The province of Iloilo is approximately 24.4% of the regional area and 1.55% of the total land area of the entire country. It occupies the southern and north eastern portion of Panay Island and is located centrally in Region VI, or the Western Visayas Region. It is 238 statute miles south of Manila and could be reached one hour by plane and an average of 18 hours by interisland vessel from the national capital.