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The headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard is located at the South Harbor in Port Area near Intramuros and Ermita . The Philippine Navy on the other hand has its headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrada located along Roxas Boulevard in Malate . Furthermore , the AFP Joint Task Force @-@ National Capital Region was created in 2012 to ensure peace and stability in Metro Manila , of which Manila is a part . It bears the same functions of the deactivated National Capital Regional Command , although it op |
erates on a much smaller size than its predecessor .
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= = = Slums = = =
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There are an estimated 4 million slum dwellers living in Manila as of 2014 .
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= = Demographics = =
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According to the 2015 census , the population of the city was 1 @,@ 780 @,@ 148 , making it the second most populous city in the Philippines .
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Manila is the most densely populated city in the world with 43 @,@ 079 inhabitants per km2 . District 6 is listed as being the most dense with 68 @,@ 266 inhabitants per km2 , followed by District 1 with 64 @,@ 936 and District 2 with 64 @,@ 710 , respectively . District 5 is the least densely populated area with 19 @,@ 235 .
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Manila 's population density dwarfs that of Kolkata ( 27 @,@ 774 inhabitants per km2 ) , Mumbai ( 22 @,@ 937 inhabitants per km2 ) , Paris ( 20 @,@ 164 inhabitants per km2 ) , Dhaka ( 19 @,@ 447 inhabitants per km2 ) , Shanghai ( 16 @,@ 364 inhabitants per km2 , with its most dense district , Nanshi , having a density of 56 @,@ 785 inhabitants per km2 ) , and Tokyo ( 10 @,@ 087 inhabitants per km2 ) .
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The vernacular language is Filipino , based mostly on the Tagalog of surrounding areas , and this Manila form of speaking Tagalog has essentially become the lingua franca of the Philippines , having spread throughout the archipelago through mass media and entertainment . Meanwhile , English is the language most widely used in education , business , and heavily in everyday usage throughout the Metro Manila region and the Philippines itself .
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A number of older residents can still speak basic Spanish , which used to be a mandatory subject in the curriculum of Philippine universities and colleges , and many children of Japanese Filipino , Indian Filipino , and other migrants or expatriates also speak their parents ' languages at home , aside from English and / or Filipino for everyday use . Minnan Chinese ( known as Lannang @-@ oe ) is spoken by the city 's Chinese @-@ Filipino community .
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= = Economy = =
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The city is a major center for commerce , banking and finance , retailing , transportation , tourism , real estate , new media as well as traditional media , advertising , legal services , accountancy , insurance , theater , fashion , and the arts in the Philippines .
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The Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index , published by the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines , ranks the cities , municipalities and provinces of the country according to their economic dynamism , government efficiency and infrastructure . Manila placed third in the Highly Urbanized City ( HUC ) category . Previously , Manila was the country 's most competitive city in 2015 , making it the best place to live in and do business .
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The Port of Manila is the largest seaport in the Philippines , making it the premier international shipping gateway to the country . The Philippine Ports Authority is government agency responsible to oversee the operation and management of the ports . The International Container Terminal Services Inc. cited by the Asian Development Bank as one of the top five major maritime terminal operators in the world has its headquarters and main operations on the ports of Manila . Another port operator , the Asian Te |
rminal Incorporated , has its corporate office and main operations in the Manila South Harbor and its container depository located in Santa Mesa .
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Binondo , the oldest and one of the largest Chinatown in the world , was the center of commerce and business activities in the city . Numerous residential and office skyscrapers are found within its medieval streets . Plans to make the Chinatown area into a business process outsourcing ( BPO ) hub progresses and is aggressively pursued by the city government of Manila . 30 buildings are already identified to be converted into BPO offices . These buildings are mostly located along the Escolta Street of Bino |
ndo , which are all unoccupied and can be converted into offices .
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Divisoria in Tondo is dubbed as the " shopping mecca of the Philippines " . Numerous shopping malls are located in this place , which sells products and goods at bargain price . Small vendors occupies several roads that causes pedestrian and vehicular traffic . A famous landmark in Divisoria is the Tutuban Center , a large shopping mall that is a part of the Philippine National Railways ' Main Station . It attracts 1 million people every month , but is expected to add another 400 @,@ 000 people when the LR |
T @-@ 2 West Extension is constructed , making it Manila 's busiest transfer station .
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Diverse manufacturers within the city produce industrial @-@ related products such as chemicals , textiles , clothing , and electronic goods . Food and beverages and tobacco products also produced . Local entrepreneurs continue to process primary commodities for export , including rope , plywood , refined sugar , copra , and coconut oil . The food @-@ processing industry is one of the most stable major manufacturing sector in the city .
