View source for Samar

{{Short description|Island in the Philippines}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{for-multi|the province|Samar (province)|and|Samar (historical province)|other uses|Samar (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox islands
| name                            = Samar
| image_name                      =
| image_caption                   =
| image_size                      =
| map                             = 
| map_alt                         = 
| map_width                       = 
| image_map                       = Samar Island Location Map Red.png
| map_caption                     = Location within the Philippines
| map_relief                      = 
| label                           = 
| label_position                  = 
| coordinates                     = {{coord|12|00|N|125|00|E|type:isle_region:PH|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago                     = [[Visayas]]
| waterbody                       = {{unbulleted list | [[Leyte Gulf]] | [[Philippine Sea]] | [[Samar Sea]] | [[San Bernardino Strait]] | [[San Juanico Strait]] }}
| location                        = 
| area_km2                        = 13,428.8
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name = yearbook>{{cite journal |url = https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2010%20PIF.pdf |title = 2010 Philippine Yearbook |journal = Philippine Yearbook |publisher = National Statistics Office |issn = 0116-1520 |edition = 23rd |location = Manila, Philippines |access-date = 2015-12-14}}</ref>
| rank                            = 63rd
| coastline_km                    = 800.6
| coastline_footnotes             = <ref name = unep>{{cite web |title = Islands of Philippines |url = http://islands.unep.ch/IHE.htm#895 |work = Island Directory |publisher = United Nations Environment Programme |access-date = 18 September 2015 |archive-date = 28 April 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190428003606/http://islands.unep.ch/IHE.htm#895 |url-status = dead }}</ref> 
| highest_mount = [[Mount Huraw]]
| elevation_m    = 890
| Country_heading                 = 
| country                         = [[Philippines]]
| country_admin_divisions_title   = Region
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Eastern Visayas]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Provinces
| country_admin_divisions_1       = {{unbulleted list | [[Eastern Samar]] | [[Northern Samar]] | [[Samar (province)|(Western) Samar]] }}
| country_largest_city            = [[Calbayog]]
| country_largest_city_population = 187,848
| population                      = 1,924,651 <!-- sum of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar provinces -->
| population_as_of                = 2024
| population_footnotes            = {{PH census|2015}}
| density_km2                     = {{#expr: 1880020 / 13428.8 round 1}}
| ethnic_groups                   = [[Visayans]] (<!--[[Waray]] is the 
official ethnic group, it's just a REGIONAL DEMONYM-->[[Waray-Waray people|Waray-Waray]])
}}

'''Samar''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɑː|m|ɑr}} {{respell|SAH|mar}}) is the third largest island in the [[Philippines]], with a total population of 1,924,651 as of the 2024 census. It is located in the eastern [[Visayas]] and its main language and ethnicity is [[Waray people|Waray]] while its main religion is [[Roman Catholic]]. Since 1965, the island is divided into three [[Provinces of the Philippines|provinces]]: [[Samar (province)|Western Samar]], [[Northern Samar]], and [[Eastern Samar]]. The capitals of these provinces are, respectively, [[Catarman, Northern Samar|Catarman]], [[Catbalogan]], and [[Borongan]]., all part of the [[Eastern Visayas]] region. In commemoration of the establishment of these provinces, June 19 is celebrated as an annual holiday. The island was first sighted by [[Ferdinand Magellan]] on March 16, 1521. Although he did not land, other expeditions were made. Many names, such as ''Samal'', ''Ibabao'', and ''Tandaya'', were given to the island prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in 1596. During the early days of [[History of the Philippines (1521–1898)|Spanish occupation]], Samar was under the jurisdiction of [[Cebu]].  In the [[Philippine–American War]], [[Eugenio Daza]] led a successful attack against the United States Army, later called the [[Balangiga massacre]]. This attack led to the [[Pacification of Samar]] and deaths of 2,000 people.

In the American colonization of the Philippines, two uprisings were created; the former was the [[Pulahan|Pulajan]] movement which caused massacres in the country. The [[Battle off Samar]] was held off the island. In the [[martial law under Ferdinand Marcos]], the [[Sag-od massacre]] was caused. After the martial law, the island still has the [[New People's Army rebellion]]. Samar is the easternmost island in the Visayas archipelago. The island lies to the northeast of [[Leyte]] and lies to the southeast of the [[Bicol Peninsula]] on [[Luzon]]. To the west is the [[Samar Sea]], and to the north and east of Samar lies the [[Philippine Sea]]. The island has the [[Samar Island Natural Park]] and has numerous biological discoveries and forests.

The island has a major copra industry and participates in agriculture, producing rice, corn, vegetables, and abaca. The isle also has fisheries and shopping centers scattered across. The island also has a major tourism industry. In transportation, the island has numerous major highways and has a portion of the [[Pan-Philippine Highway]]. The island has four major ports and three airports servicing flights to either [[Cebu City]] and [[Metro Manila]]. Eastern Samar's electric distribution utility is the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO). Two electric cooperatives serve Western Samar, namely: the Samar I and Samar II Electric Cooperative (SAMELCO). Northern Samar's electric cooperative is the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (NORSAMELCO). The island has six [[Department of Education (Philippines)|Department of Education]] divisions and numerous universities with satellite campuses.

