Western Samar is a province of the Philippines in Eastern Visayas Region. It occupies the southwestern part of Samar Island. It borders Eastern Samar to the east and Northern Samar to the north. Mountains dominate northwestern landscape and the eastern border with Eastern Samar. The rest of of the province are mostly flat. The easternmost portion of the province has no dry season with maximum rainfall from November to January while the rest of province receive rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.

Western Samar Provincial Capitol

Festivals celebrated in the province include Kaadlawan Han Samar (Samar's Foundation Day) in Catbalogan City, Pahoy-Pahoy in Calbiga every May 25, and Hadang Festival in Calbayog City

1. Jose D. Avelino - senate President (1946 - 1949)

Agricultural production of Western Samar in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand metric tons, rank among 79 provinces)

Animal inventory of western Samar in 2007 are as follows (figure in thousand, rank among 79 provinces)

Other products include abaca and rootcrops. The province is famous for its cottage industries especially mat-weaving such that Basey town in the southern part of the province is dubbed as the "Banig Capital of the Philippines". In 2007, there were 20 banks operating in the province with total deposits of 2.7 billion pesos. Poverty incidence stood at 47.6% well above the national average of 32.9%.

The following businesses have good potential for development in Western Samar:

1. Mariculture and fish processing
2. Organic fertilizer
3. Cassava and processing
4. Coco-based industries
5. Furniture and house decors
6. Organic textile and clothing
7. goat and cattle raising
8. Dairying
9. Other food processing ventures

1. Sohotan Caves National Park - contains subterranean rivers, waterfalls, caves and limestone formations, forests and mangroves
2. Marabut Marine Park - contains secluded coves and rock formations
3. Maria Aurora Falls - Gandara town
4. Calbiga Caves considered as the country's largest karst formation
5. Samar Archeological Museum - in Calbayog City

Capitol photo credit to heritageconservation.wordpress.com

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