CapitalCatarmanLand Area3,498 sq. km.Population589,013Density170/sq. km.Divisions24 municipalities
Voters386,163GovernorJose L. Ong, Jr.Vice GovernorGary M. LavinBoard Members
Vicario, Pascasio Joshua Maria III H.
Hernandez, Neil S.
Uy, Christian Emmanuel W.
Ballesta, Golda S.
Singzon, Victorio II M.
Batula, Florencio Jr. A.
Galit, Dionisio D.
Silvano, Gina O.
Gillamac, Marites J.
Lucero, Albert A.
Major Industries
Northern Samar is endowed with metallic minerals like copper, aluminum and bauxite which can befound particularly in the municipalities of Biri, Mapanas and San Isidro. The underdeveloped non-metallic resources are coral, adobe, salt, gravel, earth, boulders and cobbles. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources identified that the top three metallic deposits in Region VIII are bauxite, nickel and chromite. Around 149.4 million tons of bauxite or aluminum are abundant in San Jose de Buan and Gandara, Samar, in the southern part of Eastern Samar, and in the island of Batag, Northern Samar.
Source of Livelihood
Agriculture Agriculture, as defined, is the science of cultivating land, producing crops and raising livestock; and these were among the agricultural activities that the Nortehanons farm workers had been actively involved with. Furthermore, fishery is also another major component of the agricultural sector wherein the province is home to numerous fishery activities providing livelihood to many Nortehanons. Palay Production Crop production refers to the growing of crops either for sale or domestic consumption. Palay is one of the major crops produced by Northern Samar. Generally, the province is best suited to palay production component since its soil characteristics both in the lowland and upland areas coupled with suitable weather condition are fit and conducive to cultivation. Major agricultural crops of the province and their contribution to the local economy. Source Palay Coconut Banana Abaca Corn Cassava Major Fruits Mango Pili Jackfruits Citrus Banana Coffee Fishery There are fourteen (14) fishing grounds in the province with a fishing area of 13,710.07 hectares. These are the Pacific Ocean, Biri Channel, Laoang Channel, Palapag Channel, Gamay Bay, Mapanas Bay, Naranjo Pass, Capul Pass, Timon-Timon Sea, Caglanipao, Veriato, Cabacungan, Alarkahan and Pambujan-San Roque Bay. These fishing grounds produced a fish catch of 492.74 MT. These also serve as breeding places for various species such as Spanish mackerel, grouper, tuna, big eyed scad, herring, anchovies, salmon, round scad and segamid. Other fishery products are crabs, shrimps, shell squid, cuttlefish, lobster and octopus. There are three classes of fishing that operate in the province: commercial, inland, and municipal.
Languages
Language is the capacity of people to acquire and use a complex system of communication and is vital on the day to day endeavors of humans. There are many mediums in which people communicate and one particular is language. In Northern Samar, there are variety of dialects spoken depending upon the influence of the native speakers of their regions closer to the regions town’s location. In fact, about 91.9% of the household population speaks waray/norte samarnon while other dialects spoken in include Cebuano (2.90%), Abaknon (2.13%), Bisaya (1.78), Tagalog and Muslim (0.15%).
Religion
Religion is considered to be an essential element in sustaining a rich culture and establishing a better community. The richness of culture in Northern Samar is manifested in the presence of different religions. The province is dominated by Catholicism. Other religions continuously existing are Iglesia ni Cristo, Church of the Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witness and Aglipay. Despite the variety, a harmonious relationship among them is observed.
Festivals
Allen July 24-25 Nikit Festival (last week of Jan) Biri June 24-25 Kaway Festival (June 23-24) Bobon Aug. 9-10 Agta Festival (3rd Sunday of Jan) Capul July 30-31 Abaknon Festival (July 30-31) Catarman Aug. 28-29 Fiesta Catubig July 26-27 Embajada(2 nd week of Jan) Bebe Festival Gamay Sept. 14-15 Laoang Sept. 28-29 Embajada Sinulog (last Sunday of Jan) Lapinig July 13-14 Las Navas Sept. 7-8 Fluvial Parade Festival Lavezares Aug. 21-22 Talutang Festival (Aug 20) Pinonayan Fest(3 rd Sunday of Jan) Lope de Vega May 25-26 Mapanas July 18-19 Mondragon June 11-12 Palapag ug. 14-15 Rayhak Festival (June 10) Pambujan June 23-24 Kadayaw Festival (1st full moon of Jan) Rosario Oct. 6-7 Kinis Festival San Antonio June 11-12 Manoglaya Festival (June 9-12) San Isidro May 14-15 San Jose July 28-29 San Roque Aug. 15-16 Parayan Festival (March) San Vicente May 9-10 Panagat Festival (1st week of April) Silvino Lobos May 14-15 Victoria Aug. 6-7 Mao-mao Festival (April 27, movable date)
Attractions
