Capoocan

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Not to be confused with Caloocan.
Capoocan
Municipality
Municipality of Capoocan
Flag of Capoocan
Flag
Map of Leyte with Capoocan highlighted
Map of Leyte with Capoocan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Capoocan is located in Philippines
Capoocan
Capoocan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°17′40″N 124°38′31″E / 11.2944°N 124.6419°E / 11.2944; 124.6419
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceLeyte
District2nd District
Barangays21 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorFederico H. Carolino Sr.
 • Vice MayorFe Claire P. Carolino-Paragatos
 • RepresentativeLolita T. Javier
 • Councilors
List
 • Electorate23,413 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
185.40 km2 (71.58 sq mi)
Elevation
137 m (449 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
34,388
 • Density185.48/km2 (480.39/sq mi)
 • Households
7,968
Economy
 • Income class4th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence42.47% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 198.2 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 555.6 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 153.6 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 97.52 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityLeyte 3 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 3)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6530
PSGC
0803714000
IDD : area code +63 (0)53
Native languagesWaray
Tagalog
Websitewww.capoocan-leyte.gov.ph

Capoocan (IPA: [kɐpo'ʔɔkan]), officially the Municipality of Capoocan (Waray: Bungto han Capoocan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Capoocan), is a municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 33,721 people.[5]

History

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The name Capoocan comes from the dialect term mapu-uk which means obstructed or "obstaculizado" in Spanish. It lies along the shores of Carigara Bay - its people drawing sustenance both from the waters which give an abundant harvest of fish that find their way in the markets of Tacloban and Carigara, as well as in the fertile lands that end at the foot of Mount Minoro.

Expansion efforts have been limited by the presence of Mount Minoro. The mountain obstructs and contains the town in its present site - forbidding further growth but protecting the town from the strong typhoons that have battered neighboring towns.

In 1904, the town earned its independence from its mother municipality, Carigara. Apparently too young for such a difficult undertaking, Capoocan willingly returned to barrio status after a few years of determined but unsuccessful attempts at independence.

On January 1, 1928, when it finally gathered strength and gained experience, Capoocan was granted municipal status again. It was ranked as a municipality at first but later on ascended to category.

Its first town executive was Brigido Merelos. In 1931, Atty. Jose Pigao was elected president but his term was short since he was appointed municipal judge of Pastrana. It was Perfecto Pilapil who succeeded him to serve the un-expired term.

In 1935, Solos M. Hernandez was elected mayor. He was re-elected in 1939 but he died at the outbreak of World War II.

During World War II, after the official surrender of the American-Filipino forces, the Japanese troops, ranging from 2000 to 5000, landed on the town on May 25, 1942. A column proceeded to the east coast, capturing Tacloban and the other to the west to the port of Ormoc.[6]

From 1867 when Capoocan was a "visita" of Carigara, the town has shown remarkable increase in population. After 38 years on its own as a town, Capoocan has grown into its present site - 17 barrios stretching to as far as 30 kilometers from the town proper and a "población" that shows promise.[7]

Geography

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Barangays

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Capoocan is politically subdivided into 21 barangays. [8] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

  • Balucanad
  • Balud
  • Balugo
  • Cabul-an
  • Culasian
  • Gayad
  • Guinadiongan
  • Lemon
  • Libertad
  • Manloy
  • Nauguisan
  • Pinamopoan
  • Poblacion Zone I
  • Poblacion Zone II
  • Potot
  • San Joaquin
  • Santo Niño
  • Talairan
  • Talisay
  • Tolibao
  • Visares

Demographics

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In the 2020 census, the population of Capoocan, Leyte, was 33,721 people,[13] with a density of 180 inhabitants per square kilometre or 470 inhabitants per square mile.

Elected Officials

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Main article: Sangguniang Bayan
2025-2028 Capoocan, Leyte Officials
Position Name Party
Mayor Federico H. Carolino Sr. NPC
Vice Mayor Fe Claire P. Carolino-Paragatos NPC
Councilors Gracia G. Pigar Independent
Von Lito Q. Vallar Independent
Federico P. Carolino Jr. NPC
Jaime A. Dalde Jr. NPC
Arnold A. Caing NPC
Lander Jake D. Abillar PDP–Laban
Teresa C. Balquin PDP–Laban
Jojo N. Nepomuceno Independent
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President TBD Nonpartisan
SK Federation President TBD Nonpartisan

Education

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There are a total of 20 Elementary Schools and 4 secondary Schools in Capoocan[14]

Grade School/ Elementary School

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  • Balucanad Elementary School
  • Balud Elementary School
  • Balugo Primary School
  • Cabul-an Elementary School
  • Capoocan Central School
  • Culasian Elementary School
  • Gayad Elementary School
  • Guinadiongan Elementary School
  • Lemon Elementary School
  • Lemon-San Joaquin Elementary School
  • Libertad Elementary School
  • Manloy Elementary School
  • Nauguisan Primary School
  • Pinamopoan Central School
  • Potot Elementary School
  • Santo Nino Elementary School
  • Talairan Elementary School
  • Talisay Elementary School
  • Tolibao Elementary School
  • Visares Elementary School

Secondary/ High School

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  • Asuncion S. Melgar National High School (Zone II Poblacion, Capoocan, Leyte)
  • Don Mariano Salvacion Memorial National High School ( Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte)
  • Libertad National High School (Libertad, Capoocan, Leyte)
  • Pinamopoan National High School (Pinamopoan, Capoocan, Leyte)

Notable personalities

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References

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  1. ^  Municipality of Capoocan | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ^ "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ^ Lear, Elmer N. (1968). "The Western Leyte Guerrilla Warfare Forces: A Case Study in the Non-Legitimation of a Guerrilla Organization". Journal of Southeast Asian History. 9 (1): 69–94. doi:10.1017/S0217781100003628. JSTOR 20067669.
  7. ^ "Philippines Tacloban Mission Alumni | Welcome". Mission Net. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  9. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  10. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  12. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  13. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Schools Directory | Trokis Philippines". School Torkis Directory. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
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