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Bato, Camarines Sur

Bato
Municipality
Municipality of Bato
Municipal Hall
Municipal Hall
Flag of Bato
Flag
Official seal of Bato
Seal
Anthem: Bato, Banwaan na Ginikanan
Map of Camarines Sur with Bato highlighted
Map of Camarines Sur with Bato highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Bato is located in Philippines
Bato
Bato
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°21′28″N 123°22′04″E / 13.3578°N 123.3678°E / 13.3578; 123.3678
CountryPhilippines
RegionBicol Region
ProvinceCamarines Sur
District 5th district
Barangays33 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorEnric L. Dancalan
 • Vice MayorDiosdado T. Zorilla
 • RepresentativeMiguel Luis R. Villafuerte
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • John Mark T. Zorilla
  • Martin G. Batacan
  • Dominici G. Batacan
  • Adolfo A. Ramos
  • Eliseo T. Priela
  • Jhonel Ll. De Lima
  • Noel C. Tino
  • Noel C. Tuyay
 • Electorate34,609 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
107.12 km2 (41.36 sq mi)
Elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Highest elevation
59 m (194 ft)
Lowest elevation
4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
52,021
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Households
10,782
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
37.28
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 228.3 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 621.3 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 189.9 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 365.6 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityCamarines Sur 3 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 3)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
4435
PSGC
0501703000
IDD : area code +63 (0)54
Native languagesRinconada Bikol
Central Bikol
Tagalog

Bato, officially the Municipality of Bato (Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Bato; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bato), is a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2025 census, it has a population of 52,021 people.

The municipality of Bato is home to a lake teeming with various kinds of fishes. Sinarapan, the world's smallest commercially harvested fish, occupies the waters of Lake Bato. Also present, the lake abounds with tilapia housed in fish cages.

Bato is 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Pili and 476 kilometres (296 mi) from Manila.

History

[edit]

This town was formerly called as "Kaliligno" or "Caliligno" named by the natives that settled along the river area.

This small village later was elevated into a status of a town under the decree of Spanish Superior Government on February 15, 1753. Years back, a parish was already existing which was also made under the same decree. This parish adopted "The Most Holy Trinity" as its patron saint. Its feast day is celebrated every Sunday after the Pentecost. The Bato is also known for its best noodles called Pansit Bato.

Geography

[edit]

Barangays

[edit]

Bato is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Agos
  • Bacolod
  • Buluang
  • Caricot
  • Cawacagan
  • Cotmon
  • Cristo Rey
  • Del Rosario
  • Divina Pastora (Poblacion)
  • Goyudan
  • Lobong
  • Lubigan
  • Mainit
  • Manga (Mangga)
  • Masoli
  • Neighborhood
  • Niño Jesus
  • Pagatpatan
  • Palo
  • Payak
  • Sagrada (Sagrada Familia)
  • Salvacion
  • San Isidro
  • San Juan
  • San Miguel
  • San Rafael (Poblacion)
  • San Roque
  • San Vicente
  • Santa Cruz (Poblacion)
  • Santiago (Poblacion)
  • Sooc
  • Tagpolo
  • Tres Reyes (Poblacion)

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Bato, Camarines Sur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33
(91) 		32
(90) 		35
(95) 		37
(99) 		37
(99) 		36
(97) 		35
(95) 		33
(91) 		35
(95) 		34
(93) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		34
(94)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 26
(79) 		26
(79) 		28
(82) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		31
(88) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		29
(84) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		27
(81) 		28
(83)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 51.03
(2.01) 		78.13
(3.08) 		55.3
(2.18) 		83.07
(3.27) 		159.34
(6.27) 		239.88
(9.44) 		385.8
(15.19) 		391.75
(15.42) 		293.65
(11.56) 		401.33
(15.80) 		108.2
(4.26) 		334.9
(13.19) 		2,582.38
(101.67)
Average rainy days 21 24 19 20 25 29 31 29 29 29 27 30 313
Source: World Weather Online[5]

Demographics

[edit]
Population census of Bato
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 5,111—    
1918 6,044+1.12%
1939 11,537+3.13%
1948 14,816+2.82%
1960 21,078+2.98%
1970 25,985+2.11%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1975 28,492+1.86%
1980 29,774+0.88%
1990 35,294+1.72%
1995 38,771+1.78%
2000 42,739+2.11%
2007 44,437+0.54%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2010 48,306+3.08%
2015 52,137+1.46%
2020 52,155+0.01%
2024 52,021−0.06%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[6][7][8][9][10]

In the 2020 census, the population of Bato, Camarines Sur, was 52,155 people,[11] with a density of 490 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,300 inhabitants per square mile.

Only about 58.27% of the household population is considered as literate.

Mother tongue of the majority is Riŋkonāda also known as Bikol Rinconada, one of the languages of Bicol region. The population speaks a different form of Rinconada Bikol called Bato variant, a lowland dialect (sinaranəw). Natives are also conversant with Coastal Bikol, Filipino/Tagalog and English languages.

Religion

[edit]
Bato Catholic Church
  • Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, followed by the Iglesia ni Cristo as the largest minority.
  • Other religious denominations include Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; United Churches of Christ in the Philippines Seventh Day Adventist; Bible Baptist; Born Again; Jehovah's Witnesses; Protestants; Aglipay and Islam.
  • There are three (3) Catholic Churches in Bato.

Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Bato

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
50.75
2003
43.73
2006
38.90
2009
40.09
2012
40.30
2015
41.22
2018
30.85
2021
37.28

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Majority of employment is within agriculture, fishery, poultry and construction industry groups.[20]

Commerce and industry
  • 96 commercial establishments engaged in retail trade
  • 46 commercial establishments engaged in services
  • 1 commercial establishment engaged in real estate - MTBK Co.
  • 1 engaged in banking and finance
  • 31 industrial establishments
  • 2 Hotels - Casa de Piedra and MTBK Hotel

Natural resources include clams, pearls, local shrimps, tabios, and tilapia, particularly within Lake Bato; forest products such as anahaw leaves and local bamboo; non-metallic mineral resources such as white clay among others.

Agriculture Sector
  • 78.087 square kilometers of Agricultural Lands devoted to crop production
  • Rice, corn, coconut, root crops, vegetables, and fruit-bearing trees.
  • Numerous farm and poultry products found

Local government

[edit]

The list of the incumbent and former officials of the Municipality of Bato is the following:[21]

2025-Present

  • Mayor: Enric L. Dancalan
  • Vice-Mayor: Diosdado T. Zorilla
  • Councilors:
    • John Mark T. Zorilla
    • Martin G. Batacan
    • Dominici G. Batacan
    • Adolfo A. Ramos
    • Eliseo T. Priela
    • Jhonel Ll. De Lima
    • Noel C. Tino
    • Noel C. Tuyay

2022–2025

  • Mayor: Domingo L. Zorilla Jr
  • Vice-Mayor: Victorio S. Ramos
  • Councilors:
    • Josebello Buquid
    • Diosdado T. Zorilla
    • Martin G. Batacan
    • Noel C. Tino
    • Alvin O. Sacueza
    • Adolfo A. Ramos Jr.
    • Noel C. Tuyay
    • Erwin Nestor O. Rempola Jr.

2019-2022:[22]

  • Mayor: Hon. Francisco B. Bernaldez
  • Vice-Mayor: Hon. Domingo L. Zorilla Jr.
  • Councilors:
    • Diosdado T. Zorilla
    • Dominici G. Batacan
    • Elizabeth Doctolero
    • Ignacio L. Hugo
    • Jose Samar
    • Ban-Ban Aguila
    • Matilde Sandrino
    • Noel C. Tino

2016-2019:[23]

  • Mayor: Hon. Francisco B. Bernaldez
  • Vice-Mayor: Hon. Victorio S. Ramos
  • Councilors:
    • Diosdado T. Zorila
    • Domingo L. Zorilla Jr.
    • Martin G. Batacan
    • Darwin Doctolero
    • Edgar R. Argarin
    • Nestor A. Orasa
    • Danilo S. Mata
    • Ignacio L.Hugo

