Sub-provinces of the Philippines

The sub-provinces of the Philippines were a political and administrative division of the Philippines. The sub-provinces were a part of a larger "regular" province and residents of a sub-province participated in provincial elections of the parent province.

Sub-provinces of the Philippines
Map of the Mountain Province showing its extent in 1918. The map shows borders of its sub-provinces.
Category	Province sub-unit
Location	Philippines
Found in	Provinces
Subdivisions	Municipalities and component cities

List of historical sub-provinces

Sub-province	Parent province	Established	Disestablished	Fate
Abra	Ilocos Sur	April 1, 1905	March 9, 1917	Already recognized as a regular province in 1901 (Act No. 206). Annexed to Ilocos Sur as a sub-province in 1905 (Act No. 1306). Became a regular province again in 1917 (Act No. 2683).
Amburayan	Lepanto-Bontoc (1902–1908) Mountain Province (1908–1920)	May 28, 1902	February 4, 1920	Territory organized as a sub-province of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1902 (Act No. 410). Transferred to newly created Mountain Province upon abolition of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Most of territory annexed to Ilocos Sur and La Union in 1917 (Act No. 2711).[1] Abolished in 1920 when its remaining territory was annexed to the sub-province of Benguet in the Mountain Province (Act No. 2877).[2]
Apayao	Cagayan (1907–1908) Mountain Province (1908–1966) Kalinga-Apayao (1966–1995)	May 9, 1907	May 8, 1995	Territory organized as a sub-province of Cagayan in 1907 (Act No. 1642). Transferred to newly created Mountain Province in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Transferred to newly created Kalinga-Apayao province in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4695).[3] Became a regular province in 1995 (Republic Act No. 7878).[4]
Aurora	Quezon	June 14, 1951	August 13, 1979	Established as a sub-province of Quezon in 1951 (Republic Act No. 648).[5] Became a regular province in 1979 upon proclamation of result of plebiscite ratifying Batas Pambansa Blg. 7.[6]
Batanes	Cagayan	August 20, 1907	May 20, 1909	Spanish-era province abolished and territory annexed to Cagayan in 1901 (Act No. 209). Organized as a sub-province of Cagayan in 1907 (Act No. 1693). Became a province again in 1909 (Act No. 1952).
Benguet	Mountain Province	August 18, 1908	June 18, 1966	Already recognized as a regular province in 1900 (Act No. 49). Annexed to newly created Mountain Province in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Became a regular province again in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4695).[3]
Biliran	Leyte	April 8, 1959	May 11, 1992	Established as a sub-province of Leyte in 1959 (Republic Act No. 2141).[7] Became a regular province in 1992 upon ratification of Section 462 of Republic Act No. 7160.[8]
Bontoc	Lepanto-Bontoc (1902–1908) Mountain Province (1908–1966)	May 28, 1902	June 18, 1966	Territory organized as a sub-province of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1902 (Act No. 410). Transferred to newly created Mountain Province upon abolition of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Became a regular province and assumed the name Mountain Province upon separation of other component sub-provinces in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4695).[3]
Bukidnon	Agusan	August 20, 1907	September 1, 1914	Territory organized as a sub-province of Agusan in 1907 (Act No. 1693). Agusan Province (composed of Bukidnon and Butuan sub-provinces) placed under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1913 (Act No. 2309). Separated from Butuan sub-province and became a province within the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914 (Act No. 2408).
Butuan	Agusan	August 20, 1907	September 1, 1914	Territory organized as a sub-province of Agusan in 1907 (Act No. 1693). Agusan Province (composed of Bukidnon and Butuan sub-provinces) placed under the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1913 (Act No. 2309). Separated from Bukidnon and became a province within the Department of Mindanao and Sulu under the name Agusan in 1914 (Act No. 2408).
Camiguin	Misamis Oriental	June 22, 1956	June 18, 1966	Established as a sub-province of Misamis Oriental in 1956 (Republic Act No. 2021).[9] Became a regular province in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4669).[10]
Catanduanes	Albay	April 19, 1905	October 26, 1945	Established as a sub-province of Albay in 1905 (Act No. 1331). Became a regular province in 1945 (Commonwealth Act No. 687).
Guimaras	Iloilo	June 18, 1966	May 11, 1992	Established as a sub-province of Iloilo in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4667).[11] Became a regular province in 1992 upon ratification of Section 462 of Republic Act No. 7160.[8]
Ifugao	Mountain Province	August 18, 1908	June 18, 1966	Territory annexed from northwestern area of Nueva Vizcaya organized as a sub-province of the newly created Mountain Province in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Became a regular province in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4695).[3]
Kalinga	Lepanto-Bontoc (1907–1908) Mountain Province (1908–1966) Kalinga-Apayao (1966–1995)	May 9, 1907	May 8, 1995	Territory organized as a sub-province of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1907 (Act No. 1642). Transferred to newly created Mountain Province upon abolition of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Transferred to newly created Kalinga-Apayao province in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4695).[3] Became a regular province in 1995 (Republic Act No. 7878).[4]
Lepanto	Lepanto-Bontoc (1907–1908) Mountain Province (1908–1920)	May 28, 1902	February 4, 1920	Territory organized as a sub-province of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1902 (Act No. 410). Transferred to newly created Mountain Province upon abolition of Lepanto-Bontoc in 1908 (Act No. 1876). Abolished in 1920 when its territory was annexed to Ilocos Sur and the sub-province of Bontoc in the Mountain Province (Act No. 2877).[2]
Marinduque	Tayabas	August 10, 1907	November 21, 1920	Already recognized as a province in 1901 (Act No. 125). Province abolished and territory annexed to Tayabas in 1902 (Act No. 499). Established as a sub-province in 1907 (Act No. 1649). Became a regular province again in 1920 (Act No. 2880).
Masbate	Sorsogon	January 1, 1906	December 15, 1920	Already recognized as a province in 1901 (Act No. 105). Annexed to Sorsogon as a sub-province in 1906 (Act No. 1413). Became a regular province again in 1920 (Act No. 2934).
Quirino	Nueva Vizcaya	June 18, 1966	November 11, 1971	Established as a sub-province of Nueva Vizcaya in 1966 (Republic Act No. 4734).[12] Became a regular province upon ratification of Republic Act No. 6394 in 1971.[13]
Romblon	Capiz	July 15, 1907	December 7, 1917	Already recognized as a province in 1901 (Act No. 104). Annexed to Capiz as a sub-province in 1907 (Act No. 1665). Became a regular province again in 1917 (Act No. 2724).
Siquijor	Negros Oriental	October 8, 1907	November 11, 1971	Established as a sub-province of Negros Oriental in 1907 (Act No. 1753). Became a regular province upon ratification of Republic Act No. 6398 in 1971.[14]