Bato, Camarines Sur

Bato, officially the Municipality of Bato (Rinconada Bikol: Banwāan ka Bato; Tagalog: Bayan ng Bato), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 52,155 people.^[3]

Bato
Municipality
Municipality of Bato
Municipal Hall
Flag Seal
Anthem: Bato, Banwaan na Ginikanan
Map of Camarines Sur with Bato highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Bato Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 13°21′28″N 123°22′04″E / 13.3578°N 123.3678°E / 13.3578; 123.3678
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Camarines Sur
District	5th district
Barangays	33 (see Barangays)
Government  ^[1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Domingo L. Zorilla Jr
• Vice Mayor	Victorio S. Ramos
• Representative	Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte
• Municipal Council	Members Josebello Y. Buquid Diosdado T. Zorilla Martin G. Batacan Noel C. Tino Alvin O. Sacueza Adolfa A. Ramos, Jr. Noel C. Tuyay Erwin Nestor O. Rempola
• Electorate	33,077 voters (2022)
Area ^[2]
• Total	107.12 km^2 (41.36 sq mi)
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Highest elevation	59 m (194 ft)
Lowest elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population  (2020 census)^[3]
• Total	52,155
• Density	490/km^2 (1,300/sq mi)
• Households	10,782
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	30.85 % (2018)^[4]
• Revenue	₱ 162.4 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 420.8 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 154.3 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 262.6 million (2020)
Service provider
• Electricity	Camarines Sur 3 Electric Cooperative (CASURECO 3)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	4435
PSGC	051703000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)54
Native languages	Rinconada Bikol Central Bikol Tagalog

The municipality of Bato, like Buhi town, 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

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

Barangays

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

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

Population census of Bato

Year Pop. ±% 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%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 25,985 +2.11% 1975 28,492 +1.86% 1980 29,774 +0.88% 1990 35,294 +1.72% 1995 38,771 +1.78%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 42,739 +2.11% 2007 44,437 +0.54% 2010 48,306 +3.08% 2015 52,137 +1.46% 2020 52,155 +0.01%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]

In the 2020 census, the population of Bato, Camarines Sur, was 52,155 people,^[3] 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

 

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

Poverty Incidence of Bato

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[10][11]
[12][13][14][15][16]}

Majority of employment is within agriculture, fishery, poultry and construction industry groups.^[17]

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

The list of the incumbent and former officials of the Municipality of Bato is the following:^[18]

2022 - Present:

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

2019-2022:^[19]

• 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:^[20]

• 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

• Paulino Calleja (1860)

Tourism

 

Lake Bato is the largest lake in the Region

• Cotmon Falls
• Arbin Beach Resort
• Lake Bato
• Most Holy Trinity Parish Church

Infrastructure

Health

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

Security

 

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

• 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

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

 

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
• 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

• Maria Venus Raj - Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010 and placed 4th Runner-Up in Miss Universe 2010 pageant

References

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. (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. Census of Population (2020). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
5. "Bato, Camarines Sur: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". World Weather Online. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
6. Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. 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.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
8. 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.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. "Province of Camarines Sur". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
10. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
11. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
12. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
13. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
14. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
15. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
16. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
17. municipal profile
18. "2022 ELECTION RESULTS: Bato, Camarines Sur".
19. "Bato - Camarines Sur | City/Municipality Results | Eleksyon 2019".
20. "Halalan 2016 - Partial and Unofficial Results".

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bato, Camarines Sur.

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2022/camarines-sur/bato