San Policarpo, officially the Municipality of San Policarpo, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 15,365 people. In the north-west, it is bounded by Arteche, in the north-east by the vast Pacific Ocean and in the south by Oras.

History

San Policarpo was established as a barrio in 1837. The Municipality of San Policarpo was created from the barrios of San Policarpo, Bahay, Alugan, Pangpang, Japunan, Tabo, Binogawan and Cajagwayan of the municipality of Oras, then in the old province of Samar, by virtue of Republic Act No. 281 signed on June 16, 1948 and inaugurated on February 5, 1949. In 1952, the barrio of Santa Monica was transferred from Oras to San Policarpo. On June 19, 1965, the municipality was annexed to the newly-established province of Eastern Samar through a plebiscite and the sitios of Santa Cruz, Tan-awan, Bangon, Guin-osokan, Barras, Lipata and Libas were converted into barrios. The town was formerly named "Bunga", derived from the plant called bunga which was very abundant in the present site of the town. "Bunga" means fruit, thus the name indicates the fruit of the toils of its founders.

Geography

Barangays

San Policarpo is politically subdivided into 17 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

Climate

Demographics

The population of San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, in the 2020 census was 15,365 people, with a density of undefined PD/km2.

Economy

The local economy of San Policarpo, one of the country's poorest towns, is dependent on fishing and farming.