Masbate

Masbate
(from top: left to right) Masbate Capitol Building, Port of Masbate, Balangingi Island in Pio V. Corpus, Bituon Beach in Mobo, and Gawas Beach in Esperanza
Location within the Philippines
OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 12°16′N 123°35′E / 12.27°N 123.58°E / 12.27; 123.58
CountryPhilippines
RegionBicol Region
FoundedMarch 18, 1901
Capital
and largest city
Masbate City
Government
  GovernorAntonio T. Kho (PDP-Laban)
  Vice GovernorElisa T. Kho (PDP-Laban)
Area
  Total
4,151.78 km2 (1,603.01 sq mi)
  Rank30th out of 81
Highest elevation
(Conical Peak)
699 m (2,293 ft)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
908,920
  Rank32nd out of 81
  Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
   Rank43rd out of 81
DemonymMasbateño
Divisions
  Independent cities0
  Component cities
  Municipalities
  Barangays550
  DistrictsLegislative districts of Masbate
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
IDD:area code+63(0)56
ISO 3166 codePH-MAS
Spoken languages
Websitemasbate.gov.ph

Masbate, officially the Province of Masbate (Masbateño: Probinsya san Masbate; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Masbate), is an island province in the Philippines located near the midsection of the nation's archipelago. Its provincial capital is Masbate City, the most populous in the province. The province consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

Masbate is at the crossroads of two island groups: Visayas and Luzon. It is politically part of Bicol Region in the latter. However, from a bio-geographic and socio-ethno-linguistic perspective, Masbate is grouped in the former.