Barangay Paku

Situated in Bontoc, Southern Leyte, Barangay Paku is one of 40 barangays that make up the municipality within Eastern Visayas.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Paku had a population of 1,157. This made it the 10th largest of 40 barangays in Bontoc by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Paku accounted for approximately 3.88% of the total population of Bontoc, which stood at 29,799 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,186 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,157 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -2.4%, consistent with a contracting settlement. Barangay Paku 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 Paku, 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 Paku ranks 111th 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 Paku 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.