Region VII

Also known as: Region 7 · Central Visayas · Cebuano Region (cultural linguistic name) · Central Visayan Islands

Definition

Region VII (officially designated as Central Visayas) is an administrative region of the Philippines located in the central portion of the Visayas island group. It is bordered by the Visayan Sea to the north, the Camotes Sea and Leyte (Region VIII) to the east, the Bohol Sea to the south, and the Tanon Strait and Negros Occidental (Region VI) to the west. The region consists of four provinces: Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. It is centered around Metro Cebu, which serves as the second-largest metropolitan area and primary economic, BPO, and shipping hub in the Philippines outside of Metro Manila. (Official Gazette)

Identities

Source Type	Identity
Wikipedia	Central Visayas
Wikidata	Q13663
DBpedia	Central_Visayas
ProductOntology	N/A
Wiktionary	N/A
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)	Central Visayas (Philippines)
MeSH	N/A
NCBI Taxonomy	N/A
AGROVOC	N/A
Google Scholar	Region VII Central Visayas provinces Cebu Metro Cebu BPO shipping Bohol Philippines
ConceptNet	N/A
OpenCyc	N/A

Also Known As

Region 7
Central Visayas
Cebuano Region (cultural linguistic name)
Central Visayan Islands

Examples and Analogies

Cebu IT Park Development: The concentration of high-rise office towers, BPO centers, and multinational headquarters in Lahug, Cebu City, representing the primary economic engine of the region.
Bohol Eco-Tourism Protection: The development of sustainable tourism around the Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island beach resorts, governed by strict local environmental ordinances. (Official Gazette)

Usage Scenarios

1. BPO Office Relocation

A global customer support corporation expands its operations by leasing three floors of a PEZA-certified office building in Cebu City. (Official Gazette)

2. Beach Resort Investment Study

A developer conducts a relocation survey for a boutique resort property in Panglao Island, Bohol, verifying environmental permits and title records.

Strategies

Research the availability of power and water infrastructure when planning industrial or commercial developments outside of Metro Cebu.
Verify if proposed agricultural lands in Bohol are subject to DAR clearances under land reform laws (CARP).
Partner with PEZA-registered developers when leasing BPO office spaces in Cebu to access tax incentives.

Security and Safety Measures

Do not build structural projects near coastal areas without checking local storm-surge history and LGU setback rules.
Ensure all building designs incorporate earthquake safety factors, as the region experiences significant seismic activity (such as the 2013 Bohol earthquake).
Verify all title records directly at the Registry of Deeds in Cebu City, Tagbilaran, or Dumaguete.

Historical Context

Central Visayas has historically been the cultural and economic center of the Visayas, with Cebu serving as the site of the first Spanish settlement in 1565. The region was formalized as an administrative unit on September 24, 1972, under President Ferdinand Marcos’ Integrated Reorganization Plan No. 1. Over the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the region transformed from an agriculture-reliant economy into a leading services, BPO, shipping, and tourism hub centered around Metro Cebu. (Official Gazette)

Challenges and Controversies

Water Supply Deficits

Metro Cebu experiences severe freshwater shortages due to groundwater saltwater intrusion and rapid urban population growth, requiring expensive desalination and bulk water projects.

Traffic Congestion in Metro Cebu

The lack of modern public mass transit systems (such as light rail or BRT) has led to severe daily traffic congestion in Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu City, affecting economic productivity.

References

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines