| Image Alt: | Saint Bernard coastline | ||
| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
| Image Map1: |
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| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | right | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Named For: | Bernardo Torres | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Established Date: | December 9, 1954 | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Edito L. Mulig (PDR) | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Jocelyn L. Bungcaras (PDPLBN) | ||
| Leader Name2: | Christopherson M. Yap | ||
| Leader Title3: | Municipal Council | ||
| Leader Title4: | Electorate | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 786 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 0 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Timezone: | PST | ||
| Utc Offset: | +8 | ||
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code | ||
| Demographics Type1: | Economy | ||
| Demographics1 Title2: | Poverty incidence | ||
| Demographics1 Info2: | % | ||
| Demographics1 Title3: | Revenue | ||
| Demographics1 Title4: | Revenue rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title5: | Assets | ||
| Demographics1 Title6: | Assets rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title7: | IRA | ||
| Demographics1 Title8: | IRA rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title9: | Expenditure | ||
| Demographics1 Title10: | Liabilities | ||
| Demographics Type2: | Service provider | ||
| Demographics2 Title1: | Electricity | ||
| Demographics2 Title2: | Water | ||
| Demographics2 Title3: | Telecommunications | ||
| Demographics2 Title4: | Cable TV | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Saint Bernard, officially the Municipality of Saint Bernard (Kabalian: Lungsod san Saint Bernard; ceb|Lungsod sa Saint Bernard; tl|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.
Saint Bernard is named after Bernardo Torres, the former Governor of Leyte who played a significant role in the town's independence from Cabalian (now San Juan), then in the undivided province of Leyte. In gratitude to Torres, the local inhabitants unanimously chose to name the municipality in his honor. The honorific title "Saint" being a translation of the Spanish 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.
Saint Bernard traces its roots to the largest barrio of Cabalian, then known as "Himatagon".
Governor Bernardo Torres of Leyte, which then encompassed Cabalian, facilitated the conversion of the area into an independent municipality due to the persistent demands of the local inhabitants for separation from Cabalian, later gaining the recommendation of the Leyte Provincial Board.[1] Finally, on December 9, 1954, President Ramon Magsaysay issued Executive Order No. 84, excising Himatagon and 18 other barrios from Cabalian to form the municipality of Saint Bernard.[2] On May 22, 1959, Saint Bernard became part of the newly established province of Southern Leyte, effective July 1, 1960.[3]
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.[4] [5]
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.
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 Magbagacay.
| Barangay | Population (2020) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
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: