Barangay Santa Elena

Situated in Gandara, Samar, Barangay Santa Elena is one of 69 barangays that make up the municipality within Eastern Visayas.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Elena had a population of 352. This made it the 43rd largest of 69 barangays in Gandara by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Elena accounted for approximately 1.00% of the total population of Gandara, which stood at 35,242 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 304 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 352 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +15.8%, consistent with a growing settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena, 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 Santa Elena ranks 678th 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 Santa Elena 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.