It is the largest town in terms of land area and population in the province. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 84,833,[3] making it the most populous municipality in Eastern Visayas. It is the commercial, educational, financial, political and government center of the province. It lies on the northern part of Samar Island, bounded to the east by Mondragon, to the west by Bobon, t
o the south by Lope de Vega, and to the north by the Philippine Sea. Geography
On the Pacific coast are flat lowlands with the interior characterized by outlying low hills. Mount Puyao in Barangay Liberty is the highest peak in the area. The Catarman River, a major provincial river, divides the eastern and the western parts of the town. It is fed by the Paticua, Hibulwangan, Mahangna, Tura, and Danao creeks together with lesser prominent estuaries. Barangays
The Municipality of Catarman is politically subdivided into 55 barangays, 17 of them in the poblacion
Acacia (pob.) Aguinaldo
Airport Village (pob.) Bangkerohan
Baybay (pob.) Bocsol
Cabayhan
Cag-abaca
Cal-igang
Calachuchi (pob.) Casoy (pob.) Cawayan
Cervantes
Cularima
Daganas
Dalakit (pob.) Doña Pulqueria
Galutan
Gebalagnan
Gibulwangan
Guba
Hinatad
Imelda
Ipil-ipil (pob.) Jose Abad Santos (pob.) Jose P. Rizal (pob.) Lapu-lapu (pob.) Liberty
Libjo
Mabini
Mabolo (pob.) Macagtas
Malvar
McKinley
Molave (pob.) Narra (pob.) New Rizal
Old Rizal
Paticua
Polangi
Quezon
Salvacion
Sampaguita (pob.) San Julian
San Pascual
Santol (pob.) Somoge
Talisay (pob.) Tinowaran
Trangue
UEP Zone I
UEP Zone II
UEP Zone III
Washington
Yakal (pob.) History
Before the coming of the Spaniards, Catarman (Calatman) was a settlement by the mouth of the river of the same name in the region called Ibabao. The Spanish Conquistadores freely applied the name Ibabao to the northern part of Samar island when it established its civil government. The similarities in the vocabularies and pronunciation of the dialects of these areas traces them to a common root as a people. The town was one of the 13 villages and settlements and adopted as pueblos by the Spaniards in Samar Island and was one of the settlements in the northern parts of the island. The pueblo was named Calatman and was one of the pueblos in the Visayan islands, then collectively referred to as Islas de Pintados. Transportation
There is only one airline operating through the Catarman National Airport (IATA: CRM) coming from and going to Manila: PAL Express. Flights are frequently booked out well in advance and a one way ticket from Manila costs between 5,000 and 10,000p unless booked well in advance. Pedicabs, commonly known as "padyak" and tricycles are the means of transportation within the town, while multicabs, jeepneys, and vans are the means of transportation to neighboring and distant towns within the province. Several taxi and bus companies are also operating from the town going to Manila or Tacloban city and vice versa. Education
Catarman is home to the University of Eastern Philippines, the largest university by student population and curriculum in Eastern Visayas. The University has satellite campuses in the province, one in Laoang and the other in Catubig (officially known the Pedro Rebadulla Memorial Campus), and has several extension programs offered across satellite campuses in the region. Other public and private schools:
Elementary:
Catarman Chamber Elementary School
Catarman I Central School
Catarman II Central School
Catarman III Central School
Baybay Elementary School
Catarman SpEd Center
Cawayan Integrated School
Colegio de San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila (Elementary)
Northern Samar Colleges (Elementary)
University of Eastern Philippines Laboratory Elementary School
Highschool:
University of Eastern Philippines Laboratory High School
Colegio de San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila
Northern Samar Colleges (Highschool)
Saint Michael Academy (Catarman)
Catarman National High School
ADFC
Cawayan Integrated School
EVCC (High School)
College:
Eastern Visayas Central Colleges
Colegio De San Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Global School for Technological Studies
East Pacific Computer College
Northern Samar Colleges
Lyceum of the Visayas
Health
Northern Samar Provincial Hospital
Municipal Health Center
Catarman Doctors Hospital
Uy Memorial Medical Hospital
Our Lady of Peace Medical Clinc
Bluver's Medical Clinic
Catarman Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center
Catarman Children's Medical Clinic
Our Lady of La Leche Clinic
Suremed Diagnostic and Specialty Clinic
Oserraos Pediatric Clinic
Lyonnaise Pharmacy and Polyclinic
Divine Rays Diagnostic and Medical Supplies
Novaks Diagnostic and Specialist Clinic
