Palo, Leyte

Palo
Municipality of Palo
Map of Leyte with Palo highlighted
Interactive map of Palo
Palo
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°09′30″N 124°59′30″E / 11.1583°N 124.9917°E / 11.1583; 124.9917
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceLeyte
District 1st district
Founded1596 (as a Jesuit mission) 1768 (as a town)
Barangays33 (see Barangays)
Government
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorRemedios Loreto Petilla (NPC)
 • Vice MayorJonathan Chiquillo (LP)
 • RepresentativeFerdinand Martin G. Romualdez
 • Councilors
List
 • Electorate43,669 voters (2025)
Area
 • Total
221.27 km2 (85.43 sq mi)
Elevation
14 m (46 ft)
Highest elevation
388 m (1,273 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)
 • Total
80,291
 • Density362.86/km2 (939.81/sq mi)
 • Households
17,950
Economy
 • Income class3rd municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
20.12
% (2021)
 • Revenue₱ 386.8 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 1,165 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 255.3 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 247.7 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityLeyte 2 Electric Cooperative (LEYECO 2)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6501
PSGC
IDD:area code+63 (0)53
Native languagesWaray
Tagalog
Websitewww.palo-leyte.gov.ph

Palo (IPA: [pɐ'loʔ]), officially the Municipality of Palo (Waray: Bungto han Palo; Tagalog: Bayan ng Palo), is a Philippine municipality in the province of Leyte. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 80,291 people, making it the most populous municipality (non-city) in the province.

The municipality is the seat of most government departments, bureaus, and regional offices of Region VIII, although some are situated at the neighboring city of Tacloban. The municipality is also home to the offices of the ecclesiastical government of the Archdiocese of Palo; the archbishop's residence; as well as the secondary, tertiary, and theology seminaries of the archdiocese.

On March 17, 2022, the new Leyte Provincial Capitol in Palo was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte, officially moving the seat of provincial government to the municipality pending an enabling law changing the provincial capital from the current highly urbanized city of Tacloban.