Western Visayas (Hiligaynon: Kabisay-an Nakatundan; Tagalog: Kanlurang Kabisayaan or Kanlurang Visayas) is an administrative region in the Philippines, numerically designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental) and two highly urbanized cities (Bacolod and Iloilo City). The regional center is Iloilo City.^[3] The region is dominated by the native speakers of four Visayan languages: Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Aklanon and Capiznon. The land area of the region is 20,794.18 km² (8,028.68 sq mi), and with a population of 7,954,723 inhabitants, it is the second most populous region in the Visayas after Central Visayas.^[4]

Quick Facts Kabisay-an Nakatundan Kanlurang Kabisayaan, Country ...

Western Visayas Kabisay-an Nakatundan Kanlurang Kabisayaan
Region
Clockwise from the top: Miagao Church, Jaro Belfry, The Ruins, Tibiao, Boracay
Location in the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 11°08′N 122°32′E
Country	Philippines
Island group	Visayas
Regional center	Iloilo City
Largest city	Bacolod
Area
• Total	20,794.18 km2 (8,028.68 sq mi)
Highest elevation (Mount Kanlaon)	2,465 m (8,087 ft)
Population  (2020 census)[1]
• Total	7,954,723
• Density	380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ISO 3166 code	PH-06
Provinces	6 Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occidental
Independent Cities	2 Bacolod Iloilo City
Component cities	14 Bago Cadiz Escalante Himamaylan Kabankalan La Carlota Passi Roxas Sagay San Carlos Silay Sipalay Talisay Victorias
Municipalities	117
Barangays	4,051
Cong. districts	16
Languages	Hiligaynon Aklanon/Malaynon Capiznon Kinaray-a Cebuano Tagalog English
GDP (2021)	₱937 billion $19 billion[2]
Growth rate	(5.9%)[2]
HDI	0.761 (High)
HDI rank	5th in the Philippines (2019)

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On May 29, 2015, the region was realigned, when Western Visayas (Region VI) lost both the province of Negros Occidental and the highly urbanized city of Bacolod to the newly formed Negros Island Region. However, the region was dissolved, resulting in the return of Negros Occidental and Bacolod to Western Visayas Region on August 9, 2017.

The region's current name is in reference to its geographic position in the greater Visayas area.

Regions first came into existence on September 24, 1972, when the provinces of the Philippines were organized into 11 regions by Presidential Decree No. 1 as part of the Integrated Reorganization Plan by President Ferdinand Marcos. The provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo (including its then-subprovince of Guimaras), and Negros Occidental were grouped together to form the Western Visayas region.

The province of Palawan was transferred to Region VI (Western Visayas) on May 23, 2005, by Executive Order 429.^[5] The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced in June 2005 that the transfer had been completed.^[6] However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005, to address this backlash. This Order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from Region IV-B to Region VI.^[7] Hence, Palawan is currently still part of Region IV-B.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 183 issued on May 29, 2015, by President Benigno Aquino III, the province of Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod, were both removed from Western Visayas in order to form the Negros Island Region along with Negros Oriental.^[8] But later regained Negros Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City back into Western Visayas on August 9, 2017, when President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the Negros Island Region, revoking Executive Order No. 183, s. 2015 through the signage of Executive Order No. 38, citing the reason of the lack of funds to fully establish the NIR according to Benjamin Diokno, the Secretary of Budget and Management.^[9]

Western Visayas consists of the major island of Panay and the smaller Guimaras, as well as several outlying islands. It also includes the western half of the larger island of Negros. The region is bordered to the north by the Sibuyan Sea, northeast by the Visayan Sea, east by the province of Negros Oriental in Central Visayas, south by the Iloilo Strait and Panay Gulf, and west by the Sulu Sea.

Poverty Incidence of Western Visayas

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[13][14]
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The major trading and commercial centers of Western Visayas are the cities of Iloilo City in Iloilo; Bacolod and Kabankalan in Negros Occidental; Roxas City in Capiz; San Jose in Antique; and Kalibo in Aklan. Metro Iloilo, composed of Iloilo City and the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel, Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, and Cabatuan, and the island province of Guimaras, is the center for commercial, financial, and industrial activities in the region.