Eastern Samar

Eastern Samar
Lalawigan han Sidlangan nga Samar
Lalawigan sa Sidlakang Samar
Lalawigan ng Silangang Samar
Province
Province of Eastern Samar

Flag
Seal

Map of the Philippines with Eastern Samar highlighted
Coordinates: 11°40′N 125°30′E / 11.667°N 125.500°ECoordinates: 11°40′N 125°30′E / 11.667°N 125.500°E
Country  Philippines
Region Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)
Founded June 19, 1965
Capital Borongan City
Government
 • Type Province of the Philippines
 • Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. (Liberal)
 • Vice Governor Marcelo Picardal (LDP)
Area[1]
 • Total 4,660.47 km2 (1,799.42 sq mi)
Area rank 26th out of 80
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 428,877
 • Rank 60th out of 80
 • Density 92/km2 (240/sq mi)
 • Density rank 68th out of 80
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 1
 • Municipalities 22
 • Barangays 597
 • Districts Lone district of Eastern Samar
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 6800 - 6822
Dialing code 55
Spoken languages Waray-Waray, Cebuano, Tagalog, English
Website easternsamar.gov.ph

Eastern Samar (Filipino:Silangang Samar) is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Borongan. Eastern Samar occupies the eastern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the north is the province of Northern Samar and to the west is Western Samar and to the east is the vast Pacific Ocean. Off the coast of Leyte Gulf, the province faces the province of Leyte.

Geography

The province occupies a total land area of 466,047 hectares (1,151,630 acres).[1]

Subdivisions

Eastern Samar is subdivided into 22 municipalities and one city.

City:

Municipalities:

History

The province of Eastern Samar was created from Samar by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221 on June 19, 1965. Congressmen Eladio T. Balite (1st Dist. Samar), Fernando R. Veloso (2nd Dist. Samar), and Felipe J. Abrigo (3rd Dist. Samar), authored Republic Act 4221 which was approved by Congress in 1963. The law, ratified in a plebiscite on June 19, 1965, divided Samar into three, namely, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and (Western) Samar. The first to be fully established was Northern Samar that is why the School Samar Institue of Technology was named the University of "Eastern" Philippines.

Demographics

The province has a population of 461,300 as of the 2010 census. The predominant language is Waray.

Population census of Eastern Samar
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 329,335—    
1995 362,324+1.80%
2000 375,822+0.79%
2007 405,114+1.04%
2010 428,877+2.10%
Source: National Statistics Office[2]
Languages Spoken (2000)[3]
Language Speakers
Waray
  
 366,787
Kapampangan
  
 2,067
Binisaya
  
 1,613
Cebuano
  
 680
Tagalog
  
 621
Others
  
 2,510
Not Reported
  
 846

Transportation

The province has one operational airport; Borongan Airport located in the capital city. Currently, only SkyJet Airlines operates out of Borongan Airport with flights weekly to serve locals and tourists to and from Manila.

By land, mini buses and vans ply from the regional center in Tacloban City to some towns in Eastern Samar. From Borongan City, buses ply to Manila. Motorized boats plies through the Leyte Gulf ferrying passengers going to Tacloban City seaport.

Borongan City's Wilsam Uptown Mall, the largest shopping mall in Eastern Samar.

Economy

Commercial activities in the province are centered on the provincial capital of Borongan City while tourism activities are centered in Guiuan town where Calicoan Island and the historical Homonhon Island are located. Generally, the province's major economic resource is fishery and agriculture which include production of copra, corn, rice, sugar, and vegetables. Tourism potential is untapped on the northern part of the province.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities" (PDF). 2010 Census and Housing Population. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Table 4. Household Population by Ethnicity and Sex: Eastern Samar, 2000

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eastern Samar.
 Northern Samar
Samar Philippine Sea
   Eastern Samar  
Leyte Gulf
Dinagat Islands