REGION 3: CENTRAL LUZON REGION

Capital: San Fernando, Pampanga

Languages: Kapampangan, Pangalatok, Ilocano, and Sambal
Geographic Location: Located at the central part of Luzon, Region III lies between
Manila and Northern Luzon. It includes all land area north of Manila Bay from the tip of
Bataan peninsula on the west, and all the lands north of the Caraballo mountains on the
east. It is the longest contiguous area of lowlands, and is otherwise known as the
Central Plains of Luzon. The region produces one third of the country’s total rice
production, thus also called the Rice Granary of the Philippines.
Towns and Cities: Its provinces are: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, Tarlac. And Zambales. There are fourteen cities which include: Balanga
from Bataan; Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose from Nueva Ecija;
Olongapo from Zambales; Angeles, Mabalacat, and San Fernando from Pampanga;
San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan and Malolos from Bulacan; Tarlac City in Tarlac.

PROFILE OF REGION 3

Envisioned to become the industrial heartland of the Philippines and the Asia Pacific; an
international transshipment hub; and a showcase of a vibrant and competitive
agriculture sector, Central Luzon is the logical destination for investments and leisure.

A growth region in the Philippines that contributes significantly to the national economy,
Central Luzon is home to a number of industrial estates and economic zones with
efficient water, power and telecommunication facilities; port facilities; road networks that
create synergy between and among the economic and tourism points of Subic, Clark
and the seven provinces; and, a strategic location that offers accessibility for the
movement of people, goods and service from the North to Manila.

A distinct advantage in consideration of the Asia-Pacific Rim, Central Luzon’s highly

strategic location was enough for the United States Government to locate their biggest
naval and air military facilities outside the US mainland. The former Subic Naval Base
and Clark Air Base facilities which were turned over to the Philippine government in
1991, are now two of the country’s premier economic zones.

Central Luzon combines the advantages of an international airport, a seaport, industrial

and agricultural areas, tourism and leisure sites, support services, and major
thoroughfares. The complementation of each of these elements enhances the strengths
of the region as an investment destination.
Culture and Festivals

Central Luzon has a very diverse cultural heritage and colorful traditions, owing to the
influence of Spanish, American and Japanese colonizers, as well as the presence of
different ethnolinguistic groups – Aetas, Sambals, Capampangangs, Tagalogs, Ilocanos
and Pangasinenses.

More than half of the population in the region speaks Tagalog, which is attributed to the
large Tagalog-speaking provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
Capampangan is the next most widely spoken dialect in the region, used by people from
Pampanga and Tarlac. Ilocano, the third most dominant dialect in the region, is spoken
in the provinces of Zambales, northern Tarlac and northern Nueva Ecija which are close
to the Ilocano-speaking provinces of Pangasinan and the Cordilleras.

Among the region’s festivities, celebrations and religious sites, the most prominent
include the Carabao Festival and Obando Fertility Rites in Bulacan; the Giant Lantern
Festival and Lenten Rites in Pampanga; and the Mango Festival in Zambales. Central
Luzon is also noted for products such as furniture, Christmas lanterns, jewelry, marble
products, meat products, and sweets and delicacies. Centuries-old churches, ancestral
houses, as well as historical monuments serve as landmarks that depict the rich cultural
heritage of the region.

INDUSTRIAL PROFILE

Key Infrastructure Facilities

• Two international airports: Clark and Subic both fitted with runways that can take in
fully loaded, widest-bodied aircraft, and allow simultaneous landing and take-off with
state-of-the-art infrastructure support and instrumentation. The low-cost Asian flights in
Clark International Airport (CIA), since 2007, have been contributing to the influx of
tourists in Central Luzon. CIA now also offers non-stop flights to the Middle East and
connecting flights to the U.S.A., Australia, and Europe.

• Four domestic airports located in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Zambales.

• Subic International Seaport

• Five domestic seaports: Port of Mariveles, Capinpin, Orion and Lamao in Bataan, and
Dingalan in Aurora

• A road network that allows inter-regional and intra-Central Luzon travel connection –
NLEx, SCTEx, TPLEx, MacArthur Highway, etc.
AREA AND LOCATION

Region III is the largest contiguous area of lowland in the country. Technically, it lies
between latitudes 120 and 160 north of the equator and between longitudes of 120 and
121. It has a land area of 2,201,463 hectares.   Nueva Ecija province occupies the
biggest land area while Bataan peninsula has the smallest landholding.

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 of Manila Bay to the south; the South China Sea to the west; and The Philippine
Sea to the east.

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Central Luzon is a combination of towering mountains, extinct and active volcanoes,

lush, verdant farmlands, and natural sea harbors. It is one of the leading growth regions
in the Philippines, strategically located at the heart of Asia. Region III lies between
Manila and Northern Luzon. It is composed of seven provinces, twelve cities and 118
municipalities. Its 7 provinces are Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga,
Tarlac and Zambales. Its 12 cities are Balanga from Bataan, Malolos and San Jose del
Monte from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Gapan, Muñoz, Palayan and San Jose from Nueva
Ecija; Angeles and San Fernando from Pampanga, Tarlac from Tarlac; and Olongapo
from Zambales.