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The Pandacan Oil Depot houses the storage facilities and distribution terminals of the three major players in the country 's petroleum industry , namely Caltex Philippines , Pilipinas Shell and Petron Corporation . The oil depot has been a subject of various concerns , including its environmental and health impact to the residents of Manila . The Supreme Court has ordered that the oil depot to be relocated outside the city by July 2015 , but it failed to meet this deadline . It is currently being demolishe |
d which is expected to be finished before the year 2016 ends , and plans have been set up to turn this 33 hectare facility into a transport hub or even a food park .
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Manila is a major publishing center in the Philippines . Manila Bulletin , the Philippines ' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation , is headquartered inside Intramuros . Other major publishing companies in the country like The Manila Times , The Philippine Star and Manila Standard Today are headquartered inside the Port Area . The Chinese Commercial News , the Philippines ' oldest existing Chinese @-@ language newspaper , and the country 's third @-@ oldest existing newspaper is headquartered in Bino |
ndo .
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Manila serves as the headquarters of the Central Bank of the Philippines which is located along Roxas Boulevard . Some universal banks in the Philippines that has its headquarters in the city are the Landbank of the Philippines and Philippine Trust Company . Philam Life Insurance Company , currently the largest life insurance company in the Philippines in terms of assets , net worth , investment and paid @-@ up capital , has its headquarters along United Nations Avenue in Ermita . Unilever Philippines has |
its corporate office along United Nations Avenue in Paco . Toyota , a company listed in the Forbes Global 2000 also has its regional office along UN Avenue .
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= = = Tourism = = =
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Tourism is a vital industry in Manila , and it welcomes approximately over 1 million tourists each year . Major destinations include the walled city of Intramuros , the National Theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines , Manila Ocean Park , Binondo , Ermita , Malate , Manila Zoo , National Museum of the Philippines and Rizal Park .
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Rizal Park , also known as Luneta Park , is the national park of the country and has an area of 58 hectares ( 140 acres ) , making it the largest urban park in Asia . In the Tourism Act of 2009 , Rizal Park along with Intramuros are designated as flagship destination to become a tourism enterprise zone . A new attraction called Paseo de Manila is expected to rise in the park . The park was constructed as an honor and dedication to the country 's national hero José Rizal , who was executed by the Spaniards |
on charges of subversion . The flagpole west of the Rizal Monument is the Kilometer Zero marker for distances to the rest of the country .
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Intramuros is the historic center of Manila . Originally , it was considered to be Manila itself at the time when the Philippines was under the Spanish Empire colonial rule . Owing to its history and cultural value , Intramuros and Rizal Park are designated as flagship destination to become a tourism enterprise zone in the Tourism Act of 2009 . Intramuros is managed by the Intramuros Administration ( IA ) .
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The architecture of Intramuros reflects the Spanish colonial style and the American neoclassical architectural style , since the Philippines was a colony of Spain and the United States before it is granted its independence in 1946 . Kalesa is a popular mode of transportation in Intramuros and nearby places such as Binondo , Ermita and the Rizal Park .
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Popular tourist destinations in Intramuros include the Baluarte de San Diego , Club Intramuros Golf Course , Cuartel de Santa Lucia , Fort Santiago , Manila Cathedral , Palacio Arzobispal , Palacio de Santa Potenciana , Palacio del Gobernador , Plaza Mexico , Plaza de Roma , San Agustin Church and the Ayuntamiento de Manila .
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Some of the country 's oldest schools are founded in Intramuros , these are the University of Santo Tomas ( 1611 ) , Colegio de San Juan de Letran ( 1620 ) , and Ateneo de Manila University ( 1859 ) . Only Colegio de San Juan de Letran remains at Intramuros ; the University of Santo Tomas transferred to a new campus at Sampaloc in 1927 , and Ateneo left Intramuros for Loyola Heights , Quezon City ( while still retaining " de Manila " in its name ) in 1952 . Other prominent educational institutions include |
the Manila High School and the University of the City of Manila .
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The Department of Tourism designates Manila as the pioneer of medical tourism , expecting it to generate $ 1 billion in revenue annually . However , lack of progressive health system , inadequate infrastructure and the unstable political environment are seen as hindrances for its growth .
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= = = Shopping centers = = =
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Manila is a well @-@ known shopping hub of the country and it has been named as one of the best shopping destinations in Asia . Major shopping malls , markets and bazaars thrives in Manila .
