Lawaan

Lawaan
Municipality of Lawaan
Olot White Beach in Barangay Bolusao
Nickname: 
Gateway to Eastern Samar
Map of Eastern Samar with Lawaan highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Lawaan
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 11°08′27″N 125°18′04″E / 11.1408°N 125.3011°E / 11.1408; 125.3011
CountryPhilippines
RegionEastern Visayas
ProvinceEastern Samar
District Lone district
Barangays16 (see Barangays)
Government
  TypeSangguniang Bayan
  MayorAthene L. Mendros
  Vice MayorRavi Parker G. Inciso
  RepresentativeMaria Fe R. Abunda
  Councilors
List
  Electorate10,573 voters (2025)
Area
  Total
162.56 km2 (62.76 sq mi)
Elevation
63 m (207 ft)
Highest elevation
422 m (1,385 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)
  Total
13,003
  Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
  Households
3,213
Economy
  Income class5th municipal income class
  Poverty incidence
35.24
% (2021)
  Revenue142.2 million (2022)
  Assets285.8 million (2022)
  Expenditure125.3 million (2022)
  Liabilities159 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityEastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
6813
PSGC
IDD:area code+63(0)55
Native languagesWaray
Tagalog
Websitewww.lawaan-esamar.gov.ph

Lawaan, officially the Municipality of Lawaan (Waray: Bungto han Lawaan; Tagalog: Bayan ng Lawaan), is a municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 13,003 people. It is home to Bolusao Watershed Forest Reserve, primarily located in Barangay Bolusao.

Lawaan is the historical hometown of the legendary sundang-wielding fighters in women's clothing during the 1901 Battle of Balangiga. Being a town adjacent to the Samar Island Natural Park - the country's largest terrestrial protected area - the land has vast natural landscapes and wildlife sanctuaries. Numerous waterfalls such as Amandaraga, Amanjuray, Pangi and Ban-awan dot the vast Bolusao Watershed Forest Reserve. Off the coast, white-sand islets also abound the town's horizon.