DIVIDING REGION IV INTO REGION IV-A AND REGION IV-B, TRANSFERRING THE PROVINCE OF AURORA TO REGION III AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS,
the administrative regions were established to promote efficiency in
the Government, accelerate social and economic development and improve
public services;

WHEREAS,
to further accelerate the social and economic development of the
provinces and cities comprising Region IV and improve the delivery of
public services, there is a need to divide Region IV and transfer the Province of Aurora to Region III.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1.   Region IV is hereby divided into Region IV-A and Region IV-B.

SECTION 2.   Region IV-A shall be known as CALABARZON and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          Batangas

ii.          Cavite

iii.         Laguna

iv.         Quezon

v.         Rizal

b.         Cities

i.          Antipolo City

ii.          Batangas City

iii.         Calamba City

iv.         Cavite City

v.         Lipa City

vi.         Lucena City

vii.        San Pablo City

viii.       Tagaytay City

ix.         Tanauan City

x.         Trece Martires City

SECTION 3.   Region IV-B shall be known as MIMAROPA and shall be composed of the following provinces and cities:

a.         Provinces

i.          Marinduque

ii.          Mindoro Occidental

iii.         Mindoro Oriental

iv.         Palawan

v.         Romblon

 b.         Cities

i.          Calapan City

ii.          Puerto Princesa City

SECTION 4.   The Province of Aurora is hereby transferred to and shall form part of Region III.

SECTION 5.   The
Department of the Interior and Local Government is hereby directed to
supervise the division of Region IV into Region IV-A and Region IV-B and
the transfer of the Province of Aurora to Region III.

SECTION 6.   All
orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Executive Order, are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 7.   This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

Adopted: 17 May 2002

By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary