| Region III Central Luzon | |
|---|---|
| — Region — | |
 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Island group | Luzon |
| Regional center | San Fernando City,Pampanga |
| Area | |
| – Total | 21,543 km2 (8,317.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| – Total | 9,720,982 |
| – Density | 451.2/km2 (1,168.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| Provinces | 7 |
| Cities | 13 |
| Municipalities | 117 |
| Barangays | 3,102 |
| Cong. districts | 20 |
| Languages | Tagalog, Kapampangan,Ilocano, Sambal, English, others |
Central Luzon (or Gitnang Luzon in Filipino) , also known as Region III (or Region 3), is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon (the largest island), for administrative convenience. The region contains the largest plain in the country and produces most of the country's rice supply, earning itself the nickname "Rice Bowl of the Philippines". Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, andZambales.
Central Luzon Region is located north of Manila, the nation's capital. Bordering the region are the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley regions to the north; National Capital Region and CALABARZON to the south; and of waters ofManila Bay to the south; South China Sea to the west; and The Philippine Sea to the east.
There are thirteen cities which include: Balanga in Bataan; Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Cabanatuan,Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija; Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga; Tarlac in Tarlac; and Olongapo in Zambales.Central Luzon produces the most rice in the whole country.Excess rice is delivered and imported to other provinces of the Philippines.
The City of San Fernando, in Pampanga, is the regional center.
Aurora was transferred from Region IV by Executive Order No. 103.
Political Divisions
| Province/City | Capital | Area (km²) | Population (2000) | Population (2007) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | Baler | 3,147.32 | 173,797 | 187,802 |
| Bataan | Balanga City | 1,372.98 | 557,659 | 662,153 |
| Bulacan | City of Malolos | 2,774.85 | 2,234,088 | 2,826,936 |
| Nueva Ecija | Palayan City | 5,751.33 | 1,659,883 | 1,853,853 |
| Pampanga | City of San Fernando | 1,984.72 | 1,882,730 | 1,911,951 |
| Tarlac | Tarlac City | 2,736.64 | 1,068,783 | 1,243,449 |
| Zambales | Iba | 3,529.40 | 433,538 | 493,085 |
| Angeles City | — | 60.27 | 263,971 | 314,493 |
| Olongapo City | — | 185.00 | 194,260 | 227,270 |
¹ Angeles City and Olongapo City are highly-urbanized cities; figures are excluded from Pampanga and Zambales respectively.
Cities
The Central Luzon Region has thirteen cities.
| City | Province | City Class | Income Class | Area (km²) | Population (2007) | Density (/km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angeles City | Pampanga | Highly Urbanized | 1st | 66.16 | 314,493 | 4,753 |
| Balanga City | Bataan | Component | 4th | 111.63 | 84,105 | 753.4 |
| Cabanatuan City | Nueva Ecija | Component | 1st | 192.29 | 259,267 | 1,348 |
| Gapan City | Nueva Ecija | Component | 4th | 164.44 | 98,795 | 600.8 |
| City of Malolos | Bulacan | Component | 3rd | 77.25 | 223,069 | 3,314 |
| Meycauayan City | Bulacan | Component | 3rd | 32.10 | 196,569 | 6,123.6 |
| Science City of Muñoz | Nueva Ecija | Component | 4th | 163.05 | 71,669 | 439.6 |
| Olongapo City | Zambales | Highly Urbanized | 1st | 185.00 | 227,270 | 1,228.5 |
| Palayan City | Nueva Ecija | Component | 5th | 101.40 | 33,506 | 685 |
| City of San Fernando | Pampanga | Component | 1st | 67.74 | 269,365 | 3,977 |
| San Jose City | Nueva Ecija | Component | 2nd | 185.99 | 122,353 | 657.8 |
| San Jose del Monte City | Bulacan | Component | 1st | 165.10 | 439,090 | 2659.5 |
| Tarlac City | Tarlac | Component | 1st | 274.66 | 314,155 | 1,143.8 |