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Robinsons Place Manila is the largest shopping mall in the city . The mall was the second and by @-@ far , the largest Robinson Mall ever built by John Gokongwei . SM Supermall maintains presence in the city . One of their shopping mall is the SM City Manila , the first SM Supermall in the city featuring major SM brands like The SM Store , SM Supermarket , SM Cinemas and SM Foodcourt . It is located right beside the Manila City Hall . SM City San Lazaro is the second SM Supermall in Manila . It is located |
in Santa Cruz . SM City San Lazaro was constructed on the site of the former San Lazaro Hippodrome . The building of the former Manila Royal Hotel in Quiapo which is famed for its revolving restaurant atop is now the SM Clearance Center which was established in 1972 . The site of the first SM Store is located at Carlos Palanca Sr. ( formerly Echague ) Street in San Miguel .
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Quiapo is referred as the " Old Downtown " where tiangges , markets , botique shops , music and electronics stores are common . C.M. Recto Avenue is where lots of department stores are located . One of Recto Avenue 's famous destination is Divisoria , home to numerous shopping malls in the city . It is also dubbed as the shopping mecca of the Philippines where everything is sold at bargain price . Binondo , the oldest Chinatown in the world , is the city 's center of commerce and trade for all types of bus |
inesses run by Filipino @-@ Chinese merchants with a wide variety of Chinese and Filipino shops and restaurants .
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= = Arts , culture and religion = =
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= = = Religion = = =
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= = = = Christianity = = = =
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As a result of Spanish cultural influence , Manila is a predominantly Christian ( Catholic ) city . As of 2010 , Roman Catholics comprises 83 @.@ 5 % of the population , followed by adherents of the Philippine Independent Church ( 2 @.@ 4 % ) ; Iglesia ni Cristo ( 1 @.@ 9 % ) ; various Protestant churches ( 1 @.@ 8 % ) ; and Buddhists ( 1 @.@ 1 % ) . Members of Islam and other religions comprises the remaining 10 @.@ 4 % of the city 's population .
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Manila is the site of prominent Catholic churches and institutions . The Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila and the oldest established church in the country . Aside from the Manila Cathedral , there are also three other basilicas in the city : Quiapo Church , Binondo Church , and the Minor Basilica of San Sebastián . The San Agustín Church in Intramuros is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the two fully air @-@ conditioned Catholic churches in the city . Manil |
a also has other parishes located throughout the city , with some of them dating back to the Spanish Colonial Period when the city serves as the base for numerous Catholic missions both within the Philippines and to Asia beyond .
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Several Mainline Protestant denominations are headquartered in the city . St. Stephen 's Parish pro @-@ cathedral in the Sta . Cruz district is the see of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines ' Diocese of Central Philippines , while align Taft Avenue are the main cathedral and central offices of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente ( also called the Aglipayan Church , a national church that was a product of the Philippine Revolution ) . Other faiths like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter @-@ day Saints |
maintains a presence in the city .
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The indigenous Iglesia ni Cristo has several locales ( akin to parishes ) in the city , including its very first chapel ( now a museum ) in Punta , Sta . Ana . Evangelical , Pentecostal and Seventh @-@ day Adventist denominations also thrives within the city . The headquarters of the Philippine Bible Society is in Manila . Also , the main campus of the Cathedral of Praise is located along Taft Avenue . Jesus Is Lord Church also has several branches and campuses in Manila , and celebrates its anniversary ye |
arly at the Burnham Green and Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park .
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= = = = Other faiths = = = =
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The city also hosts other religions . There are many Buddhist and Taoist temples serving the Chinese Filipino community . Quiapo is home to a sizable Muslim population which worships at Masjid Al @-@ Dahab . Members of the Indian expatriate population have the option of worshiping at the large Hindu temple in the city , or at the Sikh gurdwara along United Nations Avenue . The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá 'ís of the Philippines , the governing body of the Filipino Bahá 'í community , is headquar |
tered near Manila 's eastern border with Makati .
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= = = Annual cultural events and religious festivities = = =
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Manila celebrates civic and national holidays . Manila Day , which celebrates the city 's founding on June 24 , 1571 , was first proclaimed by Herminio A. Astorga ( then Vice Mayor of Manila ) on June 24 , 1962 and has been annually commemorated , under the patronage of John the Baptist . Locally , each of the city 's barangays also have their own festivities guided by their own patron saint . The city is also the host to the Feast of the Black Nazarene , held every January 9 , which draws millions of Cath |
olic devotees . Another religious feasts held in Manila was the Feast of the Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila ( Our Lady of the Abandoned ) , the patron saint of Santa Ana and was held every May 12 . Non @-@ religious holidays include the New Year 's Day , National Heroes ' Day , Bonifacio Day and Rizal Day .
