Dolores, Eastern Samar

Dolores (IPA: [ˌdoˈlorɛs]), officially the Municipality of Dolores (Waray: Bungto han Dolores; Tagalog: Bayan ng Dolores), is a municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,626 people.^[5]

Dolores Paric
Municipality
Municipality of Dolores
Flag
Motto:  Sirak Dolores!
Map of Eastern Samar with Dolores highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Dolores Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 12°02′16″N 125°28′58″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Eastern Visayas
Province	Eastern Samar
District	Lone district
Barangays	46 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Zaldy R. Caperso
• Vice Mayor	Shonny Niño R. Carpeso
• Representative	Christopher Sheen P. Gonzales
• Councilors	List • Helen O. Espeso • Jigo Val Santiago • Cyril C. Abobo • Mae C. Almazan • Jorald Rivera • Pedro O. Lazzara • Marife Robin • Angel Estil DILG Masterlist of Officials
• Electorate	32,402 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	308.58 km2 (119.14 sq mi)
Elevation	8.0 m (26.2 ft)
Highest elevation	102 m (335 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	45,314
• Density	150/km2 (380/sq mi)
• Households	10,542
Demonym	Doloresnon
Economy
• Income class	3rd municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	40.89 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue & IRA	₱ 268.6 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 744.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 204.9 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 363.4 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	6817
PSGC	0802606000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)55
Native languages	Waray Tagalog

Dolores is a coastal town bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines. It has many beaches and small islands. Most of the populace speak and understand English.

History

In 1948, the barrios of Can-avid, Carolina, Barok, Cansangaya, Mabuhay, Camantang, Canilay, Pandol and Balagon, formerly part of this town, were separated into the municipality of Can-avid, Eastern Samar, by virtue of Republic Act No. 264.^[6]

Geography

Barangays

Dolores is politically subdivided into 46 barangays.^[7] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Aroganga
• Bonghon
• Buenavista
• Cabago-an
• Caglao-an
• Cagtabon
• Dampigan
• Dapdap
• Del Pilar
• Denigpian
• Gap-ang
• Japitan
• Jicontol
• Hilabaan
• Hinolaso
• Libertad
• Magongbong
• Magsaysay
• Malaintos
• Malobago
• Osmeña
• Barangay 1 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 2 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 3 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 4 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 5 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 6 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 7 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 8 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 9 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 10 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 11 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 12 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 13 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 14 (Poblacion)
• Barangay 15 (Poblacion)
• Rizal
• San Isidro (Malabag)
• San Pascual
• San Roque
• San Vicente
• Santa Cruz
• Santo Niño
• Tanauan
• Villahermosa
• Tikling

Climate

Climate data for Dolores, Eastern Samar
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (83)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	97 (3.8)	64 (2.5)	69 (2.7)	58 (2.3)	98 (3.9)	161 (6.3)	167 (6.6)	140 (5.5)	158 (6.2)	171 (6.7)	169 (6.7)	154 (6.1)	1,506 (59.3)
Average rainy days	17.1	13.4	14.8	15.2	21.1	25.2	26.8	25.4	25.5	26.5	23.0	20.3	254.3
Source: Meteoblue[8]

Demographics

Population census of Dolores

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1903	4,830	—
1918	6,047	+1.51%
1939	13,122	+3.76%
1948	13,124	+0.00%
1960	16,055	+1.69%
1970	22,730	+3.53%
1975	21,119	−1.46%
1980	26,949	+4.99%
1990	30,570	+1.27%
1995	34,272	+2.16%
2000	32,812	−0.93%
2007	34,522	+0.70%
2010	37,912	+3.47%
2015	42,866	+2.37%
2020	44,626	+0.85%
2024	45,314	+0.37%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[9][10][11][12][13]

The population of Dolores in the 2020 census was 44,626 people,^[14] with a density of 140 inhabitants per square kilometre or 360 inhabitants per square mile.

Language

The languages spoken are Waray-Waray, and Cebuano, locals are also literate in both English and Filipino.

Religion

Most of the people are predominantly Roman Catholic, and some belonging to other Christian denominations as well as minority religious sects.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Dolores

10 20 30 40 50 60 2000 47.87 2003 36.17 2006 44.00 2009 50.18 2012 49.30 2015 47.28 2018 55.34 2021 40.89 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Major sources of livelihood in Dolores include farming and fishing, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VIII.^[23]

Transportation

Pedicabs and tricycles are the means of transportation within the town, while multi-cabs, jeepneys, and vans are the means of transportation to neighboring and distant towns within the province. Several bus companies are also operating from the town going to Manila or Tacloban City and vice versa.

Dolores has an airfield where the abandoned Picardo Airport is located. The airport has an unusable short runway.

Education

Dolores has 32 public elementary schools, 4 public high schools with 1 Tech-Voc (Technical and Vocational) high school, and 1 private college.

Elementary schools

• Dolores Central Elementary School
• Aroganga Elementary School
• Magongbong Elementary School
• Buenavista Elementary School
• Cabago-an Elementary School
• Caglao-an Elementary School
• Cagtabon Elementary School
• Dampigan Elementary School
• Dapdap Central Elementary School
• Del Pilar Elementary School
• Denigpian Elementary School
• Gap-ang Elementary School
• Japitan Elementary School
• Jicontol Elementary School
• Hilabaan Elementary School
• Hinolaso Elementary School
• Libertad Elementary School
• Magasaysay Elementary School
• Malabago Elementary School
• Osmeña Elementary School
• Rizal Elementary School
• San Isidro (Malabag) Elementary School
• San Pascual Elementary School
• San Roque Elementary School
• San Vicente Elementary School
• Santa Cruz Elementary School
• Santo Niño Elementary School
• Tanauan Elementary School
• Villahermosa Elementary School
• Bonghon Elementary School
• Malaintos Elementary School
• Tikling Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Dolores National High School
• Hilabaan National High School
• Hinolaso National High School
• Caglao-an National High School
• Dapdap National Technical and Vocational High School

Colleges/Universities

• Mater Divinae Gratiae College