San Ricardo

San Ricardo is a coastal municipality in the province of Southern Leyte, Philippines. It occupies part of Panaon Island and is administratively associated with the Eastern Visayas region. The municipality was formerly part of Pintuyan and became an independent local government unit on October 24, 1965, through Executive Order No. 194 signed by President Diosdado Macapagal. Its original territory was organized around 16 barangays, while the present municipality is politically divided into 15 barangays, including Benit, Bitoon, Cabutan, Camang, Esperanza, Esperanza Dos, Inolinan, Kinachawa, Looc, Pinut-an, Poblacion, San Antonio, San Ramon, Saub, and Timba. Poblacion is also identified as Santiago, and San Antonio is also associated with Alangalang. San Ricardo is located approximately 152 kilometers from Maasin, the provincial capital of Southern Leyte, and about 190 kilometers from Tacloban, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. Its coastal waters form part of the Panaon Island Protected Seascape, giving the municipality an important environmental and marine-conservation dimension in addition to its local-government role. The area’s geography is also significant for transport because its ports and roads connect the Visayas and Mindanao portions of the Pan-Philippine Highway network. The municipality’s principal transport facility is San Ricardo Port, also known as Benit Port. Roll-on/roll-off ferry services connect Benit with Lipata Port in Surigao City, creating a sea link between Southern Leyte and northeastern Mindanao. Montenegro Shipping Lines is identified as the primary ferry operator on the Lipata–Benit route. On land, the Benit Integrated Bus Terminal supports interregional bus travel. Services identified in reference material include routes involving Manila, Davao, Ormoc, and Tacloban, with operators such as DLTBCo, Ultrabus, CUL Transportation, and Bachelor Express. According to the 2024 census, San Ricardo had a population of 10,385. Its public profile is therefore primarily that of a Philippine municipality and local administrative community rather than a commercial consumer brand. Available reference material does not establish a separate private brand owner, corporate parent, product portfolio, or commercial trademark associated with the name. Its identity is instead grounded in local government, coastal geography, protected seascape resources, barangay administration, and its role as a transport gateway between Southern Leyte and Surigao City.

San Ricardo originated as part of the municipality of Pintuyan in Southern Leyte. Before municipal separation, the area comprised 16 barangays: Alangalang, Benit, Bitoon, Buenavista, Cabutan, Camang, Capingkit, Cogon, Esperanza, Kinachawa, Lobo, Piinut-an, San Ramon, San Ricardo, Saub, and Timba. On October 24, 1965, Executive Order No. 194 created San Ricardo as a separate municipality. The order was signed by President Diosdado Macapagal and marked the transition from a locality within Pintuyan to an independent local government unit. The municipality occupies a coastal setting on Panaon Island. Its waters are included in the Panaon Island Protected Seascape, linking the local community to marine conservation and the management of coastal resources. San Ricardo is situated roughly 152 kilometers from Maasin, the capital of Southern Leyte, and approximately 190 kilometers from Tacloban, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. Administrative organization has changed over time. The current municipality is divided into 15 barangays: Benit, Bitoon, Cabutan, Camang, Esperanza, Esperanza Dos, Inolinan, Kinachawa, Looc, Pinut-an, Poblacion, San Antonio, San Ramon, Saub, and Timba. Poblacion is also known as Santiago, while San Antonio is also associated with the former name Alangalang. These barangays form the local governmental structure through which municipal services and community administration are delivered. San Ricardo also developed an important role in regional transportation. San Ricardo Port, commonly called Benit Port, provides roll-on/roll-off ferry connections with Lipata Port in Surigao City. This route links Southern Leyte with Mindanao and supports the maritime continuity of the Pan-Philippine Highway. Montenegro Shipping Lines is identified as the principal ferry operator serving the Benit–Lipata connection. The Benit Integrated Bus Terminal complements the port by handling long-distance road transportation. Reference material identifies services involving Manila, Davao, Ormoc, and Tacloban, with DLTBCo, Ultrabus, CUL Transportation, and Bachelor Express among the operators serving the area. San Ricardo’s identity is consequently administrative and geographic rather than commercial. The available sources do not document a private company, trademark portfolio, branded product range, or corporate ownership structure under the name. The municipality’s contemporary profile is defined by its local-government status, population, coastal environment, barangay network, protected seascape, and position as a ferry and bus transport link between the Visayas and Mindanao.

• 2024

  Population recorded in the national census

  [1]San Ricardoen.wikipedia.org

  The 2024 census reported a population of 10,385 for San Ricardo.

• 1965

  Municipal separation from Pintuyan

  [1]San Ricardoen.wikipedia.org

  Executive Order No. 194 established San Ricardo as a separate municipality on October 24, 1965.

A coastal Philippine municipality and transport gateway on Panaon Island, with significance arising from local governance, ferry connectivity, bus transportation, and protected marine waters.

1. 1San Ricardoen.wikipedia.org