Barangay Malayog

Barangay Malayog forms part of Gandara, a municipality in Samar, and is classified as a very small barangay.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Malayog had a population of 134. This made it the 66th largest of 69 barangays in Gandara by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Malayog accounted for approximately 0.38% of the total population of Gandara, which stood at 35,242 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Malayog moving from 147 residents to 134 residents, an intercensal change of -8.8%. The trajectory indicates a contracting community. Barangay Malayog is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Gandara is a municipality comprising 69 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Malayog, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Samar, which contains 951 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Malayog ranks 923rd by 2020 population. Samar is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Malayog 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.