Batuan, Masbate


Batuan, officially the Municipality of Batuan, is a municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the, it has a population of people.
The municipality is home to the Bongsanglay Natural Park.

History

In 1951, the barrios of Batuan, Burgos, Gibraltar, Costa Rica, Panisihan, and Matabao were separated from San Fernando to form the Municipality of Batuan.

Geography

Batuan is located at the southern point of Ticao Island. It is the smallest municipality in Masbate, both in land area and population.

Barangays

Batuan is politically subdivided into 14 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
  • Burgos
  • Cañares
  • Canvañez
  • Costa Rica
  • Danao
  • Gibraltar
  • Mabuhay
  • Matabao
  • Nasandig
  • Panisihan
  • Poblacion
  • Rizal
  • Royroy
  • Sawang

Demographics

In the 2024 census, the population of Batuan was 15,614 people, with a density of.

Archaeological and Ecological Landscape and Seascape of Ticao

The municipality is part of Ticao island, which is known as an archaeological landscape, possessing thousands of pre-colonial artifacts such as the Baybayin-inscribed Rizal Stone, Ticao gold spike teeth, Burial jars of varying designs and sizes, jade beads, human face rock statues, and the Ticao petrographs. Much of the homes in Ticao island use these archaeological finds to design their interiors. The island is also an ecological frontier for the conservation of manta rays. The island also possesses a 'rare subspecies' of Visayan warty pig, that is almost near extinction.

Education

The Batuan 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.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Batuan Central School
  • Burgos Elementary School
  • Cañares Elementary School
  • Danao Elementary School
  • Mabuhay Elementary School
  • Matabao Elementary School
  • Nasandig Elementary School
  • Nazareth Institute of Alfonso
  • Panisihan Elementary School
  • Rizal Elementary School
  • Royroy Elementary School
  • Sawang Elementary School

Secondary schools