Merida, Leyte

Merida, officially the Municipality of Merida (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Merida; Waray: Bungto han Merida; Tagalog: Bayan ng Merida), is a 5th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 29,863 people.[3]

Merida
Municipality
Municipality of Merida
Map of Leyte with Merida highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Merida
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°54′35″N 124°32′15″E
Country Philippines
RegionEastern Visayas (Region VIII)
ProvinceLeyte
District4th district of Leyte
Barangays22 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRolando M. Villasencio
 • Vice MayorRodrigo M. Wenceslao
 • CongressmanLucy Torres Gomez
 • Municipal Council
 • Electorate21,559 voters (2019)
Area
 [2]
 • Total95.21 km2 (36.76 sq mi)
Population
 (2015 census)[3]
 • Total29,863
 • Density310/km2 (810/sq mi)
 • Households
7,802
Economy
 • Income class5th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence31.5% (2015)[4]
 • Revenue (₱)76,939,964.35 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6540
PSGC
083736000
IDD : area code +63 (0)53
Climate typetropical rainforest climate
Native languagesCebuano
Tagalog

History

Located south of Ormoc City, facing the Camotes Islands and Camotes Sea, Merida is nestled at the Westside of Ormoc City where agriculture, to include fishing is the major livelihood among the populace. A tradition and a rich heritage since the Spanish regime is a strong and lasting heritage to San Isidro Labrador sustained by the inhabitants tracing back from the original settlers up to the present. Since the Spanish conquest, the Meridanhons faithfully adopted the humble farmer, San Isidro Labrador, especially that agriculture is the dominant economy of the locality.

The town was formerly situated in a place now known as Betaug. It was then called ‘Siapun after a river near the settlement. The town used to be a barrio of Ormoc. In 1860, however, the barrio was organized as a town and was promulgated in 1867 by Domingo Fernandez, the District Governor of the Province of Leyte. The first Spanish overseer nostalgically named it Merida after his native city in Spain which, like their own, lies along the bank of a river in the river Guardiana

The first leader of the town government was German Justo, succeeded by Blas Bohol, and then Leonardo Macion and Teodoro Cabiling commonly called Captain Doro. Other town notables were Rufino Santiago, Alejo Ugsad, Nicolas Gumba, Ramon Lamoste Inong, Teodoro Laurel, Cipriano Macion, Antonio Francisco, Semon Sangan and Romualdo Boholst, all who served as Governadorcillo during the Spanish time.

Merida was formally included in the parish of Ormoc, and only became independent parish in 1918. The following were the Parish Priests of Merida during the Spanish time: Fr. Ramon Abarca, Fr. Eduardo Alarcon, Fr. Lino Codilla and Fr. Diego Paras. Along the coast, Merida lies between the City of Ormoc and the progressive town of Isabel, 17 kilometers to the south. Concrete roads and bridges link Merida with adjacent towns and city direct to the capital city of Tacloban. It may be noted that Isabel, formerly named “Quiot” was made municipality by the Spaniards in 1850 which lasted 52 years and was merged into the town of Merida by virtue of Act No. 954 of the Philippine Commission. However, through the help of Ex-Senator Carlos S. Tan and Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, it was restored as a municipality by virtue of Rep. Act No. 191 of 1947, of the congress of the Philippines and Proc. No. 49, and named “Isabel” after the wife of the Senator. The newly appointed officials headed by Galicano Ruiz were inducted to office by the late Deputy Gov. Cipriano Macion of Merida.[5]

Barangays

Merida is politically subdivided into 22 barangays. [2]

  • Benabaye
  • Cabaliwan
  • Calunangan
  • Calunasan
  • Cambalong
  • Can-unzo
  • Canbantug
  • Casilda
  • Lamanoc
  • Libas
  • Libjo
  • Lundag
  • Macario
  • Mahalit
  • Mahayag
  • Masumbang
  • Mat-e
  • Poblacion
  • Puerto Bello
  • San Isidro
  • San Jose
  • Tubod

Demographics
Population census of Merida
YearPop.±% p.a.
1903 8,705—    
1918 13,480+2.96%
1939 26,794+3.33%
1948 14,977−6.26%
1960 16,065+0.59%
1980 18,838+0.80%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 22,345+1.72%
1995 23,822+1.21%
2000 25,326+1.32%
2007 26,285+0.51%
2010 27,224+1.29%
2015 29,863+1.78%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority [3][6][7][8]

In the 2015 census, the population of Merida, Leyte, was 29,863 people,[3] with a density of 310 inhabitants per square kilometre or 800 inhabitants per square mile.

Climate
Climate data for Merida, Leyte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)		 29
(84)
Average low °C (°F) 22
(72)		 22
(72)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 78
(3.1)		 57
(2.2)		 84
(3.3)		 79
(3.1)		 118
(4.6)		 181
(7.1)		 178
(7.0)		 169
(6.7)		 172
(6.8)		 180
(7.1)		 174
(6.9)		 128
(5.0)		 1,598
(62.9)
Average rainy days 16.7 13.8 17.3 18.5 23.2 26.5 27.1 26.0 26.4 27.5 24.6 21.0 268.6
Source: Meteoblue [9]

Education

The town has five high schools including the Libas National High School and Merida Vocational School which has annexes in various barangays: MVS Calunangan, MVS Puerto Bello, MVS Minesite. The main campus is located in Greenheights District just a few meters away from the Municipal Hall.

Merida Vocational School

Merida Vocational School is known for its skills development program which opens a variety of vocational courses such as the following:

  • Drafting Technology
  • Cosmetology
  • Culinary Arts
  • Garments
  • SMAW Welding
  • Furniture and Cabinet Making
  • Building Construction
  • Automotive Servicing
  • Building-Wiring Installation
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References
  1. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Province: Leyte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. Census of Population (2015). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. "ABOUT MERIDA LEYTE". "ejournals.ph". Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  6. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  7. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
  8. "Province of Leyte". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  9. "Merida: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
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