The geographical backbone of the country
 

   Eastern Visayas or Region VIII comprises of the two main islands of Leyte and Samar, Biliran, and several minor islands.  It serves as the geographical backbone of the Philippines for it lies in the easternmost border of the Philippine archipelago, at the heart of the National Maharlika Highway, which links the islands of Luzon and Mindanao.  It has a total land area of 23,231.4 square kilometers which accounts for 6.8 percent of the country's land area. 

   The region consists of six provinces: Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar; 4 cities: Tacloban, as the regional capital, Ormoc, Calbayog and Maasin; 139 municipalities, and 4,390 barangays.  San Juanico Bridge, the longest and the most graceful-looking bridge in Southeast Asia, connects the main islands of Leyte and Samar.

   The population of the region was estimated at 4.1 million in 2006.  There are about 177 persons per square kilometer in the region.  The inhabitants are Warays but Cebuanos also settle in Ormoc City, Western Leyte and parts of Southern Leyte. 

   One of the region’s assets is the abundant supply of geothermal power. The Tongonan Geothermal Plants in Tongonan, Ormoc City, also known as the Leyte Geothermal Power Field (LGPF), is the seat of geothermal power in the Philippines and the second geothermal power producer in the world.  The region also houses two of the country’s top dollar earners: the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (PHILPHOS) and the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refinery Corporation (PASAR).

    Eastern Visayas is primarily an agricultural region, with palay, coconut, sugarcane, banana and abaca as major crops.  It is the country’s top producer of abaca and the third largest coconut-producing region.  Its sea and inland waters are rich in salt and freshwater fish and other marine products. 

    As part of the Central Philippines Super Regions, Eastern Visayas is envisioned to be a premier tourist destination on account of its unique natural wonders: long white beaches, rich coastal and marine resources, vast forest reserves and diverse ecosystems, varied provincial cultures and provincial landmarks and warm and friendly people.  It is also famous for some of the country’s most important historical events: the discovery of the Philippines by western voyagers led by Magellan in Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar in 1521; the celebration of the first Christian Mass in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte; and the world’s largest naval battle in history, the World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, which concluded the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. 

Provincial Profiles

City/Municipal Profiles