Barangay Hitawos

Barangay Hitawos forms part of Bontoc, a municipality in Southern Leyte, and is classified as a very small barangay.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Hitawos had a population of 422. This made it the 27th largest of 40 barangays in Bontoc by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Hitawos accounted for approximately 1.42% of the total population of Bontoc, which stood at 29,799 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Hitawos moving from 377 residents to 422 residents, an intercensal change of +11.9%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. Barangay Hitawos is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Bontoc is a municipality comprising 40 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Hitawos, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Southern Leyte, which contains 500 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Hitawos ranks 384th by 2020 population. Southern Leyte is classified as a 3rd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Hitawos is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.