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= = = Museums and art galleries = = =
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As the cultural center of the Philippines , Manila is the home to a number of museums . The National Museum of the Philippines Complex , which include the National Museum of Fine Arts , Museum of Anthropology and the Museum of Natural History , is located on the northeast part of Rizal Park facing Taft Avenue. proposed national government center during the American time . Museums established by educational institutions include the Mabini Shrine , the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design , UST Museum of Ar |
ts and Sciences , and the UP Museum of a History of Ideas .
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Bahay Tsinoy , one of Manila 's most prominent museums , documents the Chinese lives and contributions in the history of the Philippines . The Intramuros Light and Sound Museum chronicles the Filipinos desire for freedom during the revolution under Rizal 's leadership and other revolutionary leaders . The Metropolitan Museum of Manila exhibits the Filipino arts and culture .
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Other museums in the city are the Museum of Manila , the city @-@ owned museum that exhibits the city 's culture and history , Museo Pambata , a children 's museum , the Museum of Philippine Political History , which exhibits notable political events in the country , the Parish of the Our Lady of the Abandoned and the San Agustin Church Museum , which houses religious artifacts , and Plaza San Luis , a public museum .
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= = Sports = =
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Sports in Manila have a long and distinguished history . The city 's , and in general the country 's main sport is basketball , and most barangays have a makeshift basketball court , with court markings drawn on the streets . Larger barangays have covered courts where interbarangay leagues are held every summer ( April to May ) .
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The city has several well @-@ known sports venues , such as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and San Andres Gym , the home of the now defunct Manila Metrostars . The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex houses the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium , the Baseball Stadium , Tennis Courts , Memorial Coliseum and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium ( the latter two are indoor arenas ) .
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The Rizal complex had hosted several multi @-@ sport events , such as the 1954 Asian Games and the 1934 Far Eastern Games . Whenever the country hosts the Southeast Asian Games , most of the events are held at the complex , but in the 2005 Games , most events were held elsewhere . The 1960 ABC Championship and the 1973 ABC Championship , forerunners of the FIBA Asia Championship , was hosted by the complex , with the national basketball team winning on both tournaments . The 1978 FIBA World Championship wa |
s held at the complex although the latter stages were held in the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City , Southeast Asia 's largest indoor arena at that time .
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Manila also hosts several well @-@ known sports facilities such as the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center and the University of Santo Tomas Sports Complex , both of which are private venues owned by a university ; collegiate sports are also held , with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball games held at Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium , although basketball events had transferred to San Juan 's Filoil Flying V Arena an |
d the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City . Other collegiate sports are still held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex . Professional basketball also used to play at the city , but the Philippine Basketball Association now holds their games at Araneta Coliseum and Cuneta Astrodome at Pasay ; the now defunct Philippine Basketball League played some of their games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex .
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The Manila Storm are the city 's rugby league team training at Rizal Park ( Luneta Park ) and playing their matches at Southern Plains Field , Calamba , Laguna .
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Previously a widely played sport in the city , Manila is now the home of the only sizable baseball stadium in the country , at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium . The stadium hosts games of Baseball Philippines ; Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth were the first players to score a home run at the stadium at their tour of the country on December 2 , 1934 .
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Another popular sport in the city are cue sports , and billiard halls are a feature in most barangays . The 2010 World Cup of Pool was held at Robinsons Place Manila .
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The Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium hosted the first FIFA World Cup qualifier in decades when the Philippines hosted Sri Lanka in July 2011 . The stadium , which was previously unfit for international matches , had undergone a major renovation program prior to the match . The Football Stadium now regularly hosts matches of the United Football League . The stadium also hosted its first rugby test when it hosted the 2012 Asian Five Nations Division I tournaments .
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= = Government and politics = =
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The government of Manila is divided into three branches : executive , legislative and judiciary . The judicial branch is administered solely by the Supreme Court of the Philippines under the Metro Manila judicial region . The city government have control of the executive and legislative branch . Manila employs 11 @,@ 919 personnel at the end of 2014 .
