Before the division into regions in 1972, the Philippines was divided into provinces, cities, municipalities, and barrios (small villages or communities). The country was organized into a unitary system of government, where provinces were the primary administrative and political divisions.
Each province had its own local government and was further subdivided into cities and municipalities. Cities were more urbanized areas with more developed infrastructure and services, while municipalities were typically rural areas.
Barrios were the smallest administrative units, consisting of small communities or villages within municipalities. This local government structure allowed for governance and administration at various levels, with provinces being the most prominent administrative divisions.