==History==

=== Spanish colonialization (1521–1898) ===
{{Further|History of the Philippines (1565–1898)}}
Samar was the first island of the Philippines sighted by the Spanish expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan (transcribed as ''Zamal'' in the diary of [[Antonio Pigafetta]]). He sighted it on March 16, 1521, having sailed there from the [[Mariana Islands]].{{Sfn|Villamor|Buencamino|pp=246-247}}{{Sfn|Ocampo|2012}}  Realizing he had arrived at an [[archipelago]], he charted the islands and called them ''San Lazaro'' ({{Translation|[[Saint Lazarus]]}}) because they were sighted on [[Lazarus Saturday]]. The Spaniards later called the island ''Filipinas''. Although Samar was the first island of the Philippines sighted by Magellan, he did not land there. He continued south, weighed anchor at [[Suluan]] Island, and then finally, on March 17, 1521, he landed on [[Homonhon]] Island.{{Sfn|Parr|Crowell|p=431}} Later in the 1700s, Samar was recorded to have about 103 [[Spanish Filipino]] families and 3,042 native families.<ref>{{Cite book |last=de Zúñiga |first=Joaquín Martínez |url=https://ia601608.us.archive.org/10/items/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ_2/bub_gb_ElhFAAAAYAAJ.pdf |title=Estadismo de las Islas Filipinas |publisher=[[Princeton University]] |pages=113}}</ref>

Years later, other Spanish expeditions arrived. The historian William Henry Scott wrote that a "Samar datu by the name of Iberein was rowed out to a Spanish vessel anchored in his harbor in 1543 by oarsmen collared in gold; while wearing on his own person earrings and chains." Scott recounted a Samarnon saga, which was called ''siday'', about Bingi of Lawan, a prosperous settlement in Samar.{{Sfn|Scott|1985|p=93}} Samar had names which are recorded in early Spanish sources, including ''Ibabao'' (or ''Cibabao''), ''Achan'', ''Camlaya'', and ''Taridola''. The Spanish captain [[Miguel Lopez de Legaspi]] also called the island ''Tandaya'', after mistaking the name of a lord with the name of the island. This was spelled by [[Miguel de Loarca]] as ''Candaya''.{{Sfn|Ocampo|2012}}

During the early years of the Spanish colonialization, the province was placed in the jurisdiction of [[Cebu]] but was eventually separated into its own province. A rebellion was sparked in 1649 which was centered in [[Palapag]], causing an uprising in Visayas and parts of [[Mindanao]]. The uprising was not suppressed until the next year. This caused rebels to migrate to the mountains and create a new settlement. In 1735, the province and Leyte merged into a singular province; [[Carigara]] was declared as the capital. In 1768, Samar was separated from Leyte. In 1860, the government structure was reorganized and was maintained until the end of the regime.{{Sfn|Villamor|Buencamino|pp=246-247}}

=== Philippine–American War (1898–1902) ===
{{Further|Philippine–American War|Balangiga massacre|Pacification of Samar}}
[[File:Editorial cartoon about Jacob Smith's retaliation for Balangiga.PNG|thumb|An editorial cartoon depicting deaths caused by Jacob Smith's command]]
On September 28, 1901, Eugenio Daza–Area Commander of Southeastern Samar–and Valeriano Abanador, the town's police chief,{{Sfn|Tucker|2005|p=349}} launched an attack on U.S. Army Company [[9th Infantry Regiment (United States)|9th Infantry Regiment]] who were occupying Balangiga. This action, commonly known as the Balangiga massacre, brought one of the only Filipino victories of the war and the worst American defeat in decades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Borrinaga |first=Rolando |title=The Balangiga Conflict: Its Causes, Impact and Meaning |url=http://geocities.com/rolborr/balconsum.html |access-date=2025-10-22 |website=[[GeoCities]]}}</ref> In 1989, "Balangiga Encounter Day" was established as a provincial holiday in Eastern Samar to celebrate the victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/09/26/proclamation-no-1629-s-2008/|title=Proclamation No. 1629, s. 2008|last=Ermita|first=Eduardo R.|date=September 26, 2008|website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1989/02/10/republic-act-no-6692/|title=Republic Act No. 6692|date=February 10, 1989|website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.}}</ref> In retaliation for the massacre, General [[Jacob H. Smith]] ordered his men to "kill and burn", further stating that "the more you kill and burn, the better it will please me".{{Sfn|Delmendo|2005|p=176}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Delmendo |first=Sharon |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/The_Star_entangled_Banner/HhZKW4drY6MC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=samar+kill+and+burn&pg=PA176&printsec=frontcover |title=The Star-entangled Banner: One Hundred Years of America in the Philippines |date= |publisher=[[University of the Philippines Press]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-971-542-484-4 |pages=176 |language=en}}</ref> This command led to the deaths of 2,000 Filipino insurgents and civilians while sparking outrage in the United States.{{Sfn|Delmendo|2005|p=176}}{{Sfn|Clodfelter|2017|p=241}} In his historical account of the war, [[Brian McAllister Linn]] asserts "Samar cast a pall on the army's achievement and, for generations, has been associated in the public mind as typifying the Philippine War."{{Sfn|Linn|2000|p=321}}

=== American and Japanese colonization; World War II (1902–1946) ===
{{Further|History of the Philippines (1898–1946)}}
After the war, the archipelago was peaceful except the island of Samar, which was a "dark and bloody" isle according to [[James Henderson Blount]].{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=484}} In 1904, the [[Pulahan|Pulajans]] in Samar caused powerful massacres to the extent of Governor-General [[Luke Edward Wright]]'s concern.{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=488}} Numerous civilians joined the uprising due to the feeling of "unprotection".{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=468}} The rebellion was discussed by many American politicians and military officers and caused court cases just before the [[1904 United States presidential election]].{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=455}} Four days after the election, Wright visited Samar, where troops increased to 2,000 from 700.{{Sfn|Blount|1912|pp=503-504}} After battles and negotiations, the uprising eventually ended in 1906.{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=504}} When the rebellion ended, the island, according to Blount, started becoming "peaceful".{{Sfn|Blount|1912|p=526}} More revolts were made by religious associations in the 1920s to 1930s.{{Sfn|Borrinaga|2019|p=129}} 

In [[World War II]], the waters off the east side of the island also hosted the [[Battle off Samar]] in October 1944 wherein an unarmored force of [[United States Navy]] escorts fought off the center force of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], including the {{Ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato}}.<ref>{{Cite EBO|title=Battle of Leyte Gulf|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Leyte-Gulf|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref> When Japan colonized the Philippines, the Pulajan uprising became active again. Japan left the Philippines in 1945.{{Sfn|Borrinaga|2019|p=130}}

=== Marcos's dictatorship era (1965-1986) === 
{{main|Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship}}

