Barangay Cautod (Pob.)

Barangay Cautod (Pob.) forms part of Santa Margarita, a municipality in Samar, and is classified as a mid-sized barangay.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Cautod (Pob.) had a population of 3,640. This made it the 1st largest of 36 barangays in Santa Margarita by population, placing it among the most populous barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Cautod (Pob.) accounted for approximately 13.57% of the total population of Santa Margarita, which stood at 26,816 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Cautod (Pob.) moving from 3,355 residents to 3,640 residents, an intercensal change of +8.5%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Cautod (Pob.) as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Margarita is a municipality comprising 36 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Cautod (Pob.), 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 Cautod (Pob.) ranks 18th 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.

The barangay's legislative and executive affairs are handled by a Punong Barangay and the Sangguniang Barangay, elected nationwide during the Barangay and SK Elections. The next BSKE is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, following the synchronized election schedule set by COMELEC Resolution No. 11191.