Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte


Saint Bernard, officially the Municipality of Saint Bernard, is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 28,414 people.
WWW saintbernard.gov.ph

Etymology

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.

History

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. 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. On May 22, 1959, Saint Bernard became part of the newly established province of Southern Leyte, effective July 1, 1960.
On February 17, 2006, a tragic series of mudslides killed over 1,100 residents in Barangay Guinsaugon, in the northern part of the town. Affected families received aid from the Philippine government and other non-government organizations from around the world. Guinsaugon got buried as the result of the mudslides and thus New Guinsaugon was built close from the original site.

Geography

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

Barangays

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 [2006 Southern Leyte (province)|Leyte mudslide|completely wiped out from a landslide in 2006]. Survivors were relocated to Magbagacay and have their own barangays.
BarangayPopulation
Atuyan467
Ayahag417
Bantawon228
Bolodbolod1,275
Carnaga923
Catmon2,548
Guinsaugon47
Himatagon 1,748
Himbangan2,661
Himos-onan702
Hinabian99
Hindag-an1,605
Kauswagan28
Libas411
Lipanto1,276
Magatas88
Magbagacay2,441
Mahayag662
Mahayahay1,701
Malibago1,557
Malinao42
Maria Asuncion 1,264
Nueva Esperanza 107
Panian1,335
San Isidro1,953
Santa Cruz313
Sug-angon382
Tabon-tabon312
Tambis 1882
Tambis 2940

Economy

Saint Bernard's economy are based in agriculture and marine culture. 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 municipality is considered among the fastest growing economy in the pacific area of Southern Leyte.
The common mode of transportation is by bicycles with side cars, known locally as "Potpot", or tricycles with side cars, called "trisikads "or center cabs and "habal-habal", a motorcycle with a rudimentary roof.
The Port of Saint Bernard reopened on March 15, 2025. The only shipping company that operates in the Port of Saint Bernard is GT Express Shipping Corp. with its GT1/Star Asia vessels a new route between Saint Bernard and Lipata, Surigao operates on a daily schedule.
The LGU established the Saint Bernard Town Center for economic activities of small to medium entrepreneurs.

Tourism - Accommodation Facilities

  • Kissbone Cove Resort - Brgy, Magbagacay
  • Marabel Hotel - Brgy. Magbagacay
  • Demar Travelers Lodge - Brgy. Magbagacay
  • Zhykiah Lodge - Brgy Himatagon
  • Jessa's Lodging House - Brgy Himatagon
  • Emzelindy - Brgy Magbagacay
  • Eso Polo - Brgy Magbagacay
  • Forest Spring Resort - Brgy Himos-onan

Tourism Destinations (Existing/Operational)

  • Hindag-an Falls- Barangay Hindag-an
  • Lipanto Marine Sanctuary- Barangay Lipanto
  • Sangat Cave and Beach- Barangay Hindag-an
  • Saub Beach- Barangay Lipanto
  • Ground Zero Memorial Park & Lawigan River- Lawigan River, access at Brgy Tambis I
  • Atabay - Brgy. Himos-onan
  • Forest Spring Resort - Brgy. Himos-onan
  • Emzelindy Pool Park & Resort - Brgy. Magbagacay
  • Eso Polo - Brgy. Magbagacay
  • Tubod Mountain Resort - Brgy Panian
  • Municipal Disaster Management Office - LGU Compound, Municipal Building, Barangay Himatagon

Education

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-located in Brgy. Tambis 1, Saint Bernard Southern Leyte
  • Himbangan National High School - located in Brgy. Himbangan, Saint Bernard Southern Leyte
  • Cristo Rey Regional High School - the only diocesan and private school in Saint Bernard
  • New Guinsaugon National High School - relocation area of New Guinsaugon, Brgy.Guinsaugon
  • Catmon Integrated School - located in Brgy.Catmon Saint Bernard Southern Leyte