The beginning months of the 1970s<ref name="GazetteHistoryProtest">{{Cite web |title=A History of the Philippine Political Protest |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703123638/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/edsa/the-ph-protest/ |archive-date=2017-07-03 |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|Official Gazette of the Philippines]]}}</ref>  marked a period of turmoil and change in the Philippines as well as in Samar, as unprecedented number of foreign debt-funded public works projects during  [[Ferdinand Marcos’ 1969 reelection campaign]] led to the [[1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis]]<ref name="Balbosas1992">{{Cite journal|last=Balbosa|first=Joven Zamoras|date=1992|title=IMF Stabilization Program and Economic Growth: The Case of the Philippines|journal=Journal of Philippine Development|volume=XIX|issue=35|url=https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf|access-date=November 6, 2022|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921141056/https://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/pjd/pidsjpd92-2imf.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Balisacan&Hill2003">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_L9k58WM9UC&q=The+Philippine+economy+under+Marcos:+A+balance+sheet|title=The Philippine Economy: Development, Policies, and Challenges|last1=Balisacan|first1=A. M.|last2=Hill|first2=Hal|date=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195158984|language=en|access-date=2024-06-17|archive-date=2023-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218080523/https://books.google.com/books?id=O_L9k58WM9UC&q=The+Philippine+economy+under+Marcos:+A+balance+sheet|url-status=live}}</ref> and resulting inflation triggered the [[First Quarter Storm]] protests.<ref name="Cororaton1997">{{Cite journal|last=Cororaton|first=Cesar B.|title=Exchange Rate Movements in the Philippines|journal=DPIDS Discussion Paper Series 97-05|pages=3, 19}}</ref><ref name="Celoza1997">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sp3U1oCNKlgC|title=Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism|last=Celoza|first=Albert F.|date=1997|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275941376|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/philippinesreade00schi|title=The Philippines reader : a history of colonialism, neocolonialism, dictatorship, and resistance|last=Schirmer|first=Daniel B.|date=1987|publisher=South End Press|isbn=0896082768|edition=1st|location=Boston|oclc=14214735}}</ref><ref name="Kessler1989">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/rebellionrepress0000kess|title=Rebellion and repression in the Philippines|last=Kessler|first=Richard J.|date=1989|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=0300044062|location=New Haven|oclc=19266663|url-access=registration}}</ref> {{rp|page="43"}} Three years later and with only a year left in his last constitutionally allowed term as president, Ferdinand Marcos placed the Philippines under [[Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos|Martial Law]] in September 1972 and thus retained the Presidency for fourteen more years.<ref name="Kasaysayan9ch10">{{Cite book|title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn.|publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited|year=1998|editor-last=Magno|editor-first=Alexander R.|location=Hong Kong|chapter=Democracy at the Crossroads}}</ref> This period in Philippine history is remembered for the Marcos administration's record of [[Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship|human rights abuses]],<ref name="McCoy199909202">{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/062.html|title=Alfred McCoy, Dark Legacy: Human rights under the Marcos regime|date=September 20, 1999|publisher=[[Ateneo de Manila University]]|access-date=June 17, 2024|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901062823/http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/062.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Abinales&Amoroso20052">{{Cite book|title=State and society in the Philippines|last1=Abinales|first1=P.N.|last2=Amoroso|first2=Donna J.|date=2005|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0742510234|location=Lanham, MD|oclc=57452454}}</ref> particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship.<ref name="Rappler">{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/182828-marcos-dictatorship-martial-law-youth-leaders-killed|title=Gone too soon: 7 youth leaders killed under Martial Law|work=Rappler|access-date=June 15, 2018|archive-date=June 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624114207/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/182828-marcos-dictatorship-martial-law-youth-leaders-killed|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Deforestation during Martial Law and the Sag-od Massacre====
The Marcos era was [[Deforestation in the Philippines#Deforestation during the martial law era|a time of significant deforestation]] in Samar and throughout the Philippines, with the forest cover of the Philippines shrinking until only 8% remained.<ref name="Dixon2010">{{cite book |last1=Homer-Dixon |first1=Thomas F. |title=Environment, Scarcity, and Violence |date=2010 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-2299-7 |page=66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6B-3CugWG0C&pg=PA66 |access-date=5 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Inoue2013">{{cite book |last1=Inoue |first1=M. |last2=Isozaki |first2=H. |title=People and Forest — Policy and Local Reality in Southeast Asia, the Russian Far East, and Japan |date=2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-017-2554-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nwTuCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA142 |access-date=5 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="nhcp3">{{cite web |date=September 20, 2017 |title=EP09 Kayo Ang Hihirap Kami Ang Yayaman |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5reVY2X8PS0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/5reVY2X8PS0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |publisher=[[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]] |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On the island of Samar, whose forest cover had been at 86% of the island in 1972, forest cover went down to 45% in 1978, and then a mere 10% by 1987. Twelve companies were given Timber License Agreements (TLAs) on the island, including Dolores Timber in the Province of Samar and San Jose Timber in the province of Northern Samar, which were both owned by [[Juan Ponce Enrile]],<ref name="nhcp3"/><ref name="Aguilar2015"/> the government official Ferdinand Marcos had put in place to approve Timber License Agreements during Martial Law.<ref name="nhcp3"/>

One of the infamous incidents of the Marcos dictatorship era was the Sag-od massacre in [[Las Navas, Northern Samar]], which took place on September 15, 1981.<ref name="hrvvmcsag-od">{{Cite web |last=Espina |first=Jess Immanuel |date=2023-09-15 |title=The Sag-od Massacre and Historical Denialism |url=https://hrvvmc.gov.ph/the-sag-od-massacre-and-historical-denialism-2/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Human Rights Violations Victims' Memorial Commission |language=en-US}}</ref> Numerous security personnel of [[Juan Ponce Enrile]]'s San Jose Timber Corporation allied with a paramilitary group called "the Lost Command" and ordered residents of Barrio Sag-od out of their homes, then opened fire on them. Forty-five people were killed, leaving only 13 inhabitants of Barrio Sag-od alive.<ref name="hrvvmcsag-od" />

