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 2024 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.
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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
Bato is 26 kilometres (16 mi) from the capital town of Pili and 476 kilometres (296 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays
Bato is politically subdivided into 33 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Demographics
In the 2024 census, the population of Bato was 52,021 people, 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
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
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:
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:
Tourism
Cotmon Falls
Arbin Beach Resort
Lake Bato
Most Holy Trinity Parish Church
Maruma Beach
Bato Boulevard
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 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
The Bato Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.
A public library is located in Brgy. Divisna Pastora which is MTBK Divina Pastora Library
Notable personalities
Maria Venus Raj (b. 1988), Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010 and placed 4th Runner-Up in Miss Universe 2010 pageant.
Jun Jun Zorilla - Former Mayor of Bato
Froilan Canlas - 2nd Placed in Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 1
Julian Alturas - Star Magic artist and co-managed by Rise Artist Studio
Aristeo Solares - Cellist for the Manila Symphony Orchestra