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Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila) or the National Capital Region (NCR) (Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon) is the greater metropolitan area of the city of Manila, the national capital and largest city in the Philippines. Its residential population of 11,289,368 makes it the nineteenth most populous metropolitan area in the world, however during the daytime its population well exceeds 16 million.
Metro Manila is the general term for the metropolitan area that contains the city of Manila, as well as fifteen surrounding cities including Quezon City, the capital from 1948 to 1976, and the Municipality of Pateros. The name "Metro Manila" came about and was generally adapted in the 1980s as previously, cities which are now part of the MM area were part of the neighbouring provinces. Metro Manila is the political, economic, social, and cultural center of the Philippines, and is one of the more modern metropolises in Southeast Asia. It is much more economically developed compared to the other major cities in the country. Among locals, particularly those from central Manila and those in the surrounding provinces, Metro Manila is often simply referred to as Manila; however locals from other parts of the metropolis may see this as offensive, owing to city pride and also the fact that some cities are actually geographically closer to the neighboring provinces than to Manila itself. Metro Manila is often abbreviated as M.M.. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is a governing body which is made up of the cities and municipalities in the area, located in Makati City. Metro Manila is also the only region without any provinces, instead being subdivided into 16 local government areas, which can be either cities or municipalities.
The Metro Manila region is built on an isthmus with Manila Bay to the west and Laguna de Bay to the south-east. The bordered by the provinces of Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, and Cavite and Laguna to the south. The Pasig River runs through the cities of Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong and Pasig, bisecting the