Barangay San Rafael

Situated in Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, Barangay San Rafael is one of 23 barangays that make up the municipality within Bicol Region.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay San Rafael had a population of 696. This made it the 18th largest of 23 barangays in Prieto Diaz by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay San Rafael accounted for approximately 3.07% of the total population of Prieto Diaz, which stood at 22,644 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay San Rafael moving from 640 residents to 696 residents, an intercensal change of +8.8%. 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.

Prieto Diaz is a municipality comprising 23 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 Sorsogon, which contains 541 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay San Rafael ranks 423rd by 2020 population. Sorsogon 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 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.