Governor of Batanes
| Governor of Batanes | |
|---|---|
| Gobernador ng Lalawigan ng Batanes | |
Incumbent since June 30, 2016Ronald Aguto | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Seat | Batanes Provincial Capitol, Basco |
| Term length | 3 years, renewable maximum not eligible for re-election immediately after three consecutive terms |
| Inaugural holder | José Huelva y Melgarejo[1] |
| Formation | June 26, 1783 |
| Deputy | Vice Governor |
The governor of Batanes is the local chief executive and head of the Provincial Government of Batanes in the Philippines. Along with the governors of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the province's chief executive is a member of the Regional Development Council of the Cagayan Valley Region.
List of governors of Batanes
| Governors of Batanes |
|---|
| 1. SPANISH PERIOD (1783–1898) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 1 | José Huelva y Melgarejo | June 26, 1783 - 1785 | first governor of Batanes (Provincia dela Concepcion).[2] |
| 2 | Miguel del Amo | 1785 – 1789 | [3] |
| 3 | Joaquin del Castillo | 1789 – 1794 | [4] |
| 4 | Felimon Zenoreta | 1794-1798 | [2] |
| 5 | Valerio Bermudez | 1799-1831 | Alcalde of Cagayan when Batanes was annexed to it.[4] |
| 6 | Luis Lima | 1831-1855 | Alcalde of Cagayan |
| 7 | Fernando de la Cueva | 1855-1872 | Province of Batanes was restored.[4] |
| 8 | Jose Serra | 1872-1885 | [2] |
| 9 | Julián Fortea | 1885-September 18, 1898 | last Spanish governor. Died while in office. [4] |
| 2. FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1898–1899) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 1 | Teofilo Castillejos | September 20, 1898 - 1899 | A katipunero. First elected Filipino Governor.[4] | |
| 3. PHILIPPINE LEGISLATURE (1907–1937) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| — | N/A | 1899-1907 | Batanes was again annexed to Cagayan[1] | |
| 2 | Otto Johns Scheerer | August 20, 1909 - November 29, 1909[5] | From Hamburg. First appointed German born Governor. Founded the UP Institute of Linguistics.[6] | |
| 3 | Jose Jimenez | December 6, 1909 - September 12, 1910 | ||
| 4 | George M. Egan | September 17, 1910 - November 6, 1911 | [3] | |
| 5 | Clifton M. Spears | November 13, 1911 - April 8, 1912 | [3] | |
| 6 | George M. Egan | April 29, 1912 - July 21, 1913 | On his second term. | |
| 7 | Alexander Cordenker | July 28, 1913 - February 23, 1915 | ||
| 8 | Ignacio Susara | March 15, 1915 - January 24, 1916 | Acting governor. | |
| 9 | Jose O. Ocampo | January 31, 1916 - February 21, 1916 | ||
| 10 | Ignacio Susara | February 28, 1916 - September 11, 1916 | On his second term. | |
| 11 | Vicente Barsana | September 18, 1916 - January 22, 1917 | Also elected first representative of Batanes | |
| 12 | Jose O. Ocampo | January 29, 1917 - May 3, 1917 | On his second term. | |
| 13 | Lucas Gonzalo | May 15, 1917 - May 6, 1918 | ||
| 14 | Antonio F. Buenaventura | May 20, 1918 - June 10, 1918 | Acting governor. | |
| 15 | Lucas Gonzalo | June 17, 1918 - November 3, 1919 | On his second term | |
| 16 | Mariano A. Lizardo | November 11, 1919 - December 1, 1923 | ||
| 17 | Juan G. Castillejos | January 3, 1923 - September 30, 1925 | Also elected congressman. | |
| 18 | Claudio Castillejos | October 21, 1925 - October 10, 1928 | ||
| 19 | Bernardo Barsana | October 16, 1928 - October 12, 1931 | ||
| 20 | Jose Abad | October 19, 1931 - December 30, 1937 | ||
| 4. COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (1938–1946) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 21 | Domingo Cacho | December 30, 1937 - December 30, 1940 | Elected.[7] | |
| 22 | Juan Agudo | December 30, 1940 - August 31, 1942 | [8] | |
| — | N/A | July 1, 1942 - June 1, 1944 | Japanese time, Batanes was again annexed to Cagayan.[9] | |
| 23 | Victor de Padua | June 1, 1944 - February 28, 1945 | appointed governor | |
