Barangay Melale

Situated in Laak, Davao De Oro, Barangay Melale is one of 40 barangays that make up the municipality within Davao Region.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Melale had a population of 1,933. This made it the 16th largest of 40 barangays in Laak by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Melale accounted for approximately 2.42% of the total population of Laak, which stood at 79,744 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,970 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,933 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -1.9%, consistent with a broadly stable settlement. Barangay Melale is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Laak is a municipality comprising 40 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Melale, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Davao De Oro, which contains 237 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Melale ranks 134th by 2020 population. Davao De Oro 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 Melale 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.