Barangay San Rafael

Barangay San Rafael is a small barangay in the municipality of Cataingan, located in the province of Masbate, in the Bicol Region region of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay San Rafael had a population of 986. This made it the 20th largest of 36 barangays in Cataingan by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael accounted for approximately 1.95% of the total population of Cataingan, which stood at 50,623 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay San Rafael moving from 823 residents to 986 residents, an intercensal change of +19.8%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay San Rafael as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Cataingan is a municipality comprising 36 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay San Rafael, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Masbate, which contains 550 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael ranks 369th by 2020 population. Masbate is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay San Rafael is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.