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Region IV-B
MIMAROPA

Regional center	Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
Population	2,299,229[1]
– Density	83.7 per km²
Area	27,456.1 km²
Divisions
– Provinces	5
– Cities	2
– Municipalities	71
– Barangays	1,458
– Cong. districts	7
Languages	Tagalog, Romblomanon, Asi, Onhan, and languages spoken by Mangyans

MIMAROPA is one of the two regions of the Philippines having no land border with another region, Eastern Visayas being the other, and is designated as Region IV-B. The name is an acronym that stands for its provinces, which are: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. Palawan was subsequently moved by executive order from MIMAROPA to the more logical Western Visayas. Removing Palawan from MIMAROPA would have turned the region into MIMARO. Because of problems with implementation of the executive order, however, an administrative order was later issued holding implementation in abeyance. Presently, Palawan and the newly-declared highly urbanized city of Puerto Princesa still remain a part of this region.

Executive Order No. 103, dated May 17, 2002, divided Region IV (Southern Tagalog) into MIMAROPA and Region IV-A (CALABARZON).Executive Order 429 moved Palawan to Region VI on May 23, 2005.^[2] After this move, Region IV-B began to be called MIMARO instead of MIMAROPA.

However, Palaweños criticized the move, citing a lack of consultation, with most residents in Puerto Princesa City and all municipalities but one preferring to stay with Region IV-B. Consequently, Administrative Order No. 129 was issued on August 19, 2005 to address this backlash. This order directed the abeyance of Executive Order 429 pending the approval of an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of Palawan from MIMAROPA to Region VI.^[3] Thus, it is not yet clear if the transfer of Palawan to Region VI is already done and final creating confusion on whether to address the region as MIMARO or MIMAROPA.

The Moriones festival also plays a prominent role in Marinduque's culture. During the month of April, parades and celebrations can be seen on the streets. In Gasan, Boac, and Mogpog, a parade of people dressed as Moriones can be seen on the main road connecting the towns of the island. Boac shows a reenactment in the evening of the actual event when Longinus, a blind soldier, punctures Jesus with his spear and blood droplets from the wound restores Longinus' sight.

Marinduque is an agricultural province, primarily growing rice and coconuts. Fishing is also an important part of the economy. Mining was once an important player in the economy until a mining accident (the Marcopper mining incident) occurred, bringing the industry to a standstill on the island. The provincial government has just recently sued Marcopper's parent company, Placer Dome, for $100 million in damages. It includes Marinduque Island and 24 other islands. Iron, gold, silver, and copper are mined there. There is also a lumbering industry and subsistence farming.

Political map of MIMAROPA

Province		Capital	Population (2000)	Area (km²)	Pop. density (per km²)
	Marinduque	Boac	217,392	959.3	226.6
	Occidental Mindoro	Mamburao	380,250	5,879.9	64.7
	Oriental Mindoro	Calapan City	681,818	4,364.7	156.2
	Palawan	Puerto Princesa City	593,500	12,496.3	47.5
	Romblon	Romblon	264,357	1,355.9	195.0
	Puerto Princesa City¹	—	161,912	2,400	67

¹ Puerto Princesa City is now a highly urbanized city; figures are excluded from Palawan.

• Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

Tagalog is spoken in the province of Marinduque as well as the northeastern and southwestern coasts of Mindoro.

In the interior of Mindoro, various languages are spoken by Mangyans. They are Iraya, Alangan, Tawbuid, Hanunoo, Tadyawan, Buhid, and Ratagnon. The later is a Visayan language with less than three speakers.

In Romblon, there are three main languages: Romblomanon, Asi, and Onhan. These languages belong to the Visayan language family.

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1. ^ Southern Tagalog May 2000 census report - National Statistics Office
2. ^ President of the Philippines (May 23, 2005). Executive Order No. 429. Office of the Press Secretary.
3. ^ President of the Philippines (August 19, 2005). Administrative Order No. 129. Office of the Press Secretary.