Capital of the Philippines
This is an overview of current and former national capital cities in the Philippines, spanning from the Spanish colonial period to the current Fifth Philippine Republic.[1] The current capital city, Manila, has been the country's capital throughout most of its history and regained the title through a presidential order in 1976, with Metro Manila serving as the National Capital Region (NCR) since 1978.
Proposed capitals[edit]
Due to overpopulation, traffic congestion, and high vulnerability to natural disasters[7] in the current capital various lawmakers have suggested to shift the capital of the Philippines. In May 2012, Quezon City councilor Francisco Calalay Jr. urged Congress to consider shifting the capital to Quezon City.[8] In February 2016, Australian businessman Peter Wallace suggested Subic–Clark as the next Philippine capital.[9] In November 2016, some officials proposed for the shifting of national government offices, and later the official capital, to the center of Negros Island.[10] In February 2017, a panel was formed by the House of Representatives explore the possibility of shifting the country's capital.[7] In March 2017, the House Speaker stated that the capital of the Philippines should be "somewhere in Negros island".[11][12] In January 2018, two congressmen filed a bill proposing to shift the country's capital to Davao City, while suggesting that Malacañang Palace in Manila should remain the president's official residence.[13] In August 2019, a senator filed a bill proposing that the seat of government should transfer to New Clark City, located in Capas, Tarlac, by 2030.[14]