LUZON
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Ilocos Region (Region I)
Cagayan Valley (Region II)
Central Luzon (Region III)
National Capital Region (NCR)
CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
Bicol Region (Region V)
VISAYAS
Western Visayas (Region VI)
Central Visayas (Region VII)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
MINDANAO
Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Davao Region (Region XI)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Caraga (Region XIII)
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
These regions, although separated from one another do not possess individual government authority except the ARMM which has exercised a separate sovereignty even before the Spanish came to colonise the country. ARMM is predominantly home to Muslim Filipinos which has its own elected regional assembly and is ruled by the Regional Governor.
While ARMM nestles in the southern Philippines, CAR (originally called as Cordillera Autonomous Region) is located at the northern part of the country. CAR initially intended as an autonomous region was changed into an administrative region due to the failure of two referendums. This region vastly governs and protects the indigenous tribes mainly called as Igorots.
Every region is divided into provinces which individually govern the local government units (districts, cities and towns) except the NCR. The National Capital Region which is mainly the Metropolitan Manila or Metro Manila is the smallest administrative region in the country and the only region without any provinces. It is instead, subdivided into 17 local government areas (cities and municipalities), which are grouped together into districts for administrative purposes.
