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 "Caligno" named by the natives that settled along the river area. See also, the Bato's native Pre-Spanish Era Early Settlers.

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; its feastday is celebrated every Sunday after the Pentecost.Known for best noodles called Pansit Bato.

Geography

Barangays

Bato is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.

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.

;Religious affiliation

* 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

Tourism

* white sand beaches, white caves, natural falls and springs
* Bato Parish Church considered as Historical landmark
* seven last words at Mount Calvary foot and lacustral procession during town fiesta celebration and the Annual Foundation Day Celebration
* MTBK Hotel - Poblacion Rd, Santiago, Bato, Camarines Sur

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

* 19.550 kilometers of National Roads
* 45,650 kilometers of Provincial Road
* 7.206 kilometers of municipal roads
* 38.683 kilometers 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

* 3 private college Holy Trinity College of Cam. Sur/Mataas na Paaralan ng Pagatpatan/Saint John the Baptist
* 15 public elementary schools
* 4 public secondary schools
* 4 private schools
* 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.
* Exequiel Grageda - Retired Judge and Constitutional Delegate in the 1935 Constitutional Convention
* Froilan T. Canlas - Tawag ng Tanghalan 2nd Runner U

References

External links

* Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census InformationOfficial Site of the Province of Camarines Sur
*https://ph.rappler.com/elections/2022/camarines-sur/bato
, Centre = Bato
, North = Nabua
, Northeast = Iriga
, East = Polangui, Albay
, South = Libon, Albay
, Southwest = ''Ragay Gulf''
, Northwest = Balatan

{{Authority control

Municipalities of Camarines Sur