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 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 km from Pili and 476 km 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.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Bato, Camarines Sur, was 52,155 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2. 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

Economy

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

Local government

The list of the incumbent and former officials of the Municipality of Bato is the following: 2022–present: 2019-2022: 2016-2019:

List of former Municipal Mayors

Tourism

Infrastructure

Health

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

Utilities

Water supply is provided on 3 levels: Power and electricity: Communication facilities include telephone/cellular services, postal services, telegraph services, cable television services, and print and broadcast media services.

Education

Private school institutions: 15 public elementary schools: 5 public secondary schools: 1 public library:

Notable personalities