San Antonio-Beaches, mangroves, coral reefs, Lagbangan lake • Bird watching, boating, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, biking around the island, beach volleyball San Vicente-White sands, pink beach, panagat festival • Whale & dolphin watching, water sports, camping, snorkeling, jet skiing, kayaking, swimming & island hopping. Lavezares-Urdaneta beach, Bankwan island, Lalaguna bay, Shrines our Lady of Lourdes, Risen Christ, Our Lady of Salvation • Swimming, sightseeing, talutang festival, bankaton festival, feast of sto. Nino Biri-Magasang rock formations, cogon surfing area, Matangyaron surfing area, Magtutuka marine sanctuary, Sawangan fish sanctuary, kaway festival, feast of sto nino • Fishing, sightseeing, snorkeling, surfing & diving Capul Abak beach resort, giant footprints, biti cave Capul-lighthouse, century old church, abaknon festival • Swimming, spelunking, snorkeling, sightseeing, riding the waves Victoria-Mawo river, Bangon rapids, steel bridge • Sightseeing, water sports Allen-Tarangban (living stone), cabacungan rock formation and beaches, war ruins and cannons, nikit festival(Nov 30), katig-uban festival (3rd Sunday of January) Beaches • swimming, spelunking Catarman-Beaches • Swimming Bobon- Beaches • Swimming Historical Attractions San Bernardino Lighthouse Biri Bomb-Made Lagoon Biri Capul Lighthouse Capul Battle of Catubig Landmark Catubig Grand Canyon/Inogkahan Laoang Batag Lighthouse Laoang Remains of Town’s Fortress Palapag Sumuroy Monument Palapag Religious Attractions 15th Century Capul Church Capul 16th Century Catubig Church Catubig 16th Century St. Michael Cathedral Laoang 17th Century Old Silver Bell Palapag 15th Century Old Palapag Church Palapag
History
Between 1599 and 1605, the Jesuits established a mission residence in Palapag, among the Ibabao populace. These missionaries stayed until 1768, when they were expelled from the Philippines and were replaced by the Franciscans. Despite the frequent Muslim piratical raids and deprivations, the mission’s residence flourished and other villages in the Ibabao region were evangelized. As the San Bernardino Strait was along the route of the Spanish galleon shipping between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico, a royal port was established in Palapag where richly-laden Manila galleons were protected from unfavorable wind and troubled seas. In 1649, shipbuilders were drafted from Palapag to the Cavite shipyards for the construction of galleons and vessels for the conservation and defense of the island. That same year, these recruits ignited the Sumoroy insurrections, which incited a general uprising against Spain in the Visayas and Mindanao, in the provinces of Caraga and Iligan, and then in Cebu. It took a year before the Spanish subdued the rebellion. Later in 1898, when the Americans landed on the beach of Catarman, the Samareños organized a revolutionary army led by Gen. Vicente Lucban. Armed with bolos and paltiks , they fought the invaders who used cannons and rifles. Although defeated, they continued to harass the Americans through guerilla warfare. During World War I, the people of Northern Samar organized a platoon of volunteers supported by voluntary contributions. The contingent became a part of the Philippine National Guards in Manila. The province also helped the government by purchasing a considerable amount of bonds floated to finance the National Commission for Independence, then organized by Manuel L. Quezon after the Nacionalista and Democratica parties coalesced. Bataan surrendered in 1942, four intrepid guerilla organizations operated in Samar: the 93rd Infantry Division of United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), organized by Lt. Sevilleno, with Capt. V. Merit in Catarman having the widest area of command; the Philippine guerilla forces headed by Ex-Gov. Pedro Arteche, based in Barrio San Andres, Villareal; and two other units founded by Major Vicente O. Valley in Guiuan and Major Luciano Albia in Base. Northern Samar was part of the Samar province until it became an autonomous province by virtue of Republic Act No. 4221, approved on June 19, 1965. The bill was authored by the late Congressman Eladio T. Balite, which divided Samar into three provinces, namely; Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. In view of the 1986 Constitutional Commission Ordinance (unnumbered) apportioning the seat of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines, the Province of Northern Samar obtained two (2) congressional seats, the first and second districts.
Seaports and Airports
Northern Samar has one (1) secondary airport with a runway measuring 1,150 m x 30 m with an extension of about 301 meters, located at Catarman, the capital town. Air transport is provided by PAL which travelled from Manila to Catarman and vice versa daily. The primary seaport in the province is located at San Isidro. There are also other ports in Allen, Laoang, San Jose and Victoria. Products traded like copra, abaca and other commodities pass through these ports for shipment to Manila or Cebu.
Crime Rate
On criminality situation, the Total Crime Volume (TCV) reported for from January to August 2016 is recorded at 962 incidents which is 1,330 incidents lower as compared to the 2,292 incidents of the same period for the previous year. Out of this figure, 428 are Index Crimes and 534 are Non-Index Crimes which show a decrease of 452 and 878 incidents to the 880 and 1,412 incidents of the Index and Non-Index Crimes for the same period last year, respectively. According to PNP, in line with the marching order of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to address criminality and eradicate the drug menace in the entire country, the PNP particularly NSPPO with the CMC “DOBLE BUKA” became aggressive in the campaign against illegal drugs. The police operations on Sibat 2 target gave rippled effect to the other crimes from 2,084 to 882 for the period from January to July 2016 as earlier presented. It goes down to 57.67% decrease in the crime volume in the province. To sustain the trending decrease in crime volume, cooperation and support from all stakeholders are encouraged.
