A Useful List of Acronyms and Abbreviations in the Philippines

A Useful List of Acronyms and Abbreviations in the Philippines

CATEGORY #1:  Geography


Geography

Geography is one area prone to acronyms. Many times, when a group of places is formed, instead of coining a descriptive term for the group, an acronym that stands for the individual places is created.

An example outside the Philippines is Benelux, which stands for the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

A premiere example in the Philippines is Luzviminda. This is an acronym that stands for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three island groupings of the country. Luzviminda is actually used as a name for many Filipino women.

Another example in the Philippines is the region CALABARZON. This is a region consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

CALABARZON was split off from the former Southern Tagalog region in 2002. The region containing the remaining provinces in Southern Tagalog is also named as an acronym, MIMAROPA, which stands for the provinces of Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

A last example is CAMANAVA, which stands for Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, and Valenzuela City—all of which are located in Metro Manila.


    APEC - Asia-Pacific Economical Cooperation

    Namfrel - National Movement For Free Election

    BEI's - Board of Election Inspectors

    PPCRV - Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

    CVC - Civil Service Commission

    DOH - Department Of Health

    BUDA - Bukidnon-Davao

    CAR - Cordillera Administrative Region

    CALABARZON - Region; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon

    CAMANAVA - Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, Valenzuela City (Northwestern Metro Manila)

    ComVal - Compostela Valley, province

    EDSA - Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, major circumferential road (C-4) in Metro Manila

    GenSan - General Santos City

    GK - Gawad Kalinga, which is Building Communities to End Poverty   

    IC - Iligan City

    IGaCoS - Island Garden City of Samal

    LP* - Las Piñas City

    Luzviminda - Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao

    MIMAROPA - Region; Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan

    MisOr - Misamis Oriental

    MUNTIPARLAS - Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City (southern Metro Manila)

    MUNTAPAT - Muntinlupa City, Taguig, Pateros (southeastern Metro Manila)

    NCR - National Capital Region (Metro Manila)

    NegOcc - Negros Occidental, province

    NegOr - Negros Oriental, province

    SOCCSKSARGEN - Region; South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City

    VisMin - Visayas, Mindanao

    CDO - Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao


CATEGORY #2:   Government Organizations/Institutions


    ACPC - Agricultural Credit Policy Council

    ADP - Agricultural Development Project

    AFC - Agriculture and Fishery Council

    ANGOC - Asian Nongovernmental Organizations Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    ARBs - Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries

    ARPCSS - Agrarian Reform Provincial Committee for Support Service

    ARRD - Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    ARTs - Agrarian Reform Technicians

    ASDAR - Association of Social Development Agencies

    BAEX - Bureau of Agricultural Extension

    BARBD - Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development

    BARCs - Barangay Agrarian Reform Councils

    BARIE - Bureau of Agrarian Information and Education

    BFAR** - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

    BFAR-NIFTDC** - BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center

    BI** - Bureau of Immigration

    BIR** - Bureau of Internal Revenue

    CARE - Coastal Area Resource and Enterprise

    CARP - Comprehensive Agrarian

    CCPAP - Coordinating Committee on the Philippine Assistance Program

    CENRO - Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer

    CHED** - Commission on Higher Education

    CIPS - Community Information and Planning Systems

    CLOAs - Certificate of Land Ownership Awards

    COs - Community Organizers

    COA** - Commission on Audit

    COMELEC** - Commission on Elections

    CPAR - Congress for a People’s Congress Reform

    CRTD - Center for Rural Technology Development

    CUs - Colleges and Universities

    CUP - Cooperative Union of the Philippines

    DA - Department of Agriculture

    DAP - Development Academy of the Philippines

    DAR - Department of Agrarian Reform

    DARAB - Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudicatory Board

    DBM - Department of Budget and Management

    DENR - Department of Environment and Natural Resources

    DFA - Department of Foreign Affairs

    DOH - Department of Health

    DECS** - Department of Education, Culture and Sports (defunct)

    DepEd** - Department of Education

    DOLE** - Department of Labor and Employment

    DOST** - Department of Science and Technology

    DOST-SEI - DOST-Science Education Institute

    DOST-TAPI - DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute

    DOT  = Dept Of Tourism (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    DSF - Department of Social Forestry

    DTI - Department of Trade and Industry

    ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

    ESDF - Eastern Samar Development Foundation, Inc.

    FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization

    FCDEP - Farmers Cooperative Development Exchange Program

    FEP - Farmer Exchange Program

    FSDC - Farm System Development Corporation

    GO - Government

    HARIBON - Haribon Foundation for Conservation of Natural Resources

    IAS - Inter-Agency Secretariat

    IDP - Institutional Development Project

    IESAM - Institute of Environmental Science and Management

    IGP - Income Generating Project

    ILO - International Labour Organization

    IPC - Institute of Philippine Culture

    IRF - Integrated Rural Financing

    ISFP - Integrated Social Forestry Program

    JC - Joint Committee

    LEAD - Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development

    LGUs - Local Government Units

    LIS - Local Implementing Structures

    LTO = Land Transportation Office (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    MAFC - Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    MAP - Management Association of the Philippines

    MAROs - Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers

    MASS-SPECC - Mindanao Alliance of Self-Help Societies, Inc.-Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center

    MDC - Mindanao Development Center

    MINCARRD - Mindanao Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and Rural Development

    MTAP - Management Training and Assistance Program

    MTPDP - Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan

    NACFAR - Nationwide Coalition of Fisherfolks for Aquatic Reform

    NAFC - National Agricultural and Fishery Council

    NAMRIA - National Mapping and Resource Information Authority

    NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation

    NEDA** - National Economic and Development Authority

    NFRDI** - National Fisheries Research Development Institute

    NGO - Nongovernment Organization

    NIA - National Irrigation Authority

    NMC - National Management Committee

    NROs - NEDA Regional Offices

    OD - Outreach Desk

    ODA - Official Development Assistance

    ODISCO - Organic, Diversified, Integrated, Scientific Cooperative

    OLT - Operation Land Transfer

    OTRADEV - Organization for Training Research and Development Foundation, Inc

    PACAP - Philippine Australian Community Assistance Program

    PAFC - Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    PAFID - Philippine Association for Intercultural Development

    PAGASA** - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

    PAKISAMA - Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka

    PAOCTF** - Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force

    PARC - Presidential Agrarian Reform Council

    PARCCOM - Provincial Agrarian Reform Committee

    PARCODE - People’s Agrarian Reform Code

    PARD - Presidential Adviser on Rural Development

    PBSP - Philippine Business for Social Progress

    PCO - Project Coordinating Office

    PDAP - Philippine Development Assistance Program

    PDC - Provincial Development Council

    PENRO - Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer

    PHILDHRRA - Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas  

    Phivolcs - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

    PLFI - People’s Livelihood Foundation, Inc.

    PMC - Provincial Management Committee

    PMEB - Pre-Membership Education Seminar

    PMS - Presidential Management Staff

    PMS - Project Management Service

    PNP = Philippine National Police (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PNPHP = PNP Highway Patrol (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PO - People’s Organization

    PPO - Planning and Policy Office

    PROCESS - Participatory Research, Organization of Communities, and Education Towards Struggle for Self-Reliance

    PSALM** - Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation

    RAFC - Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council

    RDC - Regional Development Council

    SDC - Social Development Committee

    SDMI - Social Development Management Institute

    SDS - Social Development Staff

    SFO - Small Farmers Organization

    SIART - Summer Institute on Agrarian Reform

    SOPs - Standard Operating Procedures

    SSO - Support Services Office

    TAC - TRIPARRD Advisory Committee

    TC - Technical Committee 

    TCP - Technical Cooperation Project

    TESDA - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

    TMO = Traffic Management Office(r) (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    TRIPARRD - Tripartite Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    UDWG - Upland Development Working Group

    UNAC - Upland NGO Assistance Committee

    UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

    VICTO - Visayas Cooperative Development Center, Inc.

