Metro Cebu

Metropolitan Cebu, or simply Metro Cebu, (Cebuano: Kaulohang Sugbo; Filipino: Kalakhang Cebu), is the main urban center of the province of Cebu in the Philippines. Metro Cebu is located along the central eastern portion of the island including the nearby island of Mactan. It accounts for 19.9 percent of the land area and 61.5 percent of the population (2020 census) of the entire province of Cebu.

Metro Cebu is a metropolitan area that consists of Cebu City (the capital of Cebu and the regional center of Central Visayas) along with twelve surrounding cities and municipalities.

The Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) is a body mandated to formulate development plans for the Metro Cebu area and coordinate their implementation. Unlike the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the MCDCB does not have legal and institutional powers. However, MMDA's powers are limited by jurisdiction to only the core of the agglomeration.

As of the 2020 census, Metro Cebu is the largest metropolitan area in the Visayas and the third-largest metropolitan area by population in the Philippines, after Metro Manila (in Luzon) and Metro Davao (in Mindanao).

Metro Cebu comprises seven cities (Carcar, Cebu City, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay) and six municipalities (Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando), with Cebu City serving as the metropolitan area's central core. The provincial capitol, the central business district, major educational institutions and the international port are all located in Cebu City while major industrial companies and factories are located in Mandaue. The international airport and the export processing zone are located in Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island. Danao is primarily a mining city while Talisay is a residential city with its income generated by small- and medium-sized businesses.

Cebu City was a fishing village and farming settlement governed by Visayan native kings who traded with the neighboring islands of Malaysia and Indonesia. Cebu was the location of the Rajahnate of Cebu, an Indianized kingdom founded by the half Indian and half Malay, Sri Lumay, from Sumatra.

Map of Metro Cebu highlighting its cities and municipalities

Aerial view of Metro Cebu showing the Cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu situated in Cebu mainland and Mactan island

Skyline of Cebu City, the metropolitan's center

Cebu Doctors' University situated in Mandaue City

Arroyo taking her Oath of Office in Cebu City on 30 June 2004

Skyline of Metropolitan Cebu as seen from Mactan Channel

An intersection within Cebu Business Park

Aerial view of Mactan–Cebu International Airport situated in Lapu-Lapu City

Aerial view of Cebu City