Urban population comprised 48.0 percent

A transition from a rural to urban barangay classification signifies change in the human habitat with respect to several physical, demographic and economic characteristics of the barangay. In the 2000 CPH, barangays were classified into either urban or rural by considering the street pattern, presence of facilities and amenities, population density, presence of establishments, and type of occupation engaged in by the residents.

Results of the latest Census 2000 placed the total population of the Philippines as of May 1, 2000 at 76.5 million persons, of which, 36.7 million persons or 48.0 percent were in 9,950 urban barangays.

Central Luzon (Region III) had the second highest proportion of urban population

Among the regions, aside from the National Capital Region (NCR) which was classified as entirely urban, two regions registered a proportion of urban population higher than the national level. These regions were Central Luzon (Region III), 60.5 percent and Southern Tagalog (Region IV), 58.2 percent. On the other hand, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) with 21.2 percent and 19.5 percent respectively, had the lowest proportion of urban population.

Eleven provinces had more than 50 percent of their population living in urban areas

The urban population in 11 provinces was more than 50 percent of the total population. These provinces were Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cebu, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Misamis Oriental, and Pangasinan. On the other hand, four provinces had less than 10 percent. These were Ifugao (9.6 percent), Mountain Province (9.1 percent), Siquijor (8.4 percent) and Marinduque (4.8 percent).

Table A. Provinces with More Than 50 Percent Urban Population: 2000

Central Luzon had the second highest proportion of urban barangays

Central Luzon (Region III) had 43.6 percent of total barangays classified as urban, hence, was second to the NCR in terms of the proportion of urban barangays. Other regions that had a proportion of urban barangays higher than the national figure (23.7 percent) were Southern Tagalog (Region IV), 34.3 percent; and Ilocos Region (Region I), 24.9 percent. On the other hand, Western Mindanao (Region IX) had the lowest (8.7 percent).

Sixteen provinces had a proportion of urban barangays exceeding the national figure

Of the total 78 provinces in the country, 16 provinces surpassed the national proportion of urban barangays (23.7 percent). Of these provinces, 13 were in Luzon, two in Visayas and one in Mindanao. The top 11 provinces were all in Luzon, with Rizal and Cavite both in Southern Tagalog Region registering four urban barangays for every five barangays in the province

Table C. Provinces with Higher than the National Proportion of Urban Barangays: 2000

.