    VOS - Voluntary Offer to Sell

    WCARRD - World Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development

    WESM - Wholesale Electricity Spot Market

    WWF - World Wildlife Fund


CATEGORY #3:   Political Parties


    BAYAN - Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance)

    KAMPI - Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino

    Lakas-CMD** - Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats

    LAMMP - Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (Struggle of the Patriotic Filipino Masses)

    PROMDI - Probinsya Muna Development Initiative

    STAND-UP - Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP

    UNIDO - United Nationalist Democratic Organization

    TNB - Tupa NG Betlahem



CATEGORY #4:   Companies and Commerce

    CAPECO - CApiz Electric COmpany, (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    CEBECO = Cebu Electric Cooperative.  (Submitted by Bubblez McArdle)

    CEPALCO - Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company

    GEM TV** - TV media company; stands for Global Expansion Media

    iBank - International Exchange Bank

    Meralco - Manila Electric Railway Company

    NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation

    NOCECO - Negros OCcidental Electric COmpany; (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    NORECO - Negros ORiental Electric COmpany; (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    PAL - Philippine Airlines

    PBCom** - Philippine Bank of Communications

    PENELCO -  Peninsula Electric Cooperative (electric utility in Bataan Peninsula) (Submitted by Jonathan Magalong)

    Piltel - Pilipino Telephone

    Philtranco - Philippine Transportation Corporation

    PLDT - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company

    PSBank** - Philippine Savings Bank

    VECO - Visayan Electric Company

  CATEGORY #5:   Educational institutions

    ADC -Academia de Davao College

    AMACU - AMA Computer University

    FEU-FERN - Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation

    CalSci** - Caloocan City Science High School

    MandSci* - Mandaluyong Science High School

    MariSci* - Marikina Science High School

    MaSci** - Manila Science High School

    MakSci** - Makati Science High School

    NAST - National Academy of Science and Technology

    NOCSU = Negros Occidental State University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    NORSU = Negros Oriental State University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    ParSci** - Parañaque Science High School

    PhilSci** - Philippine Science High School

    RCC** - [[Republic Central Colleges] ]

    Quesci** - Quezon City Science High School

    SIC** - Santa Isabel College

    SIMAN = Silliman University (Submitted by Rick Wright)

    UP** - University of the Philippines

    UPLB - University of the Philippines at Los Baños

    U.P. - University of the Philippines

    XU** - Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

    TUP** -  Technological University of the Philippines

    PASCIE - Pasay City Science High School

    PUP - Polytechnic University of the Philippines

    MONSAY - Ramon Magsaysay High School

    SCS - Spring Christian School

    MUNSCI - Muntinlupa Science High School

    PLM - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

    PLMUN - Pamantasan Lungsod ng Muntinlupa

    LPU - Lyceum of the Philippines University

    CvSU - Cavite State University

    AmBriMed -American British Medical Skills Institution

    SPCF -Systems Plus College Foundation

    JCPRI - John Clark P. Reyes Institute

    RYAC - Rolex Y. Alejandre Corporation

    EJYSU - Emil John y. Sunga University

    CATEGORY #6: Registered Charitable Organizations:


 GWG - Give With Grace Charitable Organization, Inc.(Submitted by Wondrous Paradise)


CATEGORY #7:  Miscellaneous


    NAMFREL - National Movement for Free Elections

    HUKBALAHAP - Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Army Against the Japanese)

    MILF - Moro Islamic Liberation Front

    BLISS - Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Service

    PCAC - Presidents Action Committee on Axial Currents

    RAM - Reform the AFP Movement (Tagalog) - Rebolusyong Aksyong Makabayan

    MOA - Mall of Asia



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What are Acronyms ?

 Acronyms are phrases or words that have been shortened to initial letters and that, when spoken aloud, are pronounced as a word, rather than as individual letters: as in the following examples:



AWOL (AY-wahl). Absent Without Official Leave.
CAT scan. Computerized Axial Tomography.
Scuba [first initial capitalization only]. Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
SWAT. Special Weapons And Tactics.

What are Abbreviations ?

  Abbreviations are phrases or words that have been shortened to their initial letters and that, when spoken aloud, are pronounced as individual letters as in the following examples:


  
NYPD. New York Police Department.
OTC. Over The Counter.

So, when is an “acronym” not an acronym?

When someone is using it as a misnomer for “abbreviation.”.

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IF THERE ARE ANY ACRONYMS MISSING FROM THIS LIST

DID I MISS ANY?  IF SO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE ACRONYM,
WHAT CATEGORY IT BELONGS IN ON THIS LIST AND WHAT THE
ACRONYM MEANS AND I WILL ADD IT.

Salamat,
Dr. Dave

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