The Philippines is divided into four levels of administrative divisions with the lower three being defined in the Local Government Code of 1991 as local government units (LGUs). They are, from the highest to the lowest: Regions (), mostly used to organize national services. Of the 17 regions, only one – the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – has an elected government to which the central government has devolved competencies. Provinces (), independent cities (), and one independent municipality (Pateros). Component cities () and municipalities () within a province. Barangays (formerly known, and sometimes still referred to as, barrios) within a city or municipality. Other divisions also exist for specific purposes: Geographic island groups in popular and widespread use; Local administrative districts in use by some local governments; Judicial regions for regional trial courts; Legislative districts for the election of legislators at national, regional, and local levels; A special geographic area used for the organization of Bangsamoro barangays in Cotabato; and Special-purpose districts for various government agencies. Administrative divisions Regions Administrative regions Administrative regions are groupings of geographically adjacent LGUs which are established, disestablished and modified by the President of the Philippines based on the need to more coherently make economic development policies and coordinate the provision of national government services within a larger area beyond the province level. No plebiscites have been conducted so far to democratically confirm the creation, abolition or alteration of the boundaries of regular administrative regions, as the Constitution does not mandate it. An administrative region is not a local government unit (LGU), but rather a group of LGUs to which the president has provided an unelected policy-making and coordinating structure, called the Regional Development Council (RDC). Metro Manila is recognized in law as a "special development and administrative region," and was thus given a metropolitan authority; the Metro Manila Council within the MMDA serves as the National Capital Region's RDC. Administrative regions are composed of provinces and/or independent cities, or, in the case of Pateros, an independent municipality. The Philippine Statistics Authority further divides the LGUs of Metro Manila into four numbered geographic districts for statistical purposes. Autonomous regions The 1987 Constitution allows for the creation of autonomous regions in the Cordillera Central of Luzon and in the Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao. However, only the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and its predecessor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, have been approved