male numbered 2,291,637; the females 2,290,892. The region is predominantly rural with 2,730,972 residing in rural areas and 1,851,557 living in urban centers.

CULTURAL GROUPS
Central Visayas is predominantly peopled by an ethno linguistic group known as Cebuanos.

CLIMATE
The region has no pronounced climate. It has a short dry season from March to May. The rest of the year is relatively wet.

LAND USE
Central Visayas has relatively limited arable lands and wide grazing lands. There are some tracts of timberland. Its major crops are sugar, coconut, rice and corn. Out of its total land area of 1,495,142 hectares, 959,223 or 60.42% are classified as alienable and disposable and 535,919 are forestland.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Most of the region’s timberlands are denuded. Mineral resources, however, are abundant and account for one of the largest revenue sources of the region. These include silver, manganese, copper, gold, limestone, clay, silica and coal. Major crops are sugarcane, coconut, palay, corn and cassava. The waters surrounding the island provinces are well-known fishing grounds.

INDUSTRIES
Primary sources of revenue are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and services. Mining, farming, fishing and tourism contribute significantly to the economy Manufacturing firms include mining companies, fertilizer plants, sugar central, rice and corn mills and other food processing plants. Cebu is the hub of investment, trade and development in the region.

URBAN CENTERS
The major commercial centers are the cities of Cebu, Danao, Toledo, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu in Cebu province; Dumaguete and Bais in Negros Oriental; and Tagbilaran in Bohol.

FACILITIES
The region has international airports and several excellent ports that service inter-island vessels and foreign ships and serve as the off-loading centers of foreign goods and domestic trade.