Area Code 36 – Antique/Aklan/Capiz

Area code 36 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Western Visayas provinces of Antique, Aklan, and Capiz in the Philippines. It serves the northern and western portions of Panay Island, covering key cities and municipalities such as Roxas City (Capiz), Kalibo (Aklan), and San Jose de Buenavista (Antique). This code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within these provinces.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The code is administered under the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of the Philippines and follows the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. Each province within the code area has its own Central Office (CO) prefixes, enabling local routing. For example, within Capiz, numbers starting with 5 are often associated with Roxas City, while Aklan and Antique have distinct CO code ranges. The area is part of the larger Western Visayas region, but it is separate from the adjacent area code 33 (Iloilo) and 34 (Negros Occidental).

Dialing Formats

For local calls within the same province and code area, callers typically dial the 7-digit local number without the area code. For calls from other parts of the Philippines, the format is: 0 36 XXX XXXX (trunk prefix 0 + area code 36 + 7-digit local number). International callers from outside the Philippines must dial: +63 36 XXX XXXX (country code 63 + area code 36 + local number).

Example: Calling a Landline in Roxas City

If the local number is 123-4567, a caller from Manila would dial 036 123 4567. A caller from the United States would dial +63 36 123 4567. Always replace the leading '0' of the domestic format with '+63' for international calls.

Overlays and Numbering Changes

As of the latest NTC updates, there are no overlay codes in this area; 36 remains the sole geographic code for these provinces. However, due to the increasing demand for fixed-line services, the NTC has implemented a migration plan to an 8-digit local number format in some areas, but as of now, 7-digit numbers remain standard for code 36. Always verify with your local service provider for any recent changes.

Practical Tips for Callers

• When calling from a mobile phone within the Philippines, it is common to include the area code even for local calls, as mobile networks may require the full national number.
• For international callers, ensure you have the correct country code (+63) and drop the trunk prefix '0'.
• If you are traveling to Antique, Aklan, or Capiz, save numbers in international format (+63 36...) to avoid confusion.