List of former Municipal Mayors

[edit]
Municipal Mayors of Bato, Camarines Sur
No. Portrait Name Term Place of Origin Note(s)
1. Don Elicario Guanzon 1859 Bato, Camarines Sur
2. Don Paulino Vasquez Calleja 1860 Bato, Camarines Sur
3. Don Luis Delos Santos 1861 Bato, Camarines Sur
4. Don Ubaldo Sanis Serano 1862 Libon, Albay
5. Don Pedro Tigue 1863-1864 Bato, Camarines Sur
6. Don Anselmo Talagtag 1865-1866 Bato, Camarines Sur
7. Don Francisco Peña 1867-1868 Bato, Camarines Sur
8. Don Domingo Coralde 1869-1870 Bato, Camarines Sur
9. Don Gaspar Vasquez Calleja 1871-1872 Bato, Camarines Sur
10. Don Jose Regaspi 1873-1874 Bato, Camarines Sur
11. Don Pedro Guanzon 1875-1876 Bato, Camarines Sur
12. Don Espiritu Candola Cariño 1876 Bato, Camarines Sur
13. Don Silvestre Isaac 1877-1878 Bato, Camarines Sur
(9) Don Gaspar Vasquez Calleja 1879-1880 Bato, Camarines Sur
14. Don Toribio Dakpano Coralde 1881-1882 Bato, Camarines Sur
15. Don Froilán Villanueva 1883-1884 Polangui, Albay
16. Don Timoteo Isaac 1885-1886 Bato, Camarines Sur
(9) Don Gaspar Vasquez Calleja 1887-1888 Bato, Camarines Sur
17. Don Pablo Domamay 1889-1893 Bato, Camarines Sur
(9) Don Gaspar Vasquez Calleja 1894 Bato, Camarines Sur
18. Don Tomás Doroin Barrameda 1895-1898 Baao, Camarines Sur
(17) Don Pablo Domamay 1899-1900 Bato, Camarines Sur
(9) Don Gaspar Vasquez Calleja 1901 Bato, Camarines Sur
19. Don Moises Calleja Sayson 1902-1903 Bato, Camarines Sur
20. Don Gregorio Orasa Isaac 1904-1905 Bato, Camarines Sur
21. Don Eliseo Calleja 1906-1907 Bato, Camarines Sur
22. Don Agrifino Villoso Varde 1908-1912 Bato, Camarines Sur
23. Don Roman Repaso 1913-1916 Bato, Camarines Sur
24. Don Cecilio Buquid Coralde 1917-1919 Bato, Camarines Sur
25. Don Vidal Serantes Elpedes 1920-1922 Bato, Camarines Sur
26. Don Eusebio Potian Buena 1923-1925 Bato, Camarines Sur
29. Don Felix Morata Grageda 1926-1928 Camalig, Albay
30. Don Mariano Talagtag Sesno 1929-1931 Bato, Camarines Sur
31. Don Juan Sayson Belleza 1932-1934 Bato, Camarines Sur
32. Don Eulogio Intia Buquid 1935-1937 Bato, Camarines Sur
(31) Don Juan Sayson Belleza 1938-1940 Bato, Camarines Sur
33. Don Pio Bartilet Mota 1941-1943 Bato, Camarines Sur
34. Don Domingo Bontit Fortuno 1944 Bato, Camarines Sur
(33) Don Pio Bartilet Mota 1945 Bato, Camarines Sur
(32) Don Eulogio Intia Buquid 1946-1947 Bato, Camarines Sur
35. Mateo Tanay Ramos 1948-1951 Bato, Camarines Sur
36. Abundio Timbang Intia 1952-1955 Bato, Camarines Sur
(33) Don Pio Bartilet Mota 1956-1959 Bato, Camarines Sur
37. Jorge Regaspi Tuyay 1960-1967 Bato, Camarines Sur Ret. US Navy Veteran
38. Atty. Ernesto Sabile Tino 1968-1971 Bato, Camarines Sur First Lawyer-Mayor of Bato
39. Nahil Yared Buquid 1972-1986 Cebu City, Cebu First Female Mayor of Bato
40. Narciso Romaraog Doctolero. Jr. 1986-1992 Bato, Camarines Sur
41. Tito Mota Pili 1992-1998 Bato, Camarines Sur
42. Jaime Timbang Gonzales 1998-2007 Bato, Camarines Sur Ret. PAF 2nd. Lt.
43. Jeanette Osea Ramos Bernaldez 2007-2016 Bato, Camarines Sur
44. Francisco Buena Bernaldez 2016-2022 Bato, Camarines Sur First Engineer-Mayor of Bato
45. Domingo Landagan Zorilla, Jr. 2022-2025 Bato, Camarines Sur
46. Enric Lanuzga Dancalan 2025-Present Bato, Camarines Sur First Nurse-Midwife Mayor of Bato

