by Lionunion 
Eastern Visayas, also known as Region VIII, is an administrative region in the Philippines. It consists of three main islands: Samar, Leyte, and Biliran. The region has six provinces, one independent city, and one highly urbanized city, namely, Biliran, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc, and Tacloban. The highly urbanized city of Tacloban is the sole regional center.
An Overview of Eastern Visayas
The total area of Eastern Visayas is 23,251.10 square kilometers. As of the 2020 census, the region has a population of 4,547,150 inhabitants, making it the third most populous region in the Visayas.
The region’s economy is primarily agricultural, with rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, and banana as its major crops. However, it also has significant revenue sources from manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and services. Mining, farming, fishing, and tourism also contribute significantly to the economy. The region’s GDP in 2021 was approximately ₱450 billion or $9 billion.
Exploring the Provinces of Eastern Visayas
Biliran
Biliran is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. It is one of the country’s smallest and newest provinces. Formerly a sub-province of Leyte, it became an independent province in 1992.
Here’s a summarized information about Biliran:
Land Area: Biliran has a total land area of approximately 536.01 square kilometers.
Population: As of the 2020 census, the province has a population of around 179,312 people.
Economic Situation: The economy of Biliran is largely based on agriculture, with rice, corn, coconut, abaca, and fishing among its primary industries. The province is also rich in natural resources such as geothermal energy and minerals like gold, copper, silver, and manganese.
Eastern Samar
Eastern Samar, officially known as the Province of Eastern Samar, is a province in 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.
Here’s a summarized information about Eastern Samar:
Land Area: Eastern Samar covers a total area of 4,660.47 square kilometers (1,799.42 sq mi), making it the 24th largest province out of 81 in the Philippines.
Population: According to the 2020 census, the province has a population of 477,168 people, ranking it 60th out of 81 provinces in terms of population size.
Economic Situation: The province’s major economic resource is fishery and agriculture, which includes the production of coconut, copra, corn, rice, sugar, and vegetables. Commercial activities in the province are centered on the provincial capital of Borongan, while tourism activities are centered in Guiuan town where Calicoan Island and the historical Homonhon Island are located.
Leyte
Leyte is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City. The province covers an area of approximately 6,313.33 square kilometers. As of 2020, it has a population of around 1,966,768 people.
The economy of Leyte is largely based on agriculture. Major products include rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, bananas, and pineapple. The province is also rich in mineral and geothermal energy resources.
Northern Samar
Northern Samar is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and it is bordered by eastern Samar and Samar to the south. Here is a summarized information about Northern Samar:
Land Area: Northern Samar has a total land area of 3,692.93 square kilometers.
Population: As of 2020, the province has a population of 632,379 people.
Economy: The economy of Northern Samar is largely based on agriculture, with coconut, rice, and fish being the main products. The province is also rich in mineral resources such as copper, gold, silver, and manganese. However, it is considered as one of the poorest provinces in the country with a poverty incidence of 30.9% as of 2015.
Real Estate Market: The real estate market in Northern Samar is not as developed as in other regions of the Philippines. The province is mostly rural, and the majority of properties available are agricultural lands. However, there are opportunities for development, especially in the tourism sector, as the province is known for its beautiful beaches and natural attractions.
Samar
Samar is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City. As of the 2020 census, the province has a population of 780,481 people.
The province covers a total land area of 6,048.03 square kilometers, making it the third largest province in terms of land area in the Philippines. Samar is primarily known for its rainforests, waterfalls, and caves, which are major tourist attractions.
The economy of Samar is largely based on agriculture, with rice, corn, and coconut as the main crops. Fishing is also a significant part of the economy, with the province being rich in marine resources. The province also has deposits of limestone, coal, and clay, which are used in local industries.
Southern Leyte
Southern Leyte is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Maasin. The province covers an area of 1,798.61 square kilometers and is home to a population of 421,750 people as of the 2015 census.
The economy of Southern Leyte is predominantly agricultural, with rice, corn, abaca, root crops, and fruits being the main products. The province also has a vibrant fishing industry due to its coastal location. The service sector is growing, with trade, tourism, and government services contributing to the economy.
Source: wikipedia
