Area Code 38 – Bohol

Overview of Area Code 38

Area code 38 is the National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the province of Bohol in the Philippines, under the country's calling code +63. This geographic code is part of the Philippine numbering plan administered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and follows the ITU-T E.164 international standard. The code covers the entire province, including its capital city, Tagbilaran, and all municipalities and barangays across the island.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

Bohol is an island province in the Central Visayas region (Region VII). Area code 38 is allocated exclusively to this province, serving both landline and fixed wireless services. Key population centers within this code include Tagbilaran City, Ubay, Carmen, Jagna, and Panglao (home to the Bohol-Panglao International Airport). The code is used for all fixed-line telephone services in the province, whether provided by the incumbent carrier (PLDT) or other local exchange operators.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

For callers within the Philippines (domestic calls), the local format is 0 38 XXX XXXX (or shorter depending on subscriber number length). For example, to call a landline in Tagbilaran from Manila, you would dial 0 38 411 2345. For international callers, the format is +63 38 XXX XXXX (e.g., +63 38 411 2345). The trunk prefix '0' is dropped when dialing from abroad.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, area code 38 does not have an overlay code; it is the sole geographic code for Bohol. However, as the province grows, the NTC may introduce additional digits or overlays. Subscriber numbers typically consist of 7 digits, but some older lines may have fewer. When dialing locally within the same area code, callers may omit the area code and trunk prefix, but it is always safe to include them for consistency.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Bohol: if you are calling another landline in the same province, you may dial just the 7-digit subscriber number. For callers from other parts of the Philippines, always use the full domestic format with the '0' trunk prefix. For international callers, always use the plus sign (+) or the appropriate international access code (e.g., 011 from the US) followed by 63 and then the area code without the leading '0'.

Services and Usage

Area code 38 is used for traditional PSTN landlines, as well as fixed wireless and VoIP-based fixed services. It is not assigned to mobile networks; mobile numbers in the Philippines use separate non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 0917, 0935). If you receive a call from +63 38, it is from a fixed line in Bohol. For emergency services, always dial local emergency numbers (e.g., 911) rather than using area codes.