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	₱ 92.88 million (2020)
• Assets	₱ 295.3 million (2020)
• Expenditure	₱ 80.17 million (2020)
• Liabilities	₱ 49.43 million (2020)
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 called the Municipality of Malitbog (in Cebuano: Lungsod sa Malitbog; in Tagalog: Bayan ng Malitbog), is a town in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. It's a 4th class municipality, which means it's a smaller town in terms of income. In 2020, about 23,256 people lived there.

A Look Back: Malitbog's History

The Malitbog Santo Nino Church.

The Malitbog Watch Tower, built in 1862

The town of Malitbog started a long time ago, in the early 1700s. We know this from old stone walls of watchtowers called "Baluarte." These towers were built in 1820. They are found in the areas of Caaga and Abgao.

How Malitbog Got Its Name

Long ago, two leaders, called capitanes, ruled the areas of Caaga and Abgao. They both wanted to be in charge of the whole area. This caused a lot of confusion among the people. In the local language, "makalibog" means confusing. When the Spanish organized the town, they called it Malitbog, which sounds like "makalibog." They built the town center right in the middle of the two rival areas.

The Church and Watchtowers

A Roman Catholic priest helped the two groups come together. They decided to build a big church in a neutral spot, between the two areas. The beautiful Roman Catholic Church was built in 1857 using forced labor. A watchtower was also built in 1862 at the end of a dividing line that started from the church and went to the shoreline.

Malitbog officially became a town on December 14, 1849. It was later reorganized, and its borders included the island of Limasawa.

Government Buildings and Schools

In 1897, a building was constructed that was likely the government's main office during the Spanish rule. Later, during the American period in the early 1900s, public elementary schools were started. The town hall moved several times. Eventually, it moved into a former school building, where it remains today.

Over time, parts of Malitbog became separate towns. In 1957, Padre Burgos was created from Malitbog's southern part, including Limasawa island. Then, in 1971, Tomas Oppus (which was called Santiago before) became another separate town from Malitbog's northern part. Today, Malitbog has 37 barangays (small villages or districts). Most of these are along the coast.

Where is Malitbog?

Malitbog is located in the southern part of Leyte, a large island in the Philippines. It is part of Region VIII, also known as Eastern Visayas. The town is on the coast of Sogod Bay.

Neighboring Towns

• To the northwest, it 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, which is the main city of the region. You can get to Malitbog by bus or other public transport. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to travel to or from Maasin City. It takes about 30-40 minutes to or from Sogod. Traveling to or from Tacloban City takes about 2 to 4 hours.

Barangays of Malitbog

Malitbog is divided into 37 smaller areas called barangays. Each barangay has even smaller parts called puroks and sometimes sitios.

Malitbog's Climate

Malitbog has a tropical climate. This means it's warm all year round. The temperatures usually range from 23°C (73°F) to 31°C (88°F). It rains quite a bit throughout the year, especially from October to January.

Malitbog's Population and Economy

How Many People Live Here?

The population of Malitbog has changed over the years. In 2020, the census counted 23,256 people living in the municipality.

What About the Economy?

Malitbog is a 4th class municipality, which means its income is in the lower range compared to other towns in the Philippines. In 2020, the town's revenue was about ₱92.88 million. Its total assets were around ₱295.3 million.

Famous People From Malitbog

• Ruperto Kangleon
• Iliff David Richardson