Barangay Bato

Situated in Palauig, Zambales, Barangay Bato is one of 19 barangays that make up the municipality within Central Luzon.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Bato had a population of 2,010. This made it the 7th largest of 19 barangays in Palauig by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Bato accounted for approximately 5.05% of the total population of Palauig, which stood at 39,784 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,912 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 2,010 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +5.1%, consistent with a growing settlement. Barangay Bato is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Palauig is a municipality comprising 19 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Bato, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Zambales, which contains 247 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Bato ranks 112th by 2020 population. Zambales is classified as a 2nd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Bato 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.