Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte

Municipality in Southern Leyte, Philippines

Municipality in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Saint Bernard

Municipality

Municipality of Saint Bernard

Flag

Map of Southern Leyte with Saint Bernard highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Saint Bernard

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 10°17′N 125°08′E﻿ / ﻿10.28°N 125.13°E﻿ / 10.28; 125.13
Country| Philippines
Region| Eastern Visayas
Province| Southern Leyte
District|  2nd district
Founded| December 9, 1954
Barangays| 30 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Edito L. Mulig (PDR)
• Vice Mayor| Jocelyn L. Bungcaras (PDPLBN)
• Representative| Christopherson M. Yap
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Bernadito G. Añora
* Rito C. Cuaton
* Josephine Cinco-Gumapac
* Gypsie L. So
* Raydon Balasico
* Emily G. Acampado
* Saturnino V. Cinco
* Eralin D. Caday

• Electorate| 18,603 voters (2022)
Area

[2]

• Total| 100.20 km2 (38.69 sq mi)
Elevation

| 129 m (423 ft)
Highest elevation

| 786 m (2,579 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2020 census)[3]

• Total| 28,414
• Density| 280/km2 (730/sq mi)
• Households

| 6,254
Economy

• Income class| 4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

29.18

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 124.8 million (2020)
• Assets| ₱ 338 million (2020)
• Expenditure| ₱ 107.9 million (2020)
• Liabilities| ₱ 68.26 million (2020)
Service provider

• Electricity| Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

6613

PSGC|

086412000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)53
Native languages| Kinabalian
Boholano dialect
Cebuano
Tagalog
Website| www.saintbernard.gov.ph

Saint Bernard, officially the Municipality of Saint Bernard (Kabalian: Lungsod san Saint Bernard; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Saint Bernard; Tagalog: Bayan ng Saint Bernard), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 28,414 people.[3]

## History

[edit]

Landslide at Barangay Guinsaugon

This town was formerly the largest barrio of San Juan, then known as "Himatagon". On December 9, 1954, President Ramon Magsaysay issued Executive Order No. 84, transforming the barrio as a municipality of Saint Bernard. It was through the efforts of Leyte Governor Bernardo Torres that the conversion was made possible in response to the lingering clamour of the inhabitants for an independent and separate municipality from San Juan. As a gratitude to Governor Bernardo Torres, the people unanimously renamed Himatagon as Saint Bernard, with the honorific title "Saint" being a translation of the vernacular honorific "San" which is given to persons of virtue, wisdom, or generosity and the name Bernard being the English version of the name Bernardo.[5]

On February 17, 2006, a tragic series of mudslides killed over 1,100 residents in Barangay Guinsaugon, a barangay in the northern parts of the town. Affected families were treated by the Philippine government and other non-government organizations from all over the world. New houses were built, and the people chose "New Guinsaugon" as the name, (by adding the prefix "New"), of their village located one mile east of the town's proper.[6][7]

## Geography

[edit]

The town is situated on the Pacific coast, facing Cabalian Bay and the first town on Route 690 (from it towards Abuyog) from the eastern side of Sogod Bay.

### Barangays

[edit]

Saint Bernard is politically subdivided into 30 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Only 28 barangays are currently functioning, as Guinsaugon and Sug-angon were completely wiped out from a landslide during 2006. The survivors of the landslide were relocated to New Guinsaugon in Brgy. Magbagacay.

Barangay  | Population (2020)[3]

|

Atuyan | 467
Ayahag | 417
Bantawon | 228
Bolodbolod | 1,275
Carnaga | 923
Catmon | 2,548
Guinsaugon | 47
Himatagon (Poblacion) | 1,748
Himbangan | 2,661
Himos-onan | 702
Hinabian | 99
Hindag-an | 1,605
Kauswagan | 28
Libas | 411
Lipanto | 1,276
Magatas | 88
Magbagacay | 2,441
Mahayag | 662
Mahayahay | 1,701
Malibago | 1,557
Malinao | 42
Maria Asuncion (Cabagawan) | 1,264
Nueva Esperanza (Cabac-an) | 107
Panian | 1,335
San Isidro | 1,953
Santa Cruz | 313
Sug-angon | 382
Tabon-tabon | 312
Tambis Uno | 882
Tambis Dos | 940