Tourism

[edit]
Lake Bato is the largest lake in the Region
  • Cotmon Falls
  • Arbin Beach Resort
  • Lake Bato
  • Most Holy Trinity Parish Church
  • Maruma Beach
  • Bato Boulevard

Infrastructure

[edit]

Health

[edit]
  • Municipal Health Center and Barangay Health Stations total bed capacity: Eight (8) beds
  • Health personnel numbers only about seventeen (17)

Security

[edit]
Bato Fire Station

Facilities for police protection include Police Station Headquarters near the Municipal Hall in the Poblacion, Police Substation in Barangay Tres Reyes, Police Outpost in Barangay San Miguel. The bureau of Fire Protection of Bato has about eleven (11) firemen personnel.

Transportation

[edit]
  • 19.550 kilometres (12.148 mi) of National Roads
  • 45.650 kilometres (28.366 mi) of Provincial Road
  • 7.206 kilometres (4.478 mi) of municipal roads
  • 38.683 kilometres (24.037 mi) of Barangays Roads
  • six (6) bridges
  • 235 privately owned vehicles
  • public utility vehicles and government vehicles

Utilities

[edit]

Water supply is provided on 3 levels:

  • Level I: wells, springs, or water peddlers common in rural barangays and households
  • Level II: communal faucet system
  • Level III: Bato Water District provides Level III Water Supply Service generally within the poblacion only

Power and electricity:

  • Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative (CASURECO) which provides retails electrical supply to the municipality and maintains a substation
  • Domestic Consumptions
  • 95.18% with total average consumption rate of 35,595.40 KWH/month Industrial and Commercial Consumption have only about 0.48% connections
  • Public buildings, streetlights and other account for the remaining 1.72% number of consumption

Communication facilities include telephone/cellular services, postal services, telegraph services, cable television services, and print and broadcast media services.

Education

[edit]
MTBK Divina Pastora Library

Private school institutions:

  • Holy Trinity College of Cam. Sur
  • Mataas na Paaralan ng Pagatpatan
  • Saint John the Baptist Institute of Bicol Inc.
  • Ocampo Academy Technological Institute.
  • Taburnal Learning Center inc.
  • Modern Learning Center
  • Verbum Dei School

15 public elementary schools:

  • Bato North Central School
  • Bato South Central School
  • San Vicente Elementary School
  • San Miguel Elementary School
  • Agos Elementary School
  • Nino Jesus Elementary School
  • Masoli Elementary School
  • San Roque Elementary School
  • Atipolo Elementary School
  • Carlos Nardo Elementary School
  • Manga Elementary School
  • Palo Elementary School
  • Buluang Elementary School
  • Salvacion Elementary School
  • Cristo Rey Elementary School
  • Sagrada Elementary School
  • Dr. Heracleo Guballo Elementary School
  • Tagpolo Elementary School

5 public secondary schools:

  • Bato National Highschool
  • Masoli Highscool
  • Salvacion National Highschool
  • San Roque National Highschool
  • Payak Highschool

1 public library:

  • MTBK Divina Pastora Library

Notable personalities

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^  Municipality of Bato | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Bato, Camarines Sur: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  6. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  7. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region V (Bicol Region)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  9. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  10. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  11. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  14. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  15. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  18. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  20. ^ municipal profile
  21. ^ "2022 ELECTION RESULTS: Bato, Camarines Sur".
  22. ^ "Bato - Camarines Sur | City/Municipality Results | Eleksyon 2019".
  23. ^ "Halalan 2016 - Partial and Unofficial Results".
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