EASTERN VISAYAS

PREPARED BY:
JOYLYN C. CANTOMAYOR
REGION VIII : EASTERN
VISAYAS
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Eastern Visayas encompasses the two large islands of Leyte and Samar,
the province of Biliran and several minor islands. This region is the
eastern boundary of the Philippines.

The San Bernardino Strait separates Eastern Visayas from Luzon in the
southeast while the Surigao Strait separates the province of Leyte from
the northeastern part of Mindanao. The Visayan and Camotes Seas
separate the region from the rest of the Visayas. On the east, the
region faces the Pacific Ocean.

The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar and Leyte. The
terrain of the two large islands is entirely different. Leyte has a high
peaked mountain mass in the interior while Samar has low rugged
hills interspersed with valleys
MAP OF EASTERN VISAYAS
POPULATION
As of August 1, 2007, the total population of the
region was 3,912,936. This increased by 1.12% from
its population of 3,610,355 in May 1, 2000. 
CULTURAL GROUPS
Region VIII is inhabited by the Waray-Warays, the
country’s fourth largest cultural linguistic group. But
Cebuanos, from the nearby island of Cebu live in
Ormoc City, Western Leyte and parts of the Southwest
of Leyte.
CLIMATE
The eastern portion of the region is frequently visited by
storms from the Pacific Ocean. The region receives
heavy rainfall throughout the year with no
pronounced dry season.
LAND USE
Eastern Visayas is primarily an agricultural region with
rice, abaca, corn, coconut, sugarcane and banana as
major crops. Its total land area is 21,431.7 sq. kms. 52%
of its total land area are classified as forestland and
48% as alienable and disposable land.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The region’s sea and inland waters are rich sources of salt
and fresh water fish and other marine products. It is one
of the fish exporting regions of the country.

There are substantial forest reserves in the interiors of

the islands. Its mineral deposits include chromite,
nickel, clay, coal, limestone, pyrite and sand and gravel.

It has abundant geothermal energy and water resources

to support the needs of medium and heavy industries.
ECONOMY
Primary sources of revenue are manufacturing, wholesale and retail
trade and services. Mining, farming, fishing and tourism contribute
significantly to the economy Manufacturing firms include mining
companies, fertilizer plants, sugar central, rice and corn mills and
other food processing plants. Cebu is the hub of investment, trade
and development in the region.

Other industries include mining, rice, corn and sugar milling,

coconut oil extraction, alcohol distilling, beverage manufacture
and forest products. Home industries include hat and basket
weaving, metal craft, needlecraft, pottery, ceramics, woodcraft,
shell craft and bamboo craft.
The region receives the “spillover” from Cebu’s industrial and
eco-tourism activities

Leyte is planned to become an industrial hub of the region

with the development of the following industrial estates and
centers:

• Leyte Industrial Development Estate

• Amihan Cebu Woodlands township
• Eastern Visayas Regional Agri-industrial Growth Center
• Barugo Economic Zone
• Leyte Provincial Industrial Center in Ormoc City
• Baybay Techno Science Par
URBAN CENTERS
The centers of education, trade and commerce in the
region are the cities of Tacloban (Now Highly
Urbanized City) and Ormoc in Leyte and Catbalogan
and Calbayog in Samar.
GUIUAN CHURCH IN NORTHERN
SAMAR
TOURIST SPOTS