Basic Facts - Geography

Location	The Philippines is ideally located at the heart of Southeast Asia. Lying in the southeastern coast of the Asia mainland at the western rim of the Pacific, the Philippines is one of the largest archipelagos in the world. It has about 7,100 islands and islets. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, the Celebes (Sulawesi) Sea on the south, and South China Sea on the west and north.
Land Area	300,000 sq km.
Climate & Weather	Tropical, with an average temperature of 27 degrees centigrade. Tropical storms and typhoons are common between July and October. The climate is dryer and more comfortable between October and February, and can be very pleasant at higher elevations.
GMT/local time difference	GMT + 8 hours
Capital	Manila
No. of Regions and Provinces	Regions – 17, Provinces - 79 (as of September 2005)

Regions and Provinces

Regions Provinces National Capital Region Cities Manila City Caloocan City Pasay City Quezon City Las Piñas Makati City Malabon Mandaluyong City Marikina City Parañaque Pasig Taguig Muntinlupa City Valenzuela Municipalities Navotas Pateros San Juan   Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)  Abra Apayao Benguet Ifugao Kalinga Mountain Province Region I – Ilocos Region Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan Region II – Cagayan Valley Batanes Cagayan Isabela Nueva Viscaya Quirino Region III – Central Luzon Aurora Bataan Bulacan Nueva Ecija Pampanga Tarlac Zambales Region IV – A CALABARZON Cavite Laguna Batangas Rizal Quezon Region IV - B MIMAROPA Mindoro Occidental Mindoro Oriental Marinduque Romblon Palawan Region V – Bicol Region Albay Camarines Norte Camarines Sur Catanduanes Masbate Sorsogon Region VI – Western Visayas Aklan Antique Capiz Iloilo Guimaras Negros Occidental Region VII – Central Visayas Bohol Cebu Negros Oriental Siquijor Region VIII – Eastern Visayas Biliran Leyte Southern Leyte Northern Samar Eastern Samar Western Samar Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula  Basilan City of Isabela Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Region X – Northern Mindanao Bukidnon Camiguin Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental Lanao del Norte Region XI – Davao Region Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Oriental Compostela Valley Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN North Cotabato Sarangani South Cotabato Sultan Kudarat Cotabato City Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Basilan Lanao Del Sur Maguindanao Sulu Tawi-Tawi CARAGA Region Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur