Bato, Catanduanes
| Bato | |
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| Municipality | |
 Map of Catanduanes with Bato highlighted |
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 Bato
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| Coordinates: 13°36′N 124°18′E / 13.6°N 124.3°ECoordinates: 13°36′N 124°18′E / 13.6°N 124.3°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Bicol (Region V) |
| Province | Catanduanes |
| District | Lone district |
| Founded | Year 1799 |
| Barangays | 27 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Leo Rodriguez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 48.62 km2 (18.77 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 21,279 |
| • Density | 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+8) |
| ZIP code | 4801 |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)52 |
| Website | www |
Bato is a fifth class municipality in the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 21,279 people.
The Spanish colonizers, who surveyed the early settlers of the area, recorded the name "Bato" and later this became the town's name. There are several unproven theories when and why the town was named "Bato", like it came from the name of the "water Wells", or it came from the Tagalog word bato, meaning "rock". Another legend states that a Spaniard asked a settler woman the name of the settlement, and she replied "Bato". There is no certainty whether the woman understood the question or not, whether she referred to her own name or the name of the settlement itself, or to their early occupations of the area.
Bato is located at the south-eastern portion of Catanduanes and is bounded on the north by the municipality of San Miguel; on the north-east by the municipality of Baras; on the east by the Philippine Sea; on the south by Cabugao Bay and on the west of Virac, the capital town of Catanduanes which is just 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Bato.
Stability and permeability of basic rock formation could be seen in the geologic map the existence of fault line along barangays Oguis, Sipi, Binanuahan, Cabugao and San Andres. These areas are considered critical especially in terms of development as urban expansion. Like other municipalities in the province of Catanduanes, Bato has many mineral deposits like gold, manganese, coal and copper.
The municipality of Bato is composed of five kinds of soils: hydrosol, mountain soil, alimodian clay loam, Louisiana clay, and San Miguel silt loam.
The elevation rises from sea level to about 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. The flat lands are mostly found along the coast of Cabugao Bay along the banks of the Bato River. These flat lands with a slope of 0-3% occupies an average area of 25-30% of the entire area of Bato. The Poblacion which is located along the eastern side of the Bato River is among the barangays having this slope, characterized to be level to nearly level land. However, due to its location, the Poblacion together with the adjoining barangays frequently suffer floods. The eastern portion of Bato which faces the Pacific Ocean has a slope ranging between 3-30% slope. These areas shield the lowlands of the municipality from the incoming winds of the Pacific. These areas are mostly planted with orchards, hard wood trees and abaca.
Like other towns in the pacific island, Bato is frequented by typhoons. This can happen up to 20 times per year, with some typhoons developing into really devastating calamities that can level entire towns. Flooding ensues in the Poblacion due to the river overflowing its banks.
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Wikipedia