Saint Bernard, officially the Municipality of Saint Bernard (Kabalian: Lungsod san Saint Bernard; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Saint Bernard; Tagalog: Bayan ng Saint Bernard), is a municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 28,131 people.
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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" (shortened form of santo) 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 it towards Abuyog) 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 completely wiped out from a landslide in 2006. Survivors were relocated to Magbagacay and have their own barangays.
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" (a type of pedicab), 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 (SMSE).
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 (Cabin rooms and Family Room)
Eso Polo - Brgy Magbagacay
Forest Spring Resort - Brgy Himos-onan (Cabin and Family Rooms)
Places of Interest
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
Tinago Spring Falls - Brgy Ayahag
Education
There are accessible elementary schools in every barangay in the municipality as of its 2019 census.
Secondary Schools
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