Country Philippines Founded 1951 Time zone PST (UTC+8) Local time Wednesday 4:52 AM | District 5th district Barangays Area 93.09 km² Province Camarines Sur | |
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Region Bicol Region (Region V) Weather 24°C, Wind N at 3 km/h, 92% Humidity | ||
Balatan, (Rinconada Bikol: Banwaān ka Balatan; English: Municipality of Balatan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Balatan) is a fourth class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 30,922 people.
Contents
- Map of Balatan Camarines Sur Philippines
- History
- Barangays
- Demographics
- Economy
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Health
- Protective
- Social welfare
- Education
- References
Map of Balatan, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Balatan was founded by Don Gregorio Balatan, also its first mayor and founder of the municipality's first school, the Balatan Institute Memorial High School (formerly Balatan Institute). The current and the 6th mayor is the Hon.Ernesto "Bares" Arillas Bagasbas.
Balatan celebrates the Pintakasi and Pagkamundag Festivals annually on February 18 and December 1–3 respectively. This town bounded by the municipalities of Bula, Bato, Nabua and a shoreline part of the Ragay Gulf. The town's economy is supported by people from the Burias Island of Masbate province who are mosty trading their products in this small municipality.
Animasola Island is part of this municipality's territory.
History
Balatan is not an old municipality like the other towns in the fourth district. It was once a sitio known as Siramag which belonged to the town of Nabua.
In 1951, Camarines Sur Provincial Board Member Gregorio O. Balatan Sr. proposed a resolution to divide Nabua into two municipalities: Nabua and Balatan. Balatan then was separated from its mother town and became independent on December 3, 1951 under Executive Order (EO) No. 485 of then President Elpidio Quirino. It was named after the father of Board Member Balatan, Don Rufino Balatan.
Seven years after its establishment as a town, the Parish of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was erected by Archbishop Pedro P. Santos. Balatan observes the annual Pintakasi fiesta celebration every February 16–18.
Barangays
Balatan is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.
Demographics
In the 2015 census, the population of Balatan, Camarines Sur, was 30,922 people, with a density of 330 inhabitants per square kilometre or 850 inhabitants per square mile.
Rinconada Bikol is the mother tongue spoken by 96.67% of the population.
In the period 1960 to 1997, there was an average of 97.60% of total housing units in the municipality that were occupied while only 3.40% were vacant.
Literacy Rate:
Religious affiliation:
Economy
Minor central business district consists of public market, grocery, sari-sari stores, welding and vulcanizing shop, calling office, fish dealer, bakery, barber shop, beauty parlor, billiard hall, coco lumber dealer, junk shop and cable network. Neighborhood centers consists of sari-sari stores, bakery, videoke/bar, mini-sound system, repair shops, piggery, cockpit, bakery, furniture shop, fish dealer, repair and welding shops, copra dealer, among others.
The only industrial business is a mini-containerized ice plant which caters to the needs of rich-fishing activities, and a few rice mills. There are six beach resorts catering to domestic tourism.
Agriculture sector:
Transportation
Land transportation refers to the present road circulation system as well as bus, van, and jeepney terminal. Marine transportation facility operates through the existing Balatan Municipal Port of Ragay Gulf.
Utilities
Water supply is distributed under Level III and Level I water systems: Level III is operated by the Balatan Water District; Level I water supply system consisting of either shallow wells, deep wells or improved spring provides alternative water supply source.
Power and electricity:
Communication facilities include the postal services, telegraph and telegraphic transfer service facilities, and telephone services.
Health
Protective
Facilities for protective services include the police headquarters, police substation, fire station, municipal jail, and Coast Guard.
Social welfare
Existing social welfare organizations or institutions include CVRD’S People Organization, KALIPI (Women) PYM, Federation of Day Care Workers, 4P's, RincoMESA(Rinconada Movement for Environment and Sustainable Agriculture) and Kalahi-CIDDS.