| 5. THIRD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1946–1978) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 24 | Mariano Bayares | March 6, 1946 - June 27, 1946 | appointed governor | |
| 25 | Eugenio Agudo | July 18, 1946 - December 30, 1951 | ||
| 26 | Ciriaco A. Abad | December 30, 1951 - December 30, 1955 | ||
| 27 | Marcos P. Malupa | December 30, 1955 - December 30, 1959 | ||
| 28 | Eugenio Agudo | December 30, 1959 - December 30, 1963 | On his second term. | |
| 29 | Silvino Artemio Barsana Agudo | December 30, 1968 – December 30, 1971 | ||
| 30 | Simon G. Gato | December 30, 1971 - June 30, 1978 | [10] | |
| 6. FOURTH PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1978–1986) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 31 | Jose A. Santana | June 30, 1978 – February 19, 1980 | ||
| 32 | Mario C. Lizardo | March 3, 1980 – June 18, 1986 | ||
| 7. FIFTH PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC (1986–present) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Note(s) |
| 33 | Aurora Agan Barsana-Abad | June 18, 1986 - November 30, 1987 |
Appointed governor | |
| 34 | Godofredo C. Fabi | December 1, 1987 - December 5, 1987 |
OIC governor | |
| 35 | Tomas H. Batin | December 6, 1987 - February 1, 1988 |
OIC governor | |
| 36 | Telesforo Castillejos | February 2, 1988 - June 30, 1998 |
Elected in 3 consecutive terms. | |
| 37 | Vicente S. Gato | June 30, 1998 - June 30, 2007 |
Elected in 3 consecutive terms. | |
| 38 | Telesforo Castillejos | June 30, 2007 - June 30, 2010 |
Elected. | |
| 39 | Vicente S. Gato | June 30, 2010 - June 30, 2016 |
Elected in 2 consecutive terms. | |
| 40 | Marilou Horlina Cayco | June 30, 2016 - June 30, 2025 | Elected in 3 consecutive terms.[11] | |
| 41 | Ronald Aguto | June 30, 2025- present | [12] | |
Elections
- 1988 Batanes local elections
- 1992 Batanes local elections
- 1995 Batanes local elections
- 1998 Batanes local elections
- 2001 Batanes local elections
- 2004 Batanes local elections
- 2007 Batanes local elections
- 2010 Batanes local elections
- 2013 Batanes local elections
- 2016 Batanes local elections
- 2019 Batanes local elections
- 2022 Batanes local elections
- 2025 Batanes local elections
References
- ^ a b "Batanes - Brief History". VisitMyPhilippines.com and Department of Tourism. December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Batanes Provincial Capitol Building". guidetothephilippines.ph. March 24, 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c "History of Batanes Islands". Heritage and Tourism Office of Batanes. December 31, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Ivatan People of the Philippines: History, Customs, Culture and Traditions [Batanes Islands]". Yodisphere.com. September 1, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ Florentino H. Hornedo, Ph.D (December 31, 2019). "A Brief History Of Batanes". Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "Otto Johns Scheerer". Geni.com. April 27, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- ^ "Executive Order No. 133, s. 1937, CONFIRMING THE ELECTION OF PROVINCIAL AND CITY OFFICERS ELECTED ON DECEMBER 14, 1937". Official Gazette (Philippines). December 29, 1937. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Executive Order No. 315, s. 1940, CONFIRMING THE ELECTIONS OF PROVINCIAL AND CITY OFFICERS ELECTED ON DECEMBER 10, 1940". December 28, 1940. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Philippines (August 31, 1942). Official Gazette Philippines, 1942. p. 447-448. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Nathan Alcantara (June 8, 2019). "Newbie politico a physician seeking to cure Batanes' ailments". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Ramon Efren Lazaro (May 12, 2022). "More incumbents reelected". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "No more crack in 'Solid North' as Marcos' PFP captures Batanes". Rappler. May 14, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.