==== Construction of the San Juanico Bridge ====
This era also saw the construction of the [[San Juanico Bridge]] between Samar and Leyte, which began as one of the high-visibility foreign-loan funded projects of [[Ferdinand Marcos’ 1969 reelection campaign]], and finished four years later in time to be inaugurated on then-[[First ladies and gentlemen of the Philippines|First Lady]] [[Imelda Marcos]]' birthday on July 2, 1973.<ref name="litup">{{Cite news |publisher=TIEZA |date=25 March 2018 |title=San Juanico, Eastern Visayas' Iconic Bridge, to Be Lit up By End of 2018 |work=Philippine Information Agency |url=http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1006186 |access-date=26 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326202441/http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1006186 |archive-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> The project was initially criticised as a [[white elephant]] by officials at the  [[National Economic and Development Authority]], noting that it was "useless and expensive to maintain",<ref name="RoelLandingin20080213"> {{Cite web |last=Landingin |first=Roel R. |date=13 February 2008 |title=7 in 10 ODA Projects Fail to Deliver Touted Benefits |url=http://pcij.org/stories/7-in-10-oda-projects-fail-to-deliver-touted-benefits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012170044/http://pcij.org/stories/7-in-10-oda-projects-fail-to-deliver-touted-benefits |archive-date=12 October 2009 |website=[[Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]] |language=en }}</ref> because its average daily traffic was too low to justify the cost of its construction.<ref name="RoelLandingin20080213" /> As a result, its construction has been associated with what has been called the Marcoses' "[[edifice complex]]"<ref name="Afinidad-Bernardo 2016">{{Cite news |last=Afinidad-Bernardo |first=Deni Rose M. |date=2016 |title=Edifice Complex |work=Philstar Global NewsLab |url=https://newslab.philstar.com/31-years-of-amnesia/building-spree |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304080521/http://newslab.philstar.com/31-years-of-amnesia/building-spree |archive-date=4 March 2017 }}</ref><ref name="MartialLawMuseumEdificeComplex">{{Cite web |title=Edifice Complex: Building on the Backs of the Filipino People |url=https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/edifice-complex-building-on-the-backs-of-the-filipino-people/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501160650/https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/edifice-complex-building-on-the-backs-of-the-filipino-people/ |archive-date=1 May 2018 |website=Martial Law Museum |language=en-US }}</ref> although economic activity in Samar and Leyte has since finally caught up with the bridge's intended function.<ref name="MartialLawMuseumEdificeComplex" /> At the time, its name was used as a slang term for one of the [[torture methods used by the Marcos dictatorship]], in which a person is being beaten while the victim's head and feet lay on separate beds and the body is suspended as though to form a bridge.<ref name="Pedroso2014">{{Cite news |last=Pedroso |first=Kate |date=21 September 2014 |title='San Juanico Bridge,' other tortures detailed |language=en |newspaper=The Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/639646/san-juanico-bridge-other-tortures-detailed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921022053/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/639646/san-juanico-bridge-other-tortures-detailed |archive-date=21 September 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hapal |first=Don Kevin |date=23 February 2016 |title=Worse than death: Torture methods during martial law |language=en |work=Rappler |location=Philippines |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/121365-torture-martial-law-marcos-regime |access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref>

==== The New People's Army conflict ====
Although the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, was newly-formed and relatively still very small throughout Marcos' second term, the Marcos administration hyped up its formation,<ref name="RebellionRepressionPh">{{Cite book |last=Kessler |first=Richard John |url=https://archive.org/details/rebellionrepress0000kess |title=Rebellion and repression in the Philippines |date=1989 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0300044065 |location=New Haven |oclc=19266663 |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{rp|page="43"}} supposedly because this would help build up political and monetary support from the US,<ref name="RebellionRepressionPh" />{{rp|page="43"}}<ref name="Robles2016">{{Cite book |last=Robles |first=Raissa |title=Marcos Martial Law: Never Again |publisher=Filipinos for A Better Philippines, Inc. |year=2016}}</ref> which was caught up in [[red scare]] paranoia at the time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sen |first=Rabindra |date=June 2005 |title=Philippines – U.S. Special Relationship: Cold War and Beyond |journal=Jadavpur Journal of International Relations |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=85–92 |doi=10.1177/0973598405110005 |issn=0973-5984 |s2cid=157525312}}</ref> When Marcos declared Martial Law, however, the CPP grew rapidly.<ref name="RebellionRepressionPh" />

On the island of Samar, Marcos' military forces were assigned to protect the logging concessions, and there were frequent encounters between the military and the New People's Army. As a result the towns of[[Taft, Eastern Samar|Taft]], [[Dolores, Eastern Samar|Dolores]], [[Can-avid]], and [[Oras, Eastern Samar|Oras]] in Eastern Samar were declared by the Military as "no-man's-land" areas from 1978 to 1982.<ref name="Aguilar2015">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6vw6rFaabA&t=1374s |title=So Why Samar? |date=October 3, 2015 |last=Aguilar |first=Mila D. |publisher=Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Swiss Embassy Manila |access-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref>

Since then, the island had numerous human rights cases due to the New People's Army rebellion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Japzon |first=Maureen |date=2005-06-24 |title=Samar Island in Agony |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2005/06/25/samar-island-in-agony/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[Bulatlat]] |language=en-US}}</ref>{{failed verification|reason=source does not attribute the human rights cases to the NPA conflict.|date=November 2025}} 

In May 2024, the Department of the Interior and Local Government announced that the three provinces on the island of Samar were "free of NPA influence" with no single village in three Samar provinces is under the influence of NPA [that] year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samar provinces now free from NPA influence |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1224143 |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Philippine News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

