Hinunangan


Hinunangan, officially the Municipality of Hinunangan, is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 29,149 people.

History

Hinunangan, originally known as Hononganan, has a history dating back to 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan recorded its sighting during his voyage through Leyte Gulf. By 1750, the area had become a midway trading station for Boholano merchants trading in Eastern Leyte. These traders would moor their boats and rest overnight at the mouth of the Das-ay River, where they built a shelter known as a "hononganan" or stopover, which later became the town’s namesake.
In 1822, Palonoy, a Boholano settler, formally established Hinunangan as a permanent settlement. At the time, Silago and Hinundayan and Anahawan were part of Hinunangan’s territory. The town later became a mission station under Abuyog, with Fray Pedro Monasterio arriving in 1850. Due to difficulty pronouncing "Hononganan," he began referring to it as "Hinunangan", a name that became official.
The Hinunangan Parish was formally established on March 26, 1851, with Fray Pedro as its first parish priest. In 1853, Palonoy donated land for the construction of Hinunangan Church, which was built using hardwood, reflecting the town’s strong religious foundations. The Municipal Building and Parochial House were initially built from nipa, signifying the greater importance given to religious structures over government institutions at the time.
By 1886, Hinunangan had a population of 5,140 and 1,338 taxpayers, with rice, abaca, corn, and coconut as its main agricultural products. The town also had a community-supported primary school under Fray Pedro’s guidance. Over time, Silago, Hinundayan, and Anahawan became independent parishes and later separate municipalities.
Hinunangan also played a role in World War II history. In 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the largest naval battle in history—a blocking warship of the Allied Liberation forces engaged the Japanese fleet near Hinunangan, marking the area as a significant frontier in Philippine and global history.
Today, Hinunangan remains a historic coastal town with deep cultural and religious roots, shaped by centuries of trade, colonization, and war.

2007 earthquake

On July 19, 2007, a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hinunangan, causing an estimated ₱1.65 million in damages—₱790,000 to government infrastructure and ₱860,000 to private properties.
Public damage included the water system, Das-ay Bridge railguard, and several schools, while private losses affected the Roman Catholic bell tower, Catholic convent water tank, chapels, homes, and appliances. The disaster impacted key facilities, but recovery efforts followed soon after.

Geography

Hinunangan is home to the highest mountain in the province, Mount Nacolod, with an elevation of above sea level.

Barangays

Hinunangan is politically subdivided into 40 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
There are two of which are island barangays located at the east of the town. The twin islands are accessible by motorized boats through Barangay Canipa-an.
BarangayPopulation
Population
Population
Population
Ambacon637637678615
Badiangon647589641681
Bangcas A668743777862
Bangcas B903959982913
Biasong609566599652
Bugho9611,0031,0611,147
Calag-itan1,1671,1801,2061,163
Calayugan678700754866
Calinao317264261218
Canipaan1,4251,5091,6351,611
Catublian1,3731,5031,5801,445
Ilaya520472518457
Ingan9231,0181,049937
Labrador800802844745
Libas463449512431
Lumbog363337381334
Manalog700731754781
Manlico745752766701
Matin-ao506520547551
Nava1,7981,8011,9461,924
Nueva Esperanza651664683724
Otama543593531504
Palongpong405475533488
Panalaron588677753790
Patong706710718735
Poblacion799898923638
Pondol9579931,035989
Salog349353374368
Salvacion519483496483
San Pablo Island427440460445
San Pedro Island473486493459
Santo Niño I559524552513
Santo Niño II9461,0041,0431,096
Tahusan9209609911,080
Talisay553597693663
Tawog486523557594
Toptop434419443411
Tuburan600627635587
Union397378402404
Upper Bantawon197162170144

Economy

Banking and Finance

Education

Primary schools

  • Hinunangan East Central School
  • Hinunangan West Central School
  • Holy Rosary Academy of Hinunangan, INC. Elementary School
  • Catublian Elementary School
  • Nava Elementary School
  • Canipaan Elementary School
  • Ambacon Elementary School
  • Calag-itan Elementary School
  • Pondol Elementary School
  • Manalog Elementary School
  • Patong Elementary School
  • Otama Elementary School
  • Tahusan Elementary School
  • Ingan Elementary School
  • Kabaskan Elementary School
  • Ilaya Elementary School
  • Senda Elementary School
  • Tuburan Elementary School

Secondary schools

Tertiary Schools

Others

Healthcare

Communication

Mobile:
Cable television:
Internet:
  • SMART 4G Network
  • Globe 4G Network
  • MKG Fiber Broadband Data Solutions
  • NGN Fiber Broadband Data Solutions
  • RV-Tech Fiber Broadband Solutions
  • Starlink Satellite Broadband