Bato, Camarines Sur

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.
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 from Pili and 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
Demographics
In the 2020 census, the population of Bato, Camarines Sur, was 52,155 people, with a density of .
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
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.
Economy
Majority of employment is within agriculture, fishery, poultry and construction industry groups.
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:
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:
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:
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
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
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
of National Roads
of Provincial Road
of municipal roads
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
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
External links
[ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
Philippine Census Information
Official Site of the Province of Camarines Sur
https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2022/camarines-sur/bato
Municipalities of Camarines Sur