Balud

Balud, officially the Municipality of Balud, is a municipality in the province of Masbate, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,155 people.^[5]

Balud
Municipality
Municipality of Balud
Aerial view in 2024
Flag Seal
Map of Masbate with Balud highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Balud Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°02′13″N 123°11′37″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Bicol Region
Province	Masbate
District	2nd district
Founded	July 18, 1949
Barangays	32 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Rodolfo Estrella Jr.
• Vice Mayor	Felimon C. Abelita III
• Representative	Elisa T. Kho
• Municipal Council	Members Emmanuel T. Sese Clemente P. Arguelles III Julius P. Arguelles Roque B. dela Cruz Gina N. Alajar Paulito P. Tacurda Jinky J. Nuevo Rey T. Sto. Domingo
• Electorate	28,285 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	231.00 km2 (89.19 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Highest elevation	356 m (1,168 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	40,236
• Density	170/km2 (450/sq mi)
• Households	9,039
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	28.45 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 226.6 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 503.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 179.5 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 180.9 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	5412
PSGC	0504103000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)56
Native languages	Hiligaynon Capiznon Tagalog

Balud is 68 kilometres (42 mi) from Masbate City.

Etymology

The name Balud came from the name of the Pink-bellied imperial pigeon (Ducula poliocephala).

History

Balud was created as a municipality through Executive Order No. 244 signed by President Elpidio Quirino on July 18, 1949.^[6]

Geography

Barangays

Balud is politically subdivided into 32 barangays. ^[7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Baybay (Lumocab)
• Bongcanaway
• Mabuhay (Bongcanaway III)
• Calumpang
• Cantil
• Casamongan
• Dao
• Danao
• Guinbanwahan
• Ilaya
• Jangan
• Jintotolo
• Mapili
• Mapitogo
• Pajo
• Palani
• Panguiranan
• Panubigan
• Poblacion (Balud)
• Pulanduta
• Quinayangan Diotay
• Quinayangan Tonga
• Salvacion
• Sampad
• San Andres (Quinayangan Dacu)
• San Antonio
• Sapatos
• Talisay
• Tonga
• Ubo
• Victory
• Villa Alvarez

Climate

Climate data for Balud, Masbate
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (84)	29 (84)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23 (73)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (73)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	24 (75)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	39 (1.5)	34 (1.3)	42 (1.7)	36 (1.4)	73 (2.9)	109 (4.3)	118 (4.6)	108 (4.3)	129 (5.1)	136 (5.4)	112 (4.4)	89 (3.5)	1,025 (40.4)
Average rainy days	12.6	9.7	12.0	13.0	20.5	25.3	26.2	24.8	25.2	25.9	21.9	17.9	235
Source: Meteoblue[8]

Demographics

Population census of Balud

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1960 14,708 —     1970 21,448 +3.84% 1975 24,219 +2.47% 1980 24,549 +0.27% 1990 26,121 +0.62% 1995 27,933 +1.26%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 30,068 +1.59% 2007 31,484 +0.64% 2010 35,841 +4.83% 2015 38,124 +1.18% 2020 40,155 +1.10% 2024 40,236 +0.05%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

In the 2020 census, the population of Balud, Masbate, was 40,155 people,^[14] with a density of 170 inhabitants per square kilometre or 440 inhabitants per square mile.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Balud

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2000 68.92 2003 64.11 2006 55.10 2009 43.06 2012 46.68 2015 42.27 2018 31.72 2021 28.45 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]