Catanduanes

Catanduanes (; Tagalog pronunciation: [kɐtɐndʊˈɐnes]), officially the Province of Catanduanes (Filipino: Lalawigan ng Catanduanes), is an island province located in the Bicol Region of Luzon in the Philippines. It is the 12th-largest island in the Philippines, and lies to the east of Camarines Sur, across the Maqueda Channel. Its capital, and most populated town is Virac. Catanduanes had a population of 261,169 people as of the 2024 census. The province comprises Catanduanes (mainland or main island), as well as the outer islands of Panay, Leyte, the Palumbanes group of islands (Porongpong, Tignob, and Calabagio), and several small islets and rocks. The province is also home to various mollusc fossil sites, notably the second-oldest ammonite site in the Philippines. These sites contain certain species of ammonites that are found nowhere else in Southeast Asia. Because of the province's importance and rich geologic history, scholars have suggested that it could be named a UNESCO Geopark Reserve. In the early 20th century, Catanduanes was a sub-province of Ambos Camarines and later, of Albay. It became an autonomous province in 1945. Congressman Francisco Perfecto filed House Bill No. 301, which separated the province from Albay; the bill was approved on September 26, 1945, and signed into law by President Sergio Osmeña on October 24, 1945. Remigio Socito, previously the Lieutenant Governor, was appointed the first Provincial Governor. When elections were held in 1947, Alfonso V. Usero became the first elected Governor. On April 15, 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11700, declaring Catanduanes province as the Philippines' abacá capital.