Cities of the Philippines

Cities in the Philippines are classified into highly urbanized cities, or component cities. All totaling thirty-three (33), the highly urbanized cities (HUCs) have a minimum population of 200,000 and an annual income of at least fifty million Philippine pesos (₱50 M). Those cities that do not meet the above requirements are the component cities; these cities are considered part of the province where they are located. However, there are cities that are further classified as independent component cities; their charters prohibit their voters from voting for elective provincial officials and they are independent of the provinces where they are located. There are 108 component cities and only five (5) independent component cities in the Philippines; the latter category are Dagupan in Pangasinan, Naga in Camarines Sur, Ormoc in Leyte, Santiago in Isabela, and Cotabato City.

A component city is created by an Act of Congress and duly ratified by the affected voting population in a plebiscite. The requisites for its creation are an average annual income of at least twenty million Philippine pesos (₱20 M) for the last two (2) consecutive years, and either of the following:

• a contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers, or
• a minimum population of 150,000

As regards a highly urbanized city, only the President can declare its creation subject to the approval of the majority of the affected electorate in a plebiscite.

The elected officials of the city government are the Mayor who is the chief executive, the Vice-Mayor, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod members. There are also appointive officials in charge of the various offices in the city government.