The City of Ormoc is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. The city's name is derived from ogmok, an old Visayan term for lowland or depressed plain. It is the first non-provincial city of the Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 154,297 people in 31,542 households. Ormoc is the economic, cultural, commercial and transportation hub of western Leyte.

Ormoc City is an independent component city, not subject to regulation from the Provincial Government of Leyte. However, the city is part of the congressional district IV of Leyte together with Albuera, Kananga, Merida, and Isabel towns.

In November 1991, the Ormoc region was inundated by Tropical Storm Thelma (local name: Uring). Flash floods and landslides killed an estimated 6,000 people, mostly in Ormoc itself.

Geography

Ormoc City is a port city and is the largest city by land area in Leyte and second largest in Eastern Visayas after Calbayog City in Samar. Fronting Ormoc Bay, the city's terrain is mostly of gently rolling plains. It is bounded on the northwest by the towns of Matag-ob and Merida, in the north by Kananga, in the northeast by the towns of Jaro, Pastrana and Dagami, and in the south by the town of Albuera. High mountain ranges separate Ormoc from the eastern portion of Leyte. Numerous rivers and streams traverse Ormoc. Among them are the Bao River in the north, Pagsangahan River in the east, the Bagong-bong River in the south, the Panilahan River also in the south and the Anilao and Malbasag Rivers which border the eastern and western flanks of Ormoc City Proper.

Tourism Highlights

* The Leyte Mountain Trail treking area starts at Lake Danao and goes to the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park—a distance of 40 km.

* Rainforest tour lakes (Mahagnao, Malagsum, Casudsu-Ran and Danao), the Guinaban falls, forests, plains and views of the island of Samar from the central Amandiwing mountain range, the profusion of tropical flora and fauna, including colourful insects, butterflies, deer, wildboar, monkeys, birds, orchids and giant fern.

* Lake Danao is a violin shaped lake 3 km long at an elevation of 2,100 feet (640 m) above sea level. The lake is said to house a giant eel. Boats are available for hire. There is a floating restaurant.

* Tongonan Hotsprings National Park is a valley of geothermal power source, that can supply electricity to the whole region. The first geothermal plant to operate in the Philippines.

* Leyte Golf and Country Club is a premier golfing resort covering more than 80 hectares of semi-rolling terrain nestled on a plateau with palms, coconut, fruit-bearing trees and flowering shrubs. The course, located 7 km from the heart of Ormoc City, challenges your style of play, yet relaxes you as you traverse its lush green fairways.

* Pineapple Plantation lies in 210 hectares in rolling terrain located north of the city Brgy. Hibunawon. Ormoc takes pride on its Queen Pineapple, famous for its sweetness that even people from faraway places prefer our variety. Visitors make it a point to bring along bundles of the famous Queen for pasalubong, making the city some what synonymous with the fruit.

* Centennial Park is located in the city. It is a favorite rendezvous for the young and old alike for picnics and leisurely strolls on its verdant lawn. And from here, one can experience the refreshing breeze from the sea and witness the magnificent beauty of the sunset.

People and Culture

The people of Ormoc are called Ormocanons. Ormocanons are predominantly Cebuano-speaking (or Kana, as Cebuano-speakers in Leyte and Southern Leyte are often called) together with the whole western part of Leyte island. The people relate more to neighboring towns and Cebu than to eastern Leyte itself.

Like most Filipinos, Ormocanons, being predominantly Roman Catholic, celebrate the annual city fiesta for the patron saints Peter and Paul on June 28 and 29. Catholic religious festivals are observed throughout the year.

Economy, Commerce, and Industry

Ormoc City's economic base is a good mix of agriculture, aquaculture,Industry, tourism, and commercial services. It enjoys economic growth because it supplies the whole country of its power needs due to the abundant geothermal power resources in Tongonan. Ormoc is also the gateway to the Leyte Industrial Development Estate in the nearby town of Isabel, home of the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Plant, the largest fertilizer factory in Asia, and the Philippine Associated Smelter and Refining Company, the country's biggest copper processing plant, among other industries.

Shopping Centers

* Gaisano Capital Ormoc
* A Mall mini-mall
* Ormoc Centrum mini-mall
* MIXX Shopping Center at The Point
* Van's Department Store
* Novo store
* Vidamariz store
* Star & Stripes
* The Point Shopping Center
* BYAM Fashion & Gift Shoppe
* Rizza's
* Little Me Boutique
* Vidal's Couture
* A mall
* there are also many giftshops, videoshops, cellshops, pawnshops, bookstores & whole-sale stores