=== Contemporary history (1986–present) ===
In 2013, the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and the City of Tacloban were among the localities most severely impacted by [[Typhoon Haiyan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2025 |title=Twelve Years After Yolanda: The Typhoon That Never Left |url=https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/story/68684/twelve-years-after-yolanda-the-typhoon-that-never-left/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Greenpeace Philippines |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, Samar was also heavily impacted by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Visayas]], with the first case in the region reported on March 23, 2020.<ref name="PNAGovPH-CovidLeyte">{{cite news |last1=Meniano |first1=Sarwell |title=DOH confirms first Covid-19 case in Eastern Visayas |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097553 |access-date=March 31, 2020 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=March 23, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324085240/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097553 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Haiyan 2013-11-07 1345Z (alternate, borderless).png|left|thumb|210x210px|Typhoon Haiyan striking the island; the typhoon devastated a large part of the Philippines.<ref name=":0" />]]
Samar is the third-largest island in the Philippines by area, after the islands of [[Luzon]] and [[Mindanao]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite EBO|title=Samar|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Samar|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref> Mount Huraw is Samar's highest point, with an elevation of {{convert|2,920|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Samar Mountains |url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/samar.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=PeakVisor |language=en}}</ref> Samar is the easternmost island in the Visayas. It lies to the northeast of Leyte, separated from it only by the [[San Juanico Strait]]. The island lies to the southeast of the [[Bicol Peninsula]] on [[Luzon]], separated from it only by the [[San Bernardino Strait]]. To the west is the Samar Sea, and to the north and east of Samar lies the Philippine Sea. The island is hilly yet has lower altitude than the mountainous terrain in the rest of the Visayas. [[Upland and lowland|Lowlands]] are mostly found near the coast and along rivers; the rivers themselves are small and flow in a radial pattern.<ref name=":0" /> The island, along with the region of Eastern Visayas, is rainy most of the year, ranging from seven to ten.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agricultural Profile |url=https://easternvisayas.da.gov.ph/regional-profile/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Department of Agriculture]]}}</ref> Numerous typhoons are formed in the area. Eastern Samar, specifically, has a Type II climate without a dry season with an increase in rainfall.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Panhulugan Cliff at Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park.JPG|thumb|The Panhulugan Cliff at the Sohoton Natural Bridge Park, a part of the Samar Island Natural Park]]

=== Flora and fauna ===
The [[Samar Island Natural Park]] is a {{Convert|300,000|ha|acre|abbr=off}} forest within the island, encompassing all three provinces. It contains the largest tract of intact lowland forest in the Philippines. The park has a population of [[Dipterocarpaceae]] species, six of them are endangered, and contains the rare [[Philippine eagle]]. The park contains six ecological forest types and has numerous waterfalls. Species in the island itself include the [[Philippine sailfin lizard]], the [[Draco mindanensis]], the [[Philippine hawk-eagle]], the [[Giant golden-crowned flying fox]], the [[Red-vented cockatoo]], and the [[Philippine crocodile]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-07-02 |title=Samar Island Natural Park |url=https://whc.unesco.org/fr/listesindicatives/6719/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial}}</ref> The municipality of [[Basey]] contains [[Karst forest|Karst forests]] with a total of 67 vascular plant species. In these forests, Dipterocarpaceae is the most prominent plant family.{{Sfn|Villanueva et al.|2021|p=149}} Out of 2,400 flower species throughout the Philippines, 40 are only found in the island. In 2018, three new species of [[Begonia]] were found in the isle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palma |first=Ana Margarita |date=2021-09-02 |title=Three new species of Begonia found in Samar Island, Philippines |url=https://ovcre.uplb.edu.ph/press/news/item/619-three-new-species-of-begonia-found-in-samar-island-philippines |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[University of the Philippines]]}}</ref> The province of Northern Samar was described by Tiffany Neri of ''[[SunStar]]'' as one of the Philippines' "best-kept secrets" with numerous rock formations and wildlife sanctuaries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neri |first=Tiffany L. |date=2025-04-27 |title=Where the sea whispers: Secrets of Northern Samar |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/where-the-sea-whispers-secrets-of-northern-samar |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> On June 9, 2025, the Biri Rock Formations in Northern Samar were declared to be a National Geological Monument according to the [[Department of Environment and Natural Resources]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Ronald O. |date=2025-06-09 |title=Northern Samar's iconic Biri Rocks named as national geological monument |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/northern-samars-iconic-biri-rocks-named-as-national-geological-monument |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> 

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title       = Population of Samar <!-- based on historical censuses, sum of Eastern, Northern, and Western Samar -->
|align       = none
|cols        = 2
|percentages =
|footnote    =
|source      = Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|1903-2024}}{{LWUA population data}}
| 1903 |{{sum|79645|67680|118912}}
| 1918 |{{sum|117348|93559|168668}}
| 1939 |{{sum|154347|155050|236909}}
| 1948 |{{sum|197734|227957|331521}}
| 1960 |{{sum|237747|261424|368823}}
| 1970 |{{sum|271000|306114|442244}}
| 1975 |{{sum|287149|354665|478378}}
| 1980 |{{sum|320637|378516|501439}}
| 1990 |{{sum|329335|383654|533733}}
| 1995 |{{sum|362324|454195|589373}}
| 2000 |{{sum|375822|500639|641124}}
| 2007 |{{sum|405114|549759|695149}}
| 2010 |{{sum|428877|589013|733377}}
| 2015 |{{sum|467160|632379|780481}}
| 2020 |{{sum|477168|639186|793183}}
| 2024 |{{sum|1924651}}
|state=collapsed}}

