Bataan is a province of Central Luzon Region, Philippines.
Profile (Geography)
Location –> Central Luzon Region, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Provinces –> Zambales, Pampanga
Capital –> Balanga City
Area –> 1,372.98 km2 (530.11 sq mi)
Population –> 760,650
Terrain –> Mountainous in the west, coastal plain in east, rolling hills in the central part of the province
Industries –> Agriculture, Manufacturing, Tourism
Major Products –> Rice, corn, poultry, egg, refined petroleum, petrochemicals, ships, clothes
People/Language –> Tagalog, Kapampangan, English, Ilocano
Cities –> Balanga City
Municipalities (Towns) –> (11)
First District –> Abucay, Hermosa, Orani, Samal
Second District –> Balanga City, Limay, Orion, Pilar
Third District –> Bagac, Dinalupihan, Morong, Mariveles
Government Officials
Go here to see the elected provincial officials of Bataan.
Bataan History
The province of Bataan was originally a territory of Pampanga Province. On January 11, 1757, several towns were separated to create the new province of Bataan.
Jose M. Lerma represented Bataan during the first legislative assembly from 1907 to 1909. He was succeeded by Tomas G. del Rosario. On the other hand, Bonifacio Camacho was the representative of Bataan during the First Congress of the Philippines from 1946 to 1949. He was succeeded by Medina Lacson De Leon.
Bataan played a very important role during World War II. It was here where the remnants of the combined Philippine-American forces surrendered to the Japanese invaders. After the surrender came the “Death March” of thousands of prisoners of war (POW) who walked on foot towards Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac Province.
On November 20, 1972, the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) was created through Presidential Decree 66, with Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) in the municipality of Mariveles as the first official economic zone in the Philippines. It became the Freeport Area of Bataan on June 30, 2010.
On June 28, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte singed into law Republic Act No. 11553 which divided the province into three legislative districts. Previously, it had only two.
Former Governors
Gregorio Quicho
Go here to see all the famous people from Bataan Province.
Go here to see all the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Bataan.
Read the history of Bataan in Tagalog here.
Economy of Bataan Province
Although agriculture is still the source of livelihood for thousands of people in Bataan, the province is one of the most industrialized areas of the Philippines. It is the home of the biggest petroleum refining and petrochemicals complex in the country. It is also the home of the oldest export processing zones of the Philippines now called Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) where different manufactured goods are produced for export.
Bataan is a major producer of electricity with its several fossil-based as well as renewable power plants.
Tourism is a big contributor to the local economy with its many resorts especially in the town of Morong.
RELATED: Profile of La Union Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region