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The current Mayor of Manila is Joseph Estrada , who served as the President of the Philippines from 1998 @-@ 2001 . He is also the head of the executive department of the city . The legislative arm which is composed of six elected city councilors , is headed by the Vice Mayor . Former actor Isko Moreno currently serves as the city 's vice mayor . Altogether they are assisted by the Manila City Council , the local President of the Association of Barangay Captains , and the President of the Sangguniang Kabat |
aan . Their offices are located at the Manila City Hall .
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= = = Finance = = =
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On September 25 , 2014 , the Commission on Audit released its 2013 Annual Financial Report citing the city 's income at ₱ 10 @.@ 1 billion with an asset worth of ₱ 18 @.@ 6 billion . Its local income stood at ₱ 5 @.@ 41 billion and its national government allocation was ₱ 1 @.@ 74 billion , having an annual regular income ( ARI ) of an estimated ₱ 7 @.@ 15 billion . Manila 's net income stood at ₱ 3 @.@ 54 billion in 2014 .
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Among the local government units , Manila has the highest budget allocation to health . It was also one of the cities with the highest tax and internal revenue . Tax revenue accounts for 46 % of the city 's income in 2012 .
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= = = Districts and barangays = = =
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Manila has six legislative districts that serve as the constituencies for the election of the city 's representatives to the lower house of the Congress of the Philippines and of the regular members to the Sangguniang Panlungsod ( SP ; City Council ) . Each district elects one representative to the House of Representatives and six SP members to the council . The city , along with the rest of the nation , elects 12 senators as one at @-@ large district .
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Manila is politically divided into 896 barangays , the smallest unit of local government in the Philippines . Each barangay has its own chairperson and councilors . For administrative convenience , all the barangays in Manila are grouped into 100 zones . These zones have no form of local government .
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The 1st District ( 2015 population : 415 @,@ 906 ) is Manila 's ( and the country 's ) most densely populated congressional district . It covers the western portion of Tondo that lies along Manila Bay .
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The 2nd District ( 2015 population : 215 @,@ 457 ) covers the eastern inland portion of Tondo , a neighborhood or sub @-@ district known as Gagalangin .
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The 3rd District ( 2015 population : 197 @,@ 242 ) covers Binondo , Quiapo , San Nicolas and Santa Cruz .
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The 4th District ( 2015 population : 265 @,@ 046 ) covers Sampaloc .
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The 5th District ( 2015 population : 366 @,@ 714 ) covers Ermita , Malate , Port Area , Intramuros , San Andres Bukid , and a portion of Paco ( except Zone 90 ) .
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The 6th District ( 2007 population : 295 @,@ 245 ) covers Paco ( Zone 90 only ) , Pandacan , San Miguel , Santa Ana and Santa Mesa .
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Manila has the most number of barangays of any city or municipality in the Philippines . Attempts at reducing its number have not prospered despite local legislation — Ordinance 7907 , passed on 23 April 1996 — reducing the number from 897 to 150 by merging existing barangays , because of the failure to hold a plebiscite .
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= = = National government = = =
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Manila , being the seat of political power of the Philippines , has several national government offices headquartered at the city . Planning for the development for being the center of government started during the early years of American colonization to the country when they envisioned a well @-@ designed city outside the walls of Intramuros . The strategic location chosen was Bagumbayan , a former town which is now the Rizal Park to become the center of government and a design commission was given to Dan |
iel Burnham to create a master plan for the city patterned after Washington D.C .. These improvements were eventually abandoned under the Commonwealth Government of Manuel L. Quezon .
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A new government center was to be built on the hills northeast of Manila , or what is now Quezon City . Several government agencies have set up their headquarters in Quezon City but several key government offices still reside in Manila . However , many of the plans were substantially altered after the devastation of Manila during World War II and by subsequent administrations .
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The city , as the capital , still hosts the Office of the President , as well as the president 's official residence . Aside from these , important institutions such as the Supreme Court , the Court of Appeals , the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas , the Departments of Budget and Management , Finance , Health , Justice , Labor and Employment and Public Works and Highways still call the city home . Manila also hosts important national institutions such as the National Library , National Archives , National Museu |
m and the Philippine General Hospital .
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Congress previously held office at the Old Congress Building . In 1972 , due to declaration of martial law , Congress was dissolved ; its successor , the unicameral Batasang Pambansa , held office at the new Batasang Pambansa Complex . When a new constitution restored the bicameral Congress , the House of Representatives stayed at the Batasang Pambansa Complex , while the Senate remained at the Old Congress Building . In May 1997 , the Senate transferred to a new building it shares with the Government Serv |
ice Insurance System at reclaimed land at Pasay .
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= = Infrastructure = =
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