It includes all land area north of Manila Bay from the tip of Bataan peninsula on the
west, and all the lands north of the Caraballo mountains on the east. It is the longest
contiguous area of lowlands, and is otherwise known as the Central Plains of Luzon.
The region produces one third of the country’s total rice production, thus is also called
the Rice Granary of the Philippines.

Located adjacent to the National Capital Region (NCR), it has benefited from the
“spillover” from Metro Manila. It is a part of the National Industrial Core Region, together
with NCR and Region IV or the Southern Tagalog Region. The Core Region contributed
70% of manufacturing value added in 1988. It has emerged as an alternative area for
investment to Region IV, but is still overcoming the effects of the Mount Pinatubo
eruption in 1991.

Only 66 kilometers away from Metro Manila, Central Luzon contains the largest plain in
the country and is the gateway to the Northern Luzon regions. It covers a total land area
of 21,470 square kilometers. The City of San Fernando, in Pampanga, is the regional
center. Aurora was transferred from Region IV to Region III through Executive Order
No. 103 in 2002.

In terms of population, Region III was the third largest region, containing 10.50 percent
of the 76.5 million human beings of the country as recorded in Census 2000. Located at
the crossroads of Asia-Pacific, Central Luzon is one of the dynamic and vibrant regions
in the Philippines. It caters to European and American business organizations desiring
to penetrate Asia.

POPULATION

The population of Central Luzon Region on January 1st 2010 is approximately

9,793,184. (Extrapolated from a population of 8,204,742 on May 24th 2008 and a
population of 9,720,982 on February 28th 2010.) The region has the highest urban
population ratio (60.3%) to total population.

There are three areas of urban population concentration: (a) areas in Bulacan along
highways leading from Metro Manila; (b) San Fernando-Angeles City-Mabalacat corridor
area; (c) Subic - Dinalupihan area. The total urban population in these areas is over 2
million, over half of the total urban population in Central Luzon.

Human resources in the region are better prepared in terms of a higher participation
rate at the primary and secondary levels of education. The participation rate of Central
Luzon is 94.2% and 86.1%, respectively, as compared to the national average of 85.7%
and 66.1% in SY 1992- 93. There are comparatively more non-government
organizations, cooperatives and people’s organizations in the region.

Religion
Eighty percent of the population of Central Luzon is Roman Catholic. Other religions
represented are Protestants (including Evangelicals), Islam, and Iglesia Ni Cristo. In this
region also where the Members Church of God International (also known by many as
Ang Dating Daan) headquarters is located in Apalit, Pampanga where most members
are. There are also other denominations such as Jesus Is Lord, Pentecostal Missionary
Church of Christ, Jesus Miracle Crusade, United Methodist Church and others.
FESTIVALS

1. The Kneeling Carabao Festival- (Bulacan) The festival is celebrated as a

tribute to the country’s national animal, the carabao or water buffalo, and in honor
of the San Isidro Labrador
2. Obando Fertility Rites – (Bulacan) This festival is where childless couples,
maidens and bachelors looking for mates, thankful parents, grateful farmers and
fishermen dance along the streets to pray for children and a good harvest.
3. Giant Lantern Festival - (Pampanga) The word parol derives from the Spanish
farol, meaning lantern or light. Filipinos place much significance on the
symbolism of light, the star regarded as a fount of light and a sign of hope in the
predominantly Christian country in Asia. Such a creation however, did not come
without the untiring efforts of the Fernandinos, and more so, their ingenuity and
innovation. And it is because of the Parul Sampernandu that San Fernando has
earned for itself the title of “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.”
 4. Lenten Rites in Pampanga- The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is an annual
Holy Week re-enactment of the Passion and death of Christ. It takes place in
Barangay San Pedro Cutud of San Fernando City in Pampanga.

5. Aurora Day and Suman Festival- A celebration of the foundation of the

province of Aurora, which is celebrated on the very day of birth of the Late Lady
Aurora Quezon. The event also coincides with the grandest festival, the Suman
Festival. 

6.  Malatarlak Festival- The Malatarlak Festival, celebrated every January in

Tarlac City, is one of the most remarkable festivals in the province. In 2011, the
City Mayor then changed the name of the festival to Melting Pot Festival, but it is
still remembered by its former name.

7. The Tanduyong Festival - is a yearly festival. The festival is held in San Jose City,
Philippines. The general population in San Jose offer gratitude to a favored collect of
tanduyong. ... San Jose City prides itself as the "Onion Capital of the Philippines" and is
a main maker of onion, garlic, rice and vegetables.

8. Dinamulag Festival- (Zambales) The event is a celebration of a bountiful

harvest of mangoes and other agricultural products which the province is so
known for. It is aimed to highlight the must-see attractions and places of interest
in all its towns.

Education
Cuisines and Delicacies

Batutay Tupig
 Tinumis Sinampalukang Manok

Buro Rice Cake

Tourist Attractions
Baler located in Aurora Province

Mount Pinatubo located in Botolan, Zambales

Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, Tarlac

Magalawa Island located in Zambales

Minalungao National Park located in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

https://www.dti.gov.ph/regions/region-3/profile/

https://region3.deped.gov.ph/history/
https://psa.gov.ph/content/central-luzon-third-biggest-region#:~:text=Majority
%20(86.09%20percent)%20of%20the,belonged%20to%20other%20religious
%20affiliations.
https://r3.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/phl-ocha-r3_profile-
a3_jan2017_1.pdf