Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10727 
Introduced by Representative MARCELINO C. LIBANAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Samar Island is unequivocally the third largest island – out of the more than 7,000 islands 
– in the Philippines, with an area of 13,428.8 square kilometers. To the north, separated by the San
Bernardino Strait, is the biggest island in the archipelago, Luzon. To the south is its sister island
of Leyte, both islands being linked by the San Juanico Bridge.
Its terrain is composed of rugged mountains, dense forests, and extensive river systems. 
Samar has an extensive coastline of 800.6 kilometers of beautiful beaches, bays, and coves. 
Composed of three provinces – Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and (Western) Samar – it is also 
the seventh most-populous island in the country with a total population of 1,909,537, or a 
population density of 140/km2. 
The region is very significant to our Philippine History. Magellan first landed in 
Homonhon, an island southeast of mainland Samar. A native of Palapag, Northern Samar by the 
name of Sumuroy led a revolt against the forced labor of the Spaniards in 1649, a rebellion that 
served as an historical inspiration for the Philippine Revolution more than 300 years later. 
Samarnons, under General Vicente Lukban, continued to fight the subsequent American colonizers 
even after Luzon had surrendered. 
In spite of its rich natural resources inland and in the waters surrounding it, Samar has been 
neglected by the national government, resulting in poverty and stunted economic development. 
Northern Samar and Western Samar count among the 10 poorest provinces in the country. 
Access to services provided by national government agencies is severely limited within the 
island. Samarnons have to travel to Tacloban, the center of Region VIII, in neighboring Leyte to 
process their documents and clearances 
. 
August 6, 2024
4:08 pm


This has to change. To fully harness the potentials of the Island of Samar and its people, it 
must stand alone as an administrative region of the country – and, by extension, of the national 
government. Creating the One Samar Island Region will enable the island and its populace to 
finally throw off the shackles of centuries of neglect and establish the path for self-reliance and 
genuine development. 
For the above reasons, the early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARCELINO C. LIBANAN 
Representative 
4Ps Partylist 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10727 
Introduced by Representative MARCELINO C. LIBANAN 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE SAMAR ISLAND REGION 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Samar Island Region Act of 
2024”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is declared a policy of the State that its territorial and 
political subdivisions shall enjoy genuine and meaningful local autonomy to enable them to attain 
their fullest development as self-reliant communities and make them more effective partners in the 
attainment of national goals. Toward this end, the State shall provide for a more responsive and 
accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization whereby 
local government units shall be given more powers, authority, responsibilities, and resources. The 
process of decentralization shall proceed from the national government to the local government 
units. 


SEC. 3. Creation of Samar Island Region. The Samar Island Region is hereby composed 
of provinces, including cities, municipalities and barangays located in the provinces of Northern 
Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar. 
 
SEC. 4. Samar Island Region Technical Working Group. A Samar Island Technical 
Working Group (TWG) is hereby constituted composed of representatives from the Office of the 
President, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government, the representatives of the Office of the Governor of the provinces of Northern Samar, 
Samar and Eastern Samar, and all the elected District Representatives of the said provinces. The 
TWG shall formulate strategic plans to put in place the institutional arrangements for the Samar 
Island Region; recommend to the Office of the President the preferred location of the Regional 
Center; arrange the requirements for the organizational development, staffing, and budgeting of 
regional line and regulatory agencies, as well as the imperatives for development planning and 
investment programming. 
 
SEC. 5. Department of the Interior of Local Government as Samar Island Region 
Secretariat. Notwithstanding the activities of the Samar Island Region TWG, and to ensure the 
smooth transition of basic services, the DILG is hereby designated as the Secretariat of the TWG 
until the latter has completed its task. The plans and recommendations of the TWG shall be 
approved by the President.  
 
SEC. 6. Role of Government Agencies. All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and 
instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled 
corporations and government financial institutions, are hereby directed to extend full assistance to 
the Samar Island Region-TWG in support of its functions and activities.  
 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Department of the Interior and 
Local Government. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
 


SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations which 
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.  
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,