers to Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. Fast crafts service commuters from and to Iloilo-Banago port and RO-RO from and to Iloilo and Cebu-Banago port.  Big bus and taxi companies ply passengers from Bacolod City to any point in the province.

The NSCB RD6 Office
is  at  Luna St. La Paz, Iloilo City, 5000 Philippines
Tel/Fax  No. (033)-320-0513
URL: http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru6
Email: nscb6@yahoo.com

Updated 24 May 2011
 
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