Malitbog, Southern Leyte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Malitbog
Municipality
Municipality of Malitbog
Roman Catholic Church of Santo Niño
Flag
Map of Southern Leyte with Malitbog highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Malitbog Location in Philippines
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Southern Leyte
District	[[{{#property:P7938}} | — Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1804: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]
Barangays	37 (see Barangays)
Government
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
Area
• Total	74.97 km2 (28.95 sq mi)
Elevation	91 m (299 ft)
Highest elevation	446 m (1,463 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	23,256
• Density	310.204/km2 (803.42/sq mi)
• Households	4,728
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	29.94 % (2021)
• Revenue	₱ 141.9 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 365.9 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 97.55 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 33.82 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6603
PSGC	[https://psa.gov.ph/classification/psgc/?q=psgc/barangays/{{#pro000&regcode={{&provcode= p {{#property:P988}} ]
IDD : area code	+63 (0)53
Native languages	Boholano dialect Cebuano Tagalog
Website	www.malitbog-sleyte.gov.ph

Malitbog, officially known as the Municipality of Malitbog, is a town in the Southern Leyte province of the Philippines. It is located on the island of Leyte. As of the 2020 census, about 23,256 people live there.

History of Malitbog

The Malitbog Santo Nino Church. The Malitbog Watch Tower, built in 1862

The town of Malitbog started in the early 1700s. This is known from old stone watchtowers called "Baluarte." These towers were built in 1820 and are found in Barangay Caaga and Barangay Abgao.

How Malitbog Got Its Name

Long ago, the two main villages, Caaga and Abgao, had strong leaders called capitanes. These leaders often argued about who should rule. When the Spanish tried to create a town center, people were confused about where to put it. In the local language, "makalibog" means "confusing." So, the Spanish named the new town Malitbog, which sounds like "makalibog." They built the town center right in the middle of the two villages.

Building the Church and Town

A Roman Catholic priest helped the two villages agree to build a bigger church together. They decided to build it in a neutral spot, between the two villages. The beautiful Roman Catholic Church was built in 1857. A watchtower was also built in 1862 at the end of a line that divided the two villages. Malitbog officially became a town on December 14, 1849.

Later, in 1897, a building was constructed near the church. This building was likely the government office during the Spanish rule. After the Spanish-American War, leaders like Capitan Tonio Base and Capitan Esteban Piramide were known in the area.

Malitbog in Modern Times

When the Americans took over in the early 1900s, they set up public elementary schools. One school building later became the Municipal Hall, which is where the local government works today.

Over time, parts of Malitbog became separate towns. In 1957, the southern part, including Limasawa Island, became the town of Padre Burgos. Then, 14 years later, the northern part became the town of Tomas Oppus. Today, Malitbog has 37 barangays, which are like small communities or villages. Many of these barangays are along the coast, while others are inland or in the mountains.

Geography of Malitbog

Malitbog is located in the southern part of Leyte Island in the Philippines. It is part of Region VIII, also known as Eastern Visayas. The town is situated along the coast of Sogod Bay.

Neighboring Towns

• To the northwest, Malitbog borders Macrohon and Maasin City, which is the capital of Southern Leyte.
• To the northeast, it borders Tomas Oppus.
• To the south, it borders Padre Burgos.

Malitbog is about 228 kilometers (142 miles) from Tacloban City, the main city of Region VIII. You can reach Malitbog by bus or other public vehicles. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to travel to and from Maasin City, and 30-40 minutes to Sogod. Traveling to Tacloban City takes about 2-4 hours.

Barangays: Communities of Malitbog

Malitbog is divided into 37 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has its own smaller sections called puroks, and some also have sitios. These are like neighborhoods or small villages within the town.

Climate in Malitbog

Malitbog has a tropical climate. This means it is generally warm all year round. The table below shows the average temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.

Demographics: Who Lives in Malitbog?

The population of Malitbog has changed over the years. A "census" is like a big count of all the people living in a place. The table below shows how many people have lived in Malitbog at different times.

Economy: How Malitbog Earns Money

Malitbog is classified as a 4th municipal income class town. This means it is a smaller town in terms of its income compared to larger cities or municipalities in the Philippines. The local government manages its budget, including revenues (money coming in) and expenditures (money going out) to provide services for its residents.

Notable People from Malitbog

• Ruperto Kangleon
• Iliff David Richardson