Masbate

Summary data
Map of the Philippines highlighting Masbate
Typeprovince
Island groupLuzon
RegionBicol Region (Region V)
Cities1
Municipalities20
Barangays550
Coastal/Landlockedcoastal
Marine waterbodiesSibuyan Sea, Visayan Sea, Samar Sea, Burias Pass, Ticao Pass
Area (2007)4,151.78 km2 (1,603.01 sq mi)
Population (2015)892,393
Density (2015)215 / km2 (557 / sq mi)

Masbate is a province in the Philippines situated in the Bicol Region occupying the southeastern peninsula of Luzon and the outlying island provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes.. Its capital is the City of Masbate.

The province has a land area of 4,151.78 square kilometers or 1,603.01 square miles. Its population as determined by the 2015 Census was 892,393. This represented 15.39% of the total population of the Bicol Region, 1.55% of the overall population of the Luzon island group, or 0.88% of the entire population of the Philippines. Based on these figures, the population density is computed at 215 inhabitants per square kilometer or 557 inhabitants per square mile.

Map

Masbate is bordered, clockwise from the North, by Burias Pass, Ticao Pass, Samar Sea, Asid Gulf, the Sibuyan Sea, and Ragay Gulf.

details
Map of the Philippines with Masbate highlighted in redMap of Masbate showing its component cities and municipalitiesAroroyBalenoBaludBatuanCatainganCawayanClaveriaDimasalangEsperanzaMandaonMasbate CityMilagrosMoboMonrealPalanasPio V. CorpuzPlacerSan FernandoSan JacintoSan PascualUson

Local government units

Masbate has 20 municipalities and 1 city. The total number of barangays in the province is 550.

details
NameTypePopulation (2015)Population (2010)Annual Population Growth Rate (2010‑2015)Area (2007), in km2Density (2015), per km2Brgy count
Aroroymunicipality86,16876,1392.38%440.3019641
Balenomunicipality26,09624,4011.29%204.3812824
Baludmunicipality38,12435,8411.18%231.0016532
Batuanmunicipality15,08613,7641.76%56.2826814
Catainganmunicipality50,32749,0780.48%191.6426336
Cawayanmunicipality67,03363,1151.15%260.1925837
Claveriamunicipality43,69341,5720.95%182.9823922
Dimasalangmunicipality26,19225,2450.70%148.0717720
Esperanzamunicipality18,56817,3571.29%67.4927520
Mandaonmunicipality41,26238,1611.50%280.8014726
Masbate Citycity (CC), capital95,38985,2272.17%188.0050730
Milagrosmunicipality57,47352,6191.69%565.3010227
Mobomunicipality38,81334,8962.05%143.4727129
Monrealmunicipality26,61425,3660.92%128.6720711
Palanasmunicipality26,22225,5010.53%171.1015324
Pio V. Corpuzmunicipality23,23623,292-0.05%89.3326018
Placermunicipality55,82655,4380.13%193.0328935
San Fernandomunicipality23,05721,3091.51%77.5029826
San Jacintomunicipality30,37227,9741.58%122.4024821
San Pascualmunicipality46,67444,7530.80%246.6518922
Usonmunicipality56,16853,6020.89%163.2034435
Masbate Total892,393834,6501.28%4,151.78215550

Economy

According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the annual regular revenue of Masbate for the fiscal year of 2016 was ₱1,283,771,368.40.

details
Fiscal YearAnnual Regular IncomeChange
2009722,301,210.00–
2010774,777,695.027.27%
2011851,429,005.209.89%
2012821,145,304.73-3.56%
2013909,142,044.6810.72%
20141,028,252,346.9713.10%
20151,150,695,772.6511.91%
20161,283,771,368.4011.56%

End notes:

  • Annual Regular Income = Locally Sourced Revenue + Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) Current Year + Other Shares from National Tax Collection
  • Locally Sourced Revenue = Real Property Tax (General Fund) + Tax on Business + Other Taxes + Regulatory Fees + Service/User Charges + Receipts from Economic Enterprises

Demographics

Population by age group

According to the 2015 Census, the age group with the highest population in Masbate is 5 to 9, with 122,270 individuals. Conversely, the age group with the lowest population is 80 and over, with 6,775 individuals.

details
Age groupPopulation (2015)
Under 122,166
1 to 497,912
5 to 9122,270
10 to 14119,272
15 to 1995,312
20 to 2469,431
25 to 2956,456
30 to 3449,726
35 to 3947,373
40 to 4443,457
45 to 4940,424
50 to 5434,187
55 to 5929,289
60 to 6421,995
65 to 6915,969
70 to 7412,065
75 to 798,314
80 and over6,775
Total892,393

Historical population

The population of Masbate grew from 335,971 in 1960 to 892,393 in 2015, an increase of 556,422 people. The latest census figures in 2015 denote a positive growth rate of 1.28%, or an increase of 57,743 people, from the previous population of 834,650 in 2010.

details
Census datePopulationGrowth rate
43,675–
67,5132.79%
182,4835.10%
211,1131.51%
335,9714.17%
492,9083.82%
533,3871.60%
584,5201.85%
599,3550.25%
653,8521.64%
707,6681.71%
768,9391.15%
834,6503.03%
892,3931.28%

National roads

As of December 2016, the National Roads in Masbate as classified by the Department of Public Works and Highways are:

Secondary Roads

  • Buenavista-Kawayan Road
  • Capitol-Cadre Road
  • Junction Crossing-Mandaon Road
  • Junction Milagros-Baleno-Lagta Road
  • Junction Tawad-Balud Road
  • Lagta-Crossing Malinta Road
  • M.R. Espinosa Airport Road
  • Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road
  • Masbate-Milagros Road
  • San Fernando North Road

Tertiary Roads

  • Asid-Cagay Road
  • Cataingan Poblacion Road
  • Masbate Circumferential Road
  • Masbate Port Road
  • Placer-Daraga Road
  • San Fernando-Talisay Road
  • San Pascual-Claveria Road

National rankings

  • Population (2015): 892,393, ranked 29 out of 81
  • Land area (2007): 1,603.01 square kilometers, ranked 31 out of 81
  • Population density (2015): 215 inhabitants per square kilometer, ranked 39 out of 81
  • Annual population growth rate (2010 to 2015): 1.28%, ranked 45 out of 81

Notes

  1. Unless otherwise specified, population count (excluding percentages) and land area figures are derived from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
  2. Maps utilize OpenStreetMap data available under the Open Data Commons Open Database License.
  3. Data on annual regular income is from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Finance
  4. Data on National Roads is from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
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