Tolosa, Leyte

Municipality in Leyte, Philippines

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Municipality in Eastern Visayas, Philippines

Tolosa

Municipality

Municipality of Tolosa

Flag

Nickname:

Home of Catmon Hill

Map of Leyte with Tolosa highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Tolosa

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 11°03′48″N 125°02′07″E﻿ / ﻿11.0633°N 125.0353°E﻿ / 11.0633; 125.0353
Country| Philippines
Region| Eastern Visayas
Province| Leyte
District|  1st district
Barangays| 15 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Erwin C. Ocaña
• Vice Mayor| Elizabeth S. Eracho
• Representative| Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez
• Councilors|

List

* • Daphne Dayn Roa
* • Purisima Z. Ocaña
* • Jose Mari Ildefonso C. Roa
* • Rolando B. Legaspi
* • Ireneo Rolando Lumbre
* • Manuel Balledo
* • Felicito Beltran III
* • Rouen Angely Tubongbanua
* DILG Masterlist of Officials

• Electorate| 15,557 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 22.54 km2 (8.70 sq mi)
Elevation

| 21 m (69 ft)
Highest elevation

| 779 m (2,556 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 22,016
• Density| 980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
• Households

| 5,252
Economy

• Income class| 5th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

24.75

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 129.6 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 317 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 105.3 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 75.41 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Coperative (DORELCO)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

6503

PSGC|

0803749000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)53
Native languages| Waray
Tagalog

Tolosa, officially the Municipality of Tolosa (Waray: Bungto han Tolosa; Tagalog: Bayan ng Tolosa), is a municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 20,708 people.[5]

It is located 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Tacloban.

The cities closest to Tolosa are Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Borongan, Catbalogan, and Maasin. The nearest municipalities are Tanauan, Tabontabon, Dulag, Palo, Julita, and Dagami. Its distance from the national capital is 588.52 kilometers (365.69 miles).[citation needed]

## History

[edit]

According to popular beliefs, Tolosa derived its name from a legend about three chieftains (datus) who united their chiefdoms[citation needed]. According to the legend, the area that is now Tolosa was ruled by three great datus: the datu of fishing, the datu of harvest and the datu of hunting. Typical of chiefdoms in those times, the three datus regard each other with hostility. One time a great battle broke out among the three of them. Their people fought valiantly in defense of each datu. But the three datus were strong they could not defeat each other. Accidentally they were hit by their own swords and they died. Their blood spilt everywhere. Then came a great earthquake followed by a tsunami. When the floodwaters subsided, three promontories rose on three sides of the three datus' lands, as if acting as defensive walls of the contiguous land. Survivors of the great battle realized that the three hills were their great datus who were now united in protecting them from outside dangers. From three (tolo) they became one (usa).

Tolosa was once part of the nearby municipality of Tanauan. Magdaleno Vivero and Domingo Camacho petitioned the Spanish Government to grant Tolosa autonomy from Tanauan. The petition was approved in 1852, resulting in great jubilation among the new town's inhabitants. The town's residents, however, continued to call a nearby promontory Inapusong after the town's old name. Spanish officials named the town in honor of Tolosa, a town in the Basque Country, Spain. The town was formally founded in 1861 and became a parish on February 12, 1863. Its first parish priest was Padre Geronimo Asenjo, a Spaniard. The first Filipino priest of the parish was Father Quintin Bautista. In 1910, a plan to abolish the municipality worried its inhabitants. Brigido Lauzon became the first civilian Mayor of Tolosa during American occupation in 1901. Owing to the efforts of Captain Daniel Romualdez, grandfather of the late Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez, the plan to return Tolosa to the care of Tanauan was averted.

During the liberation of the Philippines in 1944, Tolosa and its north eastern neighboring towns were spared from bombardment by the United States and Philippine Commonwealth forces when Eagle Scout Valeriano Abello of barangay San Roque, including two other identified scouts braved Japanese sniper fire and directed US and Filipino fire to the exact location of Japanese batteries along Leyte's north-eastern coast. Abello's act saved the lives of thousands of Leytenos and allowed the Filipino Soldiers and Allied Forces unhampered landing on the coast. This unhampered attack dealt the blow that broke the back of the Japanese resistance in Leyte, and ultimately The Philippines.

A few days after the return of General Douglas MacArthur and the forces of liberation in Leyte, Tolosa became the base of the U.S Navy, as well as the 6th and 13th Air Force. It was in Tanghas, a barangay in Tolosa, where the famous American composer Irving Berlin first presented his renowned composition "Heaven Watch the Philippines" together with his Filipino audience including then President Sergio Osmeña and Carlos P. Romulo. During World War II the Tolosa was part of a large US Navy base Leyte-Samar Naval Base.

About 4 decades ago, Tolosa suffered its worst environmental disaster. The sand in the beaches of Tolosa were black until the 1970s because of the abundance of the mineral called magnetite, a naturally magnetized iron, which was a prime raw material for high quality steel. INCO (Iron, Nickel & Copper Ore), a mining company based in nearby barangay Opong, stripped the town's beaches of vegetation to get the mineral, destroying much of the wide beaches and rendering the town's coastal defenses bare against the onslaught of tidal erosion.

Then First Lady Imelda Marcos developed the area between the sea and Mt. Inapusong and built a large compound where she entertained Miss Universe candidates during the pageant held in Manila.

