San Ricardo


San Ricardo, officially the Municipality of San Ricardo, is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. The municipality is 152 kilometers from Maasin, the provincial capital, and 190 kilometers from Tacloban, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 10,500 people.

History

The town was formerly part of Pintuyan, Southern Leyte and composed of 16 barangays: Alangalang, Benit, Bitoon, Buenavista, Cabutan, Camang, Capingkit, Cogon, Esperanza, Kinachawa, Lobo, Piinut-an, San Ramon, San Ricardo, Saub, and Timba.
On October 24, 1965, it became a separate town through Executive Order 194 signed by President Diosdado Macapagal.

Geography

The town's coastal waters are part of the Panaon Island Protected Seascape.

Barangays

San Ricardo is politically subdivided into 15 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks, and some have sitios.
  • Benit
  • Bitoon
  • Cabutan
  • Camang
  • Esperanza
  • Esperanza Dos
  • Inolinan
  • Kinachawa
  • Looc
  • Pinut-an
  • Poblacion
  • San Antonio
  • San Ramon
  • Saub
  • Timba

Transportation

Seaport

San Ricardo Port, also known as Benit Port, is a roro port serving routes to and from Lipata Port, Surigao City, and connects to the Pan-Philippine Highway that originates from Laoag to its southern terminus in Zamboanga City. Montenegro Shipping Lines is the primary ferry service for Lipata Port and Benit Port.

Land

San Ricardo also has a bus terminal, named Benit Integrated Bus Terminal, with routes to and from Manila and Davao. DLTBCo, Ultrabus, CUL Transportation, and other bus companies provide transportation from San Ricardo to Luzon. Bachelor Express also serves San Ricardo with routes from Davao to Ormoc and Tacloban.