Area Code 56 – Sorsogon/Masbate
The phone area code for Sorsogon/Masbate is 56 (international format +6356). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Sorsogon/Masbate
Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction
The area code 56 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Bicol Region of the Philippines, specifically covering the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate. This code is part of the Philippine numbering plan under ITU-T E.164, administered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The region includes key cities and municipalities such as Sorsogon City, Bulan, Irosin, Masbate City, Aroroy, and Mobo. The code serves both fixed-line PSTN and fixed wireless services within these provinces.
Dialing Formats and Procedures
For callers within the Philippines, dialing a fixed-line number in Sorsogon or Masbate requires the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 56 and the local 7-digit subscriber number. The complete national format is: 0 56 XXX XXXX. For example, a local call to a subscriber in Sorsogon City would be dialed as 0 56 234 5678.
For international callers, the country code for the Philippines is +63. The international dialing format omits the trunk prefix '0'. Thus, an international caller would dial +63 56 XXX XXXX. For instance, calling the same number from abroad would be +63 56 234 5678.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
Currently, there is no overlay code for area code 56; it remains the sole NDC for the Sorsogon and Masbate geographic areas. Subscriber numbers are seven digits long, providing a capacity of up to 10 million numbers per province. However, actual allocation is based on demand from local exchange carriers.
Caller Instructions
- Local callers (within the Philippines): Always include the trunk prefix '0' and the area code, even when calling from a mobile phone. Example: 0 56 123 4567.
- International callers: Replace the trunk prefix with the Philippines country code '+63'. Example: +63 56 123 4567.
- Callers within the same province: Even if dialing a number in the same area code, the full national format is required for fixed-line calls.
Understanding these dialing procedures ensures seamless connectivity to businesses, government offices, and residents in the Bicol Region. Always verify the subscriber number length, as some numbers may have been migrated or ported, but the area code remains unchanged.