## Geography

[edit]

### Barangays

[edit]

Tolosa is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. [6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Burak
* Canmogsay
* Cantariwis
* Capangihan
* Doña Brigida
* Imelda
* Malbog
* Olot
* Opong
* Poblacion
* Quilao
* San Roque
* San Vicente
* Tanghas
* Telegrafo

## The Municipal Government

[edit]

Mayor Erwin C. Ocana delivering his remarks on the commemoration of the 9th Anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda, November 8, 2022 Photo by Local Government Unit of Tolosa, Leyte

The Municipality of Tolosa, as a Fifth - Class Municipality, is a fifth - class Local Government Unit. it is headed by the Municipal Mayor which elected at - large every three years. The Vice Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan, with the eight (8) regular Sangguniang Bayan members. The President of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and the President of the Pamabayang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan (PPSK) serves part of the Sangguniang Bayan as Ex - Officio Members.

Below are the list of the Municipal Mayors of Tolosa since 1901.

* Brigido Lauzon (1901 - 1902)
* Balbino Kahano (1941 - 1942)
* Luis A. Trinchera (1946 - 1948, 1953 - 1956, 1964 - 1967)
* Cesareo Colasito (1949 - 1953)
* Matias A. Palaña, Sr. (1956 - 1959)
* Uldarico M. Lauzon (1960 - 1963)
* Dalmacio R. Colasito (1968 - 1971)
* Ildefonso C. Roa (1972 - 1980; 1992 - 1995)
* Pedro K. Palaña, Jr. (January 23, 1980 - February 29, 1980)
* Cesar T. Palaña (1980 - 1986)
* Eliodoro Lauzon (1986 - 1987)
* Sabiniano Soyosa (1987 - 1988)
* Felicisimo M. Zabala (1988 - 1992)
* Edilberto V. Zabala (1995 - 2004)
* Hilario G. Caadan (2004 - 2010)
* Maria Ofelia O. Alcantara (2019 - 2022)
* Erwin C. Ocaña (2010 - 2019, 2022–present)

### Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Tolosa, Leyte

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 28
(82)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 30
(86)  | 30
(86)  | 29
(84)  | 29
(84)  | 28
(82)  | 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 22
(72)  | 23
(73)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 24
(75)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(73)  | 23
(74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 90
(3.5)  | 67
(2.6)  | 82
(3.2)  | 70
(2.8)  | 97
(3.8)  | 145
(5.7)  | 142
(5.6)  | 127
(5.0)  | 132
(5.2)  | 152
(6.0)  | 169
(6.7)  | 144
(5.7)  | 1,417
(55.8)
Average rainy days  | 17.0  | 13.5  | 16.0  | 16.5  | 20.6  | 24.3  | 26.0  | 25.4  | 25.2  | 26.4  | 23.0  | 21.0  | 254.9
Source: Meteoblue[7]

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of Tolosa| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1903 | 5,177| —
1918 | 5,160| −0.02%
1939 | 6,660| +1.22%
1948 | 8,569| +2.84%
1960 | 8,156| −0.41%
1970 | 9,226| +1.24%
1975 | 10,747| +3.11%
1980 | 10,864| +0.22%
| Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1990 | 13,299| +2.04%
1995 | 13,927| +0.87%
2000 | 14,539| +0.93%
2007 | 16,839| +2.05%
2010 | 17,921| +2.29%
2015 | 20,978| +3.05%
2020 | 20,708| −0.27%
2024 | 22,016| +1.48%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [8][9][10][11]

In the 2020 census, the population of Tolosa, Leyte, was 20,708 people,[12] with a density of 920 inhabitants per square kilometre or 2,400 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Tolosa

2000
28.74

2003
28.42

2006
18.20

2009
24.43

2012
20.65

2015
28.24

2018
20.96

2021
24.75

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

## Tourism

[edit]

* Karisyuhan Festival & Tribu Bungkaras of San Roque,Tolosa Leyte
* Kalipayan or Olot Mansion
* Romualdez Mausoleum
* Sacred Heart Shrine on top of the bulwark of Mt. Inapusong
* Miramar Beach, former U.S Navy base
* Bil-At Beach Resort
* St. Michael Parish Church
* Statue of late Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez
* Monument of Eagle Scout Valeriano Abello, one of the three hero scouts of the Philippines during World War II.
* The steep rocky slopes of Mt. Inapusong
* Pacific-borne waves for surfing

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Tolosa |  (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.
3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
6. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
7. ^ "Tolosa: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
8. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ 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.
11. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
12. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
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]

* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
* Philippine Census Information
* Local Governance Performance Management System Archived 2012-06-03 at the Wayback Machine

Places adjacent to Tolosa, Leyte

|  | Tanauan | San Pedro Bay

|
|

|  |
Tanauan |

Tolosa

| Leyte Gulf
|  |
Julita | Dulag |

* v
* t
* e

Province of Leyte

Tacloban (capital and largest city)

Municipalities|

* Abuyog
* Alangalang
* Albuera
* Babatngon
* Barugo
* Bato
* Burauen
* Calubian
* Capoocan
* Carigara
* Dagami
* Dulag
* Hilongos
* Hindang
* Inopacan
* Isabel
* Jaro
* Javier
* Julita
* Kananga
* La Paz
* Leyte
* MacArthur
* Mahaplag
* Matag-ob
* Matalom
* Mayorga
* Merida
* Palo
* Palompon
* Pastrana
* San Isidro
* San Miguel
* Santa Fe
* Tabango
* Tabontabon
* Tanauan
* Tolosa
* Tunga
* Villaba

Component city|

* Baybay

Independent component city|

* Ormoc (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Leyte by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

Highly urbanized city|

* Tacloban (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Leyte by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

*[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
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