Administrative divisions of Metro Manila

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Metro Manila is the capital region of the Philippines and a very large urban area. It is not a province. The region is made up of 17 local government units: 16 independent cities and 1 independent municipality, Pateros. Each city or municipality has its own mayor and council.

The national government coordinates these units through the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a national agency headed by a chairperson appointed by the president.

Inside each city or municipality are barangays (villages). There are about 1,700 barangays in Metro Manila.

The region is divided into four geographic districts for administration and statistics:
- District 1 – Manila (Capital District)
- District 2 – Eastern Manila (centered on Quezon City)
- District 3 – Northern Manila (Camanava)
- District 4 – Southern Manila (areas south of Manila and the Pasig River)

The four districts have district centers in the original cities: Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, and Pasay. These districts help organize local government and budgeting, not separate provinces.

For national representation, Metro Manila has 32 congressional districts. Pateros, the lone municipality, shares a district with Taguig in the first district. City councils are usually divided into districts as well, though some cities elect councilors at-large, giving them two council districts.

Some cities have historic or traditional subdivisions within them, and many areas include gated communities (subdivisions) that function like small zones or barangays.

A short history: Before 1901, the area was part of the Province of Manila. In 1942, the City of Greater Manila merged Manila, Quezon City, and several municipalities. In 1975, Metropolitan Manila was created by Presidential Decree 824, covering most of today’s region, and it was named the National Capital Region in 1978.