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 27
(81)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 21
(70)  | 21
(70)  | 21
(70)  | 22
(72)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 22
(72)  | 23
(73)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 78
(3.1)  | 57
(2.2)  | 84
(3.3)  | 79
(3.1)  | 118
(4.6)  | 181
(7.1)  | 178
(7.0)  | 169
(6.7)  | 172
(6.8)  | 180
(7.1)  | 174
(6.9)  | 128
(5.0)  | 1,598
(62.9)
Average rainy days  | 16.7  | 13.8  | 17.3  | 18.5  | 23.2  | 26.5  | 27.1  | 26.0  | 26.4  | 27.5  | 24.6  | 21.0  | 268.6
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[8]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of Saint Bernard| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1960 | 11,621| —
1970 | 17,296| +4.05%
1975 | 19,255| +2.18%
1980 | 19,153| −0.11%
1990 | 20,760| +0.81%
1995 | 21,363| +0.54%
| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2000 | 23,089| +1.68%
2007 | 25,252| +1.24%
2010 | 25,169| −0.12%
2015 | 28,395| +2.32%
2020 | 28,414| +0.01%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [9][10][11][12]

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Saint Bernard

2006
34.00

2009
42.73

2012
39.49

2015
40.24

2018
25.48

2021
29.18

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Saint Bernard's economy are based in agriculture and marine culture. The municipality is considered among the fastest growing economy in the pacific area of Southern Leyte.

Saint Bernard is a peninsula and therefore it is almost entirely surrounded by water. The majority of the people who live in the flat lands engage in fishing as their main mode of livelihood. Those who live in the mountain barangays, live through farming.

The common mode of transportation is by bicycles with side cars, known locally as "Potpot" (a type of pedicab) or, depending on the distance, tricycles with side cars, called "trisikads "or center cabs and "habal-habal", a motorcycle with a roof made up of wood or metal, operating in the area's environs.

The LGU established the Saint Bernard Town Center for economic activities of some small to medium sedium entrepreneurs.

## Tourism

[edit]

* Hindag-an Falls- Barangay Hindag-an
* Tinago Beach- Barangay Magbagacay
* Tinago Spring Falls- Barangay Ayahag
* Lipanto Marine Sanctuary- Barangay Lipanto
* Himbangan Bird Sanctuary- Barangay Himbangan
* Sangat Cave and Beach- Barangay Hindag-an
* Saub Beach- Barangay Lipanto
* Ground Zero Memorial Park & Lawigan River- Lawigan River, access at Brgy Tambis I
* Libas River- Barangay Libas
* Kissbone Cove and Resort- Barangay Magbagacay
* Santo Nino Shrine - Sitio Cansi, Barangay Himatagon
* Municipal Disaster Management Office - LGU Compound, Municipal Building, Barangay Himatagon

## Education

[edit]

There are accessible elementary schools in every Barangay in the municipality as of its 2019 census.

List of Secondary Schools in the Municipality of Saint Bernard.

* Tambis National High School- Barangay Tambis 1
* Himbangan National High School- Barangay Himbangan
* Cristo Rey Regional High School- Barangay Malibago. The only diocesain and private school in the area.
* New Guinsaugon National High School - relocation area of New Guinsaugon, Barangay Magbagacay

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Saint Bernard |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: year (link)
3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "Historical Background". Municipality of Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
6. ^ "Mud wipes out Philippines village". BBC News. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
7. ^ S. G. Evans; R. H. Guthrie; N. J. Roberts; N. F. Bishop (2007). "The disastrous 17 February 2006 rockslide-debris avalanche on Leyte Island, Philippines: a catastrophic landslide in tropical mountain terrain" (PDF). Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 7 (1). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
8. ^ "Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
9. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
10. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
11. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.`{{cite encyclopedia}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
12. ^ "Province of Southern Leyte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
13. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
14. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
15. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
16. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
17. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
18. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
19. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
20. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte.

* Official website
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Local Governance Performance Management System

Places adjacent to Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte

|  | Hinunangan |

|
|

|  |
Libagon |

Saint Bernard

| Anahawan
San Juan
|  |
Liloan | Cabalian Bay |

* v
* t
* e

Province of Southern Leyte

Maasin (capital and largest city)

Municipalities|

* Anahawan
* Bontoc
* Hinunangan
* Hinundayan
* Libagon
* Liloan
* Limasawa
* Macrohon
* Malitbog
* Padre Burgos
* Pintuyan
* Saint Bernard
* San Francisco
* San Juan
* San Ricardo
* Silago
* Sogod
* Tomas Oppus

Component City|

* Maasin

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template