As of the 2024 census, the population of the island was 1,924,651 merged from the three provinces in the isle.{{Philippine census reference|2024}} The main language in all three provinces of Samar Island is [[Waray language|Waray]]. The second most popular language in Samar province is Bisaya, while the second most popular in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar is [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]]. Samar province and Northern Samar both have a scale of 0.13 in the [[Linguistic diversity index]] while Eastern Samar has a scale of 0.02.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-10 |title=The language landscape of the Philippines in 4 maps |url=https://stories.thinkingmachin.es/philippine-languages/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Thinking Machines |language=en}}</ref> Many people in the island are part of the Waray people: in Eastern Samar, 97.78 percent of people were Waray while in Samar, 91.45 classified themselves as Waray. Other ethnic groups include [[Visayans|Bisaya]], [[Cebuano people|Cebuano]], and [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]]. Males were more populated in both provinces than women.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-06-07 |title=Eastern Samar: Home of the Warays |url=http://www.census.gov.ph/content/eastern-samar-home-warays |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116225720/http://www.census.gov.ph/content/eastern-samar-home-warays |archive-date=2013-11-16 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-08-13 |title=Samar: Population Getting Younger |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/samar-population-getting-younger |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115061149/https://psa.gov.ph/content/samar-population-getting-younger |archive-date=2015-11-15 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]] |language=en}}</ref> As of the 2020 census, {{sum|453265|595375|741374}} people in the island are Roman Catholic, {{sum|352|524|697}} are [[Islam]], and {{sum|3777|7037|3829}} are part of the [[Iglesia ni Cristo]] church. In all three provinces, more than 90% of the population are followers of the Roman Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing) |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/religious-affiliation-philippines-2020-census-population-and-housing |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=Table A: Household Population by Religious Affiliation, Region, Province |url=https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/phcd/3_Statistical%20Table%20for%20Religious%20Affiliation%20%28for%20Posting%29_RML_12082022_PMMJ_CRD_1.xlsx |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref>
== Administrative divisions and politics ==
The island originally used to be a sole province. On June 19, 1965, a law passed splitting the province into three: Western Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1965-06-19 |title=Republic Act No. 4221 |url=https://ldr.senate.gov.ph/legislative-issuance/republic-act-no-4221 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau}}</ref> Since there are three provinces, there are three provincial governments with a governor each.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=2022-08-18 |title=3 Samar governors to draft island-wide peace, dev't plan |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1181606 |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> For the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]], Eastern Samar has one congressional district while Western and Northern Samar has two each, causing the island to have five districts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sioson |first=Mapa Claire Dennis |title=TABLE 1: Population of Legislative Districts by Province and Selected Highly Urbanized/Component City: 2020 |url=https://psa.gov.ph/system/files/phcd/2022-12/2_Table%25201%2520Population%2520of%2520Legislative%2520Districts%2520by%2520Province%2520and%2520Selected%2520HUC_Component%2520City%2520Web%2520Final-signed.pdf |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref> The [[Philippines's 9th senatorial district]] encompassed Samar and Leyte which had two senators representing in the [[Senate of the Philippines]] with 24 representatives. The system was abolished in the early 1940s when the country was the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]].{{Sfn|U.S. Government Printing Office|1918|p=38}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Senate |url=https://web.senate.gov.ph/about/history.asp |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Senate of the Philippines]]}}</ref>
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+Provinces in Samar<ref name=":2" />
! scope="col" |Name
! scope="col" |Capital
! scope="col" |Area
(ha)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-30 |title=PSGC Interactive - List of Provinces |url=http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912160311/http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psgc/listprov.asp |archive-date=2016-09-12 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref>
! scope="col" |Population
(2024){{Philippine census reference|2024}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[Samar (province)|Western Samar]]
|[[Catbalogan]]
| align="right" |604,803
| align="right" |806,179
|-
! scope="row" |[[Eastern Samar]]
|[[Borongan]]
| align="right" |466,047
| align="right" |472,683
|-
! scope="row" |[[Northern Samar]]
|[[Catarman, Northern Samar|Catarman]]
| align="right" |369,293
| align="right" |645,789
|}

== Economy ==
The island has a major copra industry: of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, all three of the Samar provinces were placed in the top four based on copra production, just behind Leyte.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabieta |first=Joey |date=2020-01-14 |title=Copra prices go up in Eastern Visayas |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1212853/copra-prices-go-up-in-eastern-visayas |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |language=en}}</ref> Western Samar's industry recorded a 6.1 percent increase from 2018 to 2023. The top three industries in the province are food service activities, transportation, and electricity, steam, water, and waste management. As of 2023, the [[gross domestic product]] of the province is [[Philippine peso|PHP]] 61.35 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moraleta |first=Riza N. |date=2024-11-28 |title=Samar’s Economy Records 6.1 Percent Increase in 2023 |url=https://rsso08.psa.gov.ph/index.php/content/samars-economy-records-61-percent-increase-2023 |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Statistics Authority]]}}</ref> The island has rice and root crops, including [[Sweet potato|sweet potatoes]] and [[cassava]]. [[Abacá]] and dairy from native [[Carabao|carabaos]] is found in the island.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-08-04 |title=Native Carabaos Do Well in Niche Markets |url=https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2018/08/04/native-carabaos-do-well-in-niche-markets/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230603203703/https://www.agriculture.com.ph/2018/08/04/native-carabaos-do-well-in-niche-markets/ |archive-date=2023-06-03 |access-date=2025-10-24 |work=Agriculture Monthly |language=en-US}}</ref> In Eastern Samar, two house bills were filed to establish two separate coconut oil refineries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Recuerdo |first=Elmer |date=2024-09-23 |title=Solon eyes Eastern Samar coco oil refineries |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2024/09/22/solon-eyes-eastern-samar-coco-oil-refineries |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)|Daily Tribune]]}}</ref> [[Rice|Palay]] and banana crops are also made in the province; agro-industries are actively promoted. Fishery is a major livelihood in Eastern Samar's coastal communities, but it is experiencing a decline.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-23 |title=Eastern Samar |url=https://saad.da.gov.ph/phase-2/eastern-samar/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=Special Area for Agricultural Development |language=en-US}}</ref> Northern Samar, meanwhile, has rice, corn, vegetables, and abaca. Municipal fisheries and tuna operations are also present in the province.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-23 |title=Northern Samar |url=https://saad.da.gov.ph/phase-2/northern-samar/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=Special Area for Agricultural Development |language=en-US}}</ref> A commercial complex owned by [[Metro Retail Stores Group]] was planned to be created in 2019 in Catbalogan from a contract and was opened on August 30, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-02-18 |title=Metro stores, Samar to develop commercial complex in Catbalogan |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/metro-stores-samar-to-develop-commercial-complex-in-catbalogan |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-28 |title=Metro Retail Opens Biggest Supermarket Store in Catbalogan |url=https://www.leytesamardailynews.com/metro-retail-opens-biggest-supermarket-store-in-catbalogan/ |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=Leyte Samar Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> Samar is separated from the main island shipping routes. [[Iron ore]], made from the southeast portion of the isle, is shipped from [[General MacArthur, Eastern Samar|General MacArthur]]. There are also [[coal]], [[Phosphate mineral|phosphate]], and [[chromite]] industries. Since Samar has many forests, logging and sawmill operations are also done in the eastern coastal towns. Catbalogan is a major commercial center in the island, serving as an important coastal port with fishing centers.<ref name=":0" /> 

