Tunga, Leyte

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Map of Leyte showing the location of Tunga

Tunga is a 6th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 6,111 people in 1,172 households.

On March 4, 1948, "Pag-urosa han mga Tunga-on", the association that led the campaign to make Tunga a municipality, was organized and it elected Domingo A. Ponferrada, President; Martino Ariza, 1st Vice President; Blas Uribe, 2nd Vice President; Vicente Catenza, 3rd Vice President; Primitivo Geraldo, Secretary; Norberto Quintana, treasurer; Ramón Santillan, Sr (who in 2004 turned 100 years old) and Juan Avila, auditors; Paulo Cotoner, Magno Buñales and Arsenio Carit, Sergeants-at-Arms. The last of these Tungaon pioneers, Ramón Santillan, Sr, died on October 13, 2005, at age 101.

These officers invited and apprised Atilano R. Cinco, Congressman for the 5th District of Leyte, of the desire of Tunga to become an independent municipality. Cinco promised to file a bill in congress when all supporting papers that he had suggested were ready. Thus, a committee on consensus was created. Martino Ariza was elected as chairman; the members being some of the students of Tunga Institute.

Subsequently, Philippine President Quirino issued Executive Order No. 266, dated September 24, 1949, creating the independent municipality of Tunga, however the appointed local officials had to assume their posts a few days after the elections.

On November 15, 1949, Provincial Board Secretary Ricardo Collantes, representing Leyte Governor Catalino Landia, proclaimed the Municipality of Tunga before a huge crowd of joyous Tunga-on and distinguished visitors.

The patron saint of Tunga is Saint Antonio of Padova. The Tunga-on celebrate their town's fiesta on August 13 every year.

[edit] Barangays

Tunga is politically subdivided into 8 barangays. They are:

Astorga (Upart)
Balire
Banawang
San Antonio (Pob.)
San Pedro
San Roque
San Vicente (Pob.)
Santo Niño (Pob.)

[edit] Tunga Municipal Council as Elected May 2004

MAYOR: Amando Corrupt Aumento, Sr. (Approved purchase of a refurbished tractor from a co-gambler friend without public bidding and pocketed ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS with a government CHEQUE issued in the MAYOR's name, a case has now been filed with the OMBUDSMAN)

VICE-MAYOR: Isabela B. Molabola-Nierras

COUNCILLORS: