Oras, Eastern Samar

Oras is previously part of the undivided province of Samar. In 1948, San Policarpo was created from the barrios of San Policarpo, Bahay, Alugan, Pangpang, Japonan, Tabo, Binogawan and Cajag-wayan, which used to belong to Oras.^[7] The territory of Oras was further reduced two years later, when Arteche was created from the barrios of San Ramon, Carapdapan, Beri, Tangbo, Catumsan, Bego, Concepcion, Casidman, Tawagan, and Tibalawon.^[8]

In 1952, the sitios of Trinidad, Tula, Pota, Palao, Sinalo-an, Tamse-on, Cagmalobago, and Maycorot, in the barrio of Agsam, were separated from said barrio and created into the barrio of Trinidad.^[9] In the same year, Santa Monica was transferred to the town of San Policarpo.^[10]

In 1956, a portion of Oras was excised to form the new municipality of Lapinig.^[11] In 1965, as a result of the partition of Samar, Oras became part of the newly established province of Eastern Samar.^[12]

Oras is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. ^[13] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

The population of Oras in the 2024 census was 35,997 people,^[20] with a density of 190 inhabitants per square kilometre or 490 inhabitants per square mile.

Agriculture is the main source of income for the people of Oras. The major products are coconut, rice, abaca and fish. It devoted a total land area of 13,582.14 hectares comprising 63.01% of the total land to agricultural production.

It is strategically located at the center of the Municipalities of Dolores, Jipapad, San Policarpo, and Arteche. It has a great advantage in the transportation of goods and services, in that agricultural goods from these municipalities pass directly through Oras. The commercial areas in the municipality are accessible by other municipalities and upstream barangays through the municipal wharf. This serves as an entry and exit point in transportation of commercial products in and out of the municipality.

The municipality of Oras received the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for 2023.^[21] It is an award for the LGU's performance in terms of good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business-friendly and competitiveness, environment compliance, law and order and public safety.

Poverty incidence of Oras

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]}