Editing Geography of the Philippines (section)

===Geographic center===
{{contradicts other|Extreme points of the Philippines|there|Geographic Center|date=January 2016}}

{{Further|Extreme points of the Philippines}}

The island province of [[Marinduque]] prides itself as being the geographic center of the Philippines.<ref>[http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/regionaltourism.html Regional Tourism Stakeholders to meet in Marinduque] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206045926/http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/regionaltourism.html |date=December 6, 2009 }}, Marinduque.gov</ref> The Marinduque governor has stated that their claim to be the Geographical Center of the Philippines has received notice and support from the [[National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Philippines)|National Mapping and Resource Information Authority]] (NAMRIA).<ref>[http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/sopa08.html STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS of Gov.JOSE ANTONIO N. CARRION, GOVERNOR OF MARINDUQUE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206045945/http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/sopa08.html |date=December 6, 2009 }}, July 7, 2008.</ref> The Luzon Datum of 1911 in Marinduque is used as point number one for all map makers in the country.<ref>[http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/datum.html Luzon Datum of 1911] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206045828/http://www.marinduque.gov.ph/datum.html |date=December 6, 2009 }}, Marinduque.gov</ref>

The boundaries of the [[Philippine archipelago]] are described in Article III of the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)]], as comprising an [[irregular polygon]].<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp Treaty of Peace Between the United States and Spain], The Avalon project.</ref> A box enclosing that polygon would have corners at 20°N 116°E, 20°N 127°E, 4.75°N 127°E, 4.75°N 116°E. The center of this box would lie at 121.5 E, 12.375 N. That point lies roughly in the center of the [[Tablas Strait]] between the islands of [[Tablas Island|Tablas]] and [[Mindoro]].

''Republic Act No. 9522'', "An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines",<ref>[http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2009/ra_9522_2009.html Republic Act No. 9522],''An Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines'', as amended by Section 1 of Republic Act No. 5446, [http://www.lawphil.net The LawPhil project].</ref> describes an irregular polygon which fits within a box with its center at 121°44'47.45"E 12°46'6.1252"N, a point also roughly in the center of the Tablas Strait.

The ''CIA Factbook'' locates the Philippines at 13°N 122°E.<ref name=factbook-ph>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/philippines/ Philippines : Geography], CIA World Factbook.</ref>

The extreme points under Philippine control {{as of|2010|lc=on}} are:

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;width:70em;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Direction
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Location
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Coordinates
|-
! scope="col" | [[Latitude]] (N)
! scope="col" | [[Longitude]] (E)
|-
! scope="row" | North
| [[Mavulis|Amianan Island]], [[Batanes]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 21º7’18.41"
| style="text-align:center;" | 121º56’48.79"
|-
! scope="row" | East
| Pusan Point, [[Davao Oriental]]{{ref label|a|a|a}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 7º17’19.80"
| style="text-align:center;" | 126º36’18.26"
|-
! scope="row" | South
| Frances Reef, [[Tawi-Tawi]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 4º24’53.84"
| style="text-align:center;" | 119º14’50.71"
|-
! scope="row" | West
| [[Thitu Island]]{{ref label|b|b|b}}, [[Kalayaan, Palawan]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 11°3’10.19"
| style="text-align:center;" | 114°16’54.66"
|-class="sortbottom" style="background-color:#F2F2F2;"
| colspan=4 |
{{unbulleted list
| {{note label|a|a|a}}Pusan Point is the easternmost incorporated territory of the Philippines, but the [[Benham Plateau]] is the easternmost unincorporated territory of the Philippines.
| {{note label|b|b|b}}Thitu island is the westernmost of all the Spratly Island features controlled by the Philippines {{as of|2009|12|lc=on}}.
}}
|}
<!--
Enclosing box:
21 7 18.41 (21.121781)N
114 16 54.66 (114.28185)E   126 36 18.26 (126.605072)E
4 24 53.84 (4.414956)N
Center:
12.7683685 120.443461 (12 46 6.1278N 120 26 36.459E)
Using conversion tool at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html
-->
The center of a box enclosing these points would be located at 12°46’6.13"N, 120°26’36.46"E. That point is located in the [[Mindoro Strait]], about {{convert|12|km}} [[Boxing the compass|NNE]] of Apo Island, in [[Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro]].

[[File:MT. Madja-as of Antique.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Madja-as]] in [[Antique (province)|Antique]] ]]