The municipality of New Leyte was established on August 1, 1948 by combining the municipal districts of Saug and Camansa, pursuant to Executive Order No. 156 as signed by President
Elpidio Quirino. The same year in September 13, New Leyte was renamed to Saug pursuant to Executive Order No. 173 signed once again by President Quirino, after its largest settlement which used to be one of the two municipal districts before the merger. Finally, Saug was once more renamed as Asuncion, named after
Our Lady of the Assumption, pursuant to Republic Act No. 1675 approved on June 20, 1957. In 1955, the barrio (barangay) of New Sabongan was transferred to the town of
Compostela. In 2004, Barangays Igangon, Kipalili, Sabangan, Sawata, Santo Niño, and Mamangan were transferred to create what is now the municipality of
Sawata. ==Geography==