LIST: Vote-Rich Provinces in the Philippines 2022

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday painted Quezon City pink as she visited the most populous city in Metro Manila as part of her nationwide campaign to become the next president of the Philippines.

Two months earlier, her closest rival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stalled traffic in the same city as he held a motorcade along its major thoroughfares, hoping to gain the favor of its over one million voters.

With the campaign period for the May 9 elections now in full swing, national candidates are taking turns visiting areas in the country where they can get the most number of votes.

From Pangasinan in the north to Davao Del Sur in the south, here are the most vote-rich provinces and areas in the country for the May 9 elections, according to latest figures from the Commission on Elections:

1. Cebu – 3.25 million voters
2. Cavite – 2.30 million voters
3. Pangasinan – 2.09 million voters
4. Laguna – 2.04 million voters
5. Bulacan – 2.01 million voters
6. Negros Occidental – 1.95 million voters
7. Batangas – 1.82 million voters
8. Iloilo – 1.63 million voters
9. Rizal – 1.60 million voters
10. Pampanga – 1.58 million voters
11. Nueva Ecija – 1.54 million voters
12. Davao Del Sur – 1.45 million voters
13. Quezon Province – 1.42 million voters
14. Quezon City – 1.40 million voters
15. Leyte – 1.35 million voters
16. Camarines Sur – 1.31 million voters
17. Zamboanga Del Sur – 1.14 million voters
18. Isabela – 1.11 million voters
19. City of Manila – 1.11 million voters
20. Misamis Oriental – 1.04 million voters

In terms of geographical divisions, here are the regions ranked according to most number of votes, as shown in the same Comelec data:

1. Calabarzon – 9.19 million voters
2. National Capital Region – 7.30 million voters
3. Central Luzon – 7.29 million voters
4. Central Visayas – 5.20 million voters
5. Western Visayas – 5.03 million voters
6. Bicol Region – 3.91 million voters
7. Ilocos Region – 3.54 million voters
8. Davao Region – 3.23 million voters
9. Eastern Visayas – 3.17 million voters
10. Northern Mindanao – 3.06 million voters
11. Soccsksargen – 2.69 million voters
12. BARMM – 2.58 million voters
13. Cagayan Valley – 2.30 million voters
14. Zamboanga Peninsula – 2.30 million voters
15. Mimaropa – 1.99 million voters
16. Caraga – 1.87 million voters
17. Cordillera Administrative Region – 1.08 million voters

EXPLAINERS:

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As the May 9 polls come closer, expect candidates to make multiple stops in these areas as they convince voters to cast their votes for them.

"Candidates have to convince people or voters that they are strong candidates and they have the capacity to win,” University of the Philippines political science professor Maria Ela Atienza told reportr in an earlier interview.

“With health protocols in place, campaign strategists have to think of other ways to prove to voters that there is a sizeable support for their candidates,” she added.

The campaign period for the May 9 elections will continue until May 7, two days before election day. The Comelec has opened up a Facebook page where national candidates can livestream their online meetings or e-rallies for free.