=== Tourism ===
In 2015, the Samar Tourism Council encouraged tourists to visit attractions in [[Catbalogan]] as Governor [[Sharee Ann Tan]] held meetings with agency partners and the private sector to further boost tourism in Western Samar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-22 |title=Catbalogan urges tourists to spend summer in Samar |url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/region/2015/02/22/1426445/catbalogan-urges-tourists-spend-summer-samar |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[The Philippine Star]]}}</ref> A [[One Town, One Product (Philippines)|One Town One Product]] (OTOP) center from the [[Department of Trade and Industry (Philippines)|Department of Trade and Industry]] (DTI) was launched in Calbayog on June 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-06-21 |title=Otop Hub in Calbayog City opens to showcase unique local offerings from Samar |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/otop-hub-in-calbayog-city-opens-to-showcase-unique-local-offerings-from-samar |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> During the "Benchmarking Tour" held by Eastern Samar officials in Cebu on February 9, 2023, the two provincial governments made a deal to organize a "tourism circuit" to increase tourism in the two provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-09 |title=Cebu, Eastern Samar execs explore 'tourism circuit' |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/cebu-eastern-samar-execs-explore-tourism-circuit |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> A DTI "Heritage Month Trade Fair" was held by the DTI provincial office of Northern Samar in [[Robinsons North Tacloban]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-30 |title=DTI Northern Samar products takes center stage in trade fair |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/dti-northern-samar-products-takes-center-stage-in-trade-fair |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Transportation ===
[[File:N674, N1 crossing.jpg|thumb|Intersection between the Wright-Taft Highway and the Pan-Philippine Highway in Paranas]]
A segment of the Pan-Philippine Highway is present in Samar, stretching from Northern Samar to Leyte in the western coast of the isle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabieta |first=Joey |date=2024-03-18 |title=Maharlika Highway in Eastern Visayas to get needed rehab |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1919776/maharlika-highway-in-eastern-visayas-to-get-needed-rehab |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite map|title=Road and Bridge Inventory|publisher=[[Department of Public Works and Highways]]|url=https://dpwh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4bc4f2dc3a5644088c57de02108a8fd3|access-date=October 24, 2025}}</ref> The [[N670 highway (Philippines)|N670 highway]] traverses through the northern and eastern coasts in the island, stretching through all three provinces, starting and ending from the Pan-Philippine Highway. Two other highways connect from the Pan-Philippine Highway to the N670 highway: the Catarman-Calbayog Road, which originates in Catarman and ends in Calbayog, and the [[Wright–Taft Road]], stretching from [[Paranas]] to [[Taft, Eastern Samar|Taft]]. Another highway extends from the N670 highway to [[Guiuan]].<ref name=":3" /> Four major ports are in the island, namely the Port of Calbayog, the Port of Borongan, the Port of Guiuan, and the Port of [[San Isidro, Northern Samar|San Isidro]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Ports |url=https://www.ppa.com.ph/sites/default/files/List%20of%20Ports%20covered%20in%20PPA%20Statistics.pdf |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine Ports Authority]]}}</ref> A flight route from Cebu to [[Catarman National Airport]] was launched on March 4, 2025, serviced by the [[Philippine Airlines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-03-10 |title=Cebu-Catarman flights seen to bring growth to Northern Samar |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/cebu-catarman-flights-seen-to-bring-growth-to-northern-samar |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en}}</ref> Two weekly flight routes from Cebu to [[Borongan Airport]] were also launched in December 2022, also serviced by the Philippine Airlines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=2024-09-13 |title=PAL launches 3rd Cebu-Borongan weekly flight |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233283 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> Two airlines service at the [[Calbayog Airport]], namely Philippine Airlines and [[Cebu Pacific]]; the former flies to Manila three times a week while the latter flies to Cebu two times a week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=2024-08-09 |title=Lapid to secure funds for Calbayog Airport’s night rating |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1230829 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Power and telecommunication ===
Eastern Samar's electric distribution utility is the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO).{{Sfn|University of Illinois|2005|p=405}} Two electric cooperatives serve Western Samar, namely: the Samar I and Samar II Electric Cooperative (SAMELCO).{{Sfn|Republic of the Philippines|1990|p=148}} Northern Samar's electric cooperative is the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative (NORSAMELCO).<ref>{{Cite web |title=NORSAMELCO |url=https://legacy.doe.gov.ph/ducsp/norsamelco |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Department of Energy (Philippines)|Department of Energy]]}}</ref> The Philippines' first tidal plant is planned to be built in Catarman, Northern Samar by a private electricity firm, harnessing currents from the San Benardino Strait.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Recuerdo |first=Elmer |date=2024-02-18 |title=N. Samar unveils pioneer tidal power |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2024/02/18/n-samar-unveils-pioneer-tidal-power |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)|Daily Tribune]]}}</ref> A Singaporean firm invested in a planned wind farm in the borders of the Western and Northern Samar provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=2024-11-08 |title=Singaporean firm bares P19-B expansion of energy investment in Samar |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1237385 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> Solar power projects were planned in two towns in Western Samar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amazona |first=Roel |date=2024-10-21 |title=Solar power projects up for 2 Samar towns |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236021 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> In Taft, Eastern Samar, a hydropower plant is operated, with possibilities of it being a tourist site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amazona |first=Roel |last2=Abella |first2=Lizbeth Ann |date=2023-04-27 |title=E. Samar hydropower plant eyed as tourist site |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200292 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> The main telecommunication companies serviced in the island are [[Smart Communications]] and [[Globe Telecom]]. New cell sites from both of the telecommunication operations were planned to be built in Northern Samar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Recuerdo |first=Elmer |date=2024-05-05 |title=Telco beefs up N. Samar network |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2024/05/04/telco-beefs-up-n-samar-network |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)|Daily Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-08-13 |title=TELECOM {{!}} Smart LTE expansion keeps Northern Samar island town connected |url=https://techsabado.com/2022/08/13/telecom-smart-lte-expansion-keeps-northern-samar-island-town-connected/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=TechSabado |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 100 cell sites were planned to be built in Northern Samar following a deal with Governor [[Edwin Ongchuan]] and PhilTower Consortium, an infrastructure provider.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meniano |first=Sarwell |date=2024-01-25 |title=Over 100 cell sites to rise in Northern Samar |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1217629 |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Philippine News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref> 

