Catanduanes

Catanduanes
Catanduanes
Province
	Province of Catanduanes
	(clockwise from top) Port of Virac, Beach in Gigmoto, Catanduanes island satellite image in 2016, and Downtown Virac
	Flag Seal
	Nicknames: The Happy Island; Abaca Capital of the Philippines; Abaca Capital of the World; Land of the Howling Winds; Isle of the Eastern Seas; World's Leading Abaca Producer;
	Location in the Philippines
	OpenStreetMap
	Coordinates: 13°50′N 124°15′E / 13.83°N 124.25°E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Founded	September 26, 1945
Capital; and largest municipality	Virac
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• Governor	Joseph C. Cua (NPC)
• Vice Governor	Peter C. Cua (PDP–Laban)
• Representative	Eulogio R. Rodriguez (Independent)
• Legislature	Catanduanes Provincial Board
Area
• Total	1,492.16 km2 (576.13 sq mi)
• Rank	70th out of 81
Highest elevation (Mount Tamboo)	695 m (2,280 ft)
Population (2020 census)
• Total	271,879
• Rank	67th out of 81
• Density	180/km2 (470/sq mi)
• Rank	50th out of 81
Divisions
• Independent cities	0
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	11 Bagamanoc; Baras; Bato; Caramoran; Gigmoto; Pandan; Panganiban; San Andres; San Miguel; Viga; Virac; ;
• Barangays	315
• Districts	Legislative district of Catanduanes
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
IDD : area code	+63 (0)52
ISO 3166 code	PH-CAT
Spoken languages	Central Bikol; Northern Catanduanes; Southern Catanduanes; Tagalog; English;
Demonym	Catandunganon
Highway routes
Website	catanduanes.gov.ph

Catanduanes (/ˌkɑːtɑːnˈdwɑːnɛs/; Tagalog pronunciation: [kɐtɐnˈdwɐnes]), officially the Province of Catanduanes (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Catanduanes), is an island province located in the Bicol Region of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the 12th-largest island in the Philippines, and lies to the east of Camarines Sur, across the Maqueda Channel. Its capital is Virac. It had a population of 271,879 people as of the 2020 census.^[4]

The province comprises Catanduanes (mainland or main island), Panay Island, Lete Island, the Palumbanes group of islands (Porongpong, Tignob and Calabagio), and a few other small, surrounding islets and rocks. The province is also home to various mollusk fossil sites, notably the second-oldest ammonite site in the Philippines. These sites have certain species of ammonites that are found nowhere else in Southeast Asia. Because of the province's importance and rich geologic history, various scholars have suggested that, if the province would take the initiative to put its name forward in nomination, it would stand a good chance of being named as a UNESCO Geopark Reserve.^[5]

In the early 1900s, Catanduanes was a sub-province of Ambos Camarines. Later, it was a sub-province of Albay. It became an autonomous province in 1945. Congressman Francisco Perfecto filed House Bill No. 301, which separated the province from Albay; the bill was approved on September 26, 1945, and signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña on October 24, 1945. Remigio Socito, previously the Lieutenant Governor, was appointed the first Provincial Governor. When elections were held in 1947, Alfonso V. Usero became the first elected Governor.

On April 15, 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act No. 11700 declaring Catanduanes province as the Philippines Abacá Capital.^[6]

^ Medenilla, Vina (April 28, 2022). "Duterte signs two laws declaring the egg basket and abaca capitals of the Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
^ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
^ Census of Population (2020). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^ Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ "100M year-old ammonite found in Catanduanes". balita.ph - Online Filipino News. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
^ "Duterte signs law naming Catanduanes as Philippines' abaca capital". Retrieved April 26, 2022.

[1] Medenilla, Vina (April 28, 2022). "Duterte signs two laws declaring the egg basket and abaca capitals of the Philippines". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.

[nscblist-2] "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.

[PSA20–05-3] Census of Population (2020). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[PSA15–05-4] Census of Population (2015). "Region V (Bicol Region)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.

[5] "100M year-old ammonite found in Catanduanes". balita.ph - Online Filipino News. March 29, 2010. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.

[6] "Duterte signs law naming Catanduanes as Philippines' abaca capital". Retrieved April 26, 2022.

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