=== Education ===
Six Department of Education divisions are present in the island: three for each of the provinces, and one each for Borongan, Calbayog, and Catbalogan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools Division Offices Directory {{!}} DepEd Region VIII |url=https://region8.deped.gov.ph/schools-divisions-directory/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Department of Education (Philippines)|Department of Education]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Major universities in Eastern Samar include the [[Eastern Samar State University]] and four other satellite campuses. In Northern Samar, the [[University of Eastern Philippines]] and two other satellite campuses are in the province. For Western Samar, two major universities are placed: the [[Samar State University]] with three satellite campuses, and the [[Northwest Samar State University]] with one satellite campus. Other local colleges are also in the three provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Higher Education Institutions |url=https://ched.gov.ph/list-of-higher-education-institutions-2/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=[[Commission on Higher Education]] |language=en-US}}</ref> For the [[Technical Education and Skills Development Authority]], three provincial training centers and five schools are placed in the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=List of TESDA Administered Schools and Training Centers in Region VIII - Eastern Samar |url=https://tesdaonlineprogram.com/list-of-tesda-administered-schools-and-training-centers-in-region-viii-eastern-samar/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=TESDA Online Program |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Negros]]
* [[Bohol]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite book |last=Villamor |first=Ignacio |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/Census_of_the_Philippine_Islands_Taken_U/OeMalhuz7mcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ferdinand+magellan+samar&pg=PA244&printsec=frontcover |title=Census of the Philippine Islands Taken Under the Direction of the Philippine Legislature in the Year 1918 |last2=Buencamino |first2=Felipe |publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]] |year=1920 |ref={{harvid|Villamor|Buencamino}}}}
*{{cite book |last1=Ocampo |first1=Ambeth |title=Looking Back: Volume 1 |date=2012 |publisher=Anvil Publishing, Inc. |isbn=9789712736087}}
*{{Cite book |last=Parr |first=Charles McKew |title=So Noble a Captain: The Life and Times of Ferdinand Magellan |last2=Crowell |first2=Thomas Y. |year=1953 |ref={{harvid|Parr|Crowell}}}}
*{{cite book |last=Scott |first=William Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKvtAAAAMAAJ |title=Cracks in the parchment curtain and other essays in Philippine history |publisher=New Day Publishers |year=1985 |isbn=978-971-10-0073-8}}
*{{Cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_the_Spanish_American/S1bDEAAAQBAJ?hl=en |title=The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars: A Political, Social, and Military History |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-85109-951-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Clodfelter |first=Micheal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8urEDgAAQBAJ |title=Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1492–2015, 4th ed. |publisher=McFarland |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-7864-7470-7}}
*{{Cite book |last=Linn |first=Brian McAllister |author-link=Brian McAllister Linn |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/The_Philippine_War_1899_1902/3xmsEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=The Philippine War 1899-1902 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |year=2000 |isbn=0-70061225-4 |publication-place=Lawrence, Kansas}}
*{{Cite book |last=Blount |first=James Henderson |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_American_Occupation_of_the_Philippin/jQ8sAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=samar+american+occupation&pg=PA488&printsec=frontcover |title=The American Occupation of the Philippines, 1898-1912 |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |year=1912 |language=en}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Borrinaga |first=George Emmanuel R. |date=April 2019 |title=Solidarity and Crisis-Derived Identities in Samar and Leyte, Philippines, 1565 to Present |url=https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/preview/4222108/content-hull_17735a.pdf |journal=[[University of Hull]] |ref={{harvid|Borrinaga|2019}}}}

*{{Cite journal |last=Villanueva |first=Elaine Loreen C. |last2=Fernandez |first2=Desamarie Antoinette P. |last3=Tolentino |first3=Paul John S. |last4=Obeña |first4=Ren Divien R. |last5=Buot |first5=Inocencio E. Jr. |date=December 31, 2021 |title=Checklist of the Flora and Fauna of the Karst Forests in Basey, Samar, Philippines |url=https://doi.nrct.go.th/admin/doc/doc_601751.pdf |journal=[[National Science Museum (Thailand)|The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal]] |volume=15 |issue=2 |ref={{harvid|Villanueva et al.|2021}} |via=[[National Research Council of Thailand]]}}

*{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=cZUuh57ZWv0C&source=gbs_navlinks_s |title=United States Congressional Serial Set |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1918 |ref={{harvid|U.S. Government Printing Office|1918}} |issue=7314}}

*{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/Platts_International_Directory_of_Electr/WGIrAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=esamelco&dq=esamelco&printsec=frontcover |title=Platts International Directory of Electric Power Producers and Distributors |publisher=[[McGraw Hill Companies]] |year=2005 |ref={{harvid|University of Illinois|2005}}}}

*{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.ph/books/edition/Provincial_Profile_Samar/-pkj1v0krbEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=samelco&dq=samelco&printsec=frontcover |title=Provincial Profile: Samar |publisher=[[Republic of the Philippines]] |year=1990 |ref={{harvid|Republic of the Philippines|1990}}}}{{refend}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Samar Island}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Samar Island}}

{{Islands of the Philippines}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samar (Island)}}
[[Category:Samar| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Samar (province)]]
[[Category:Islands of Northern Samar]]
[[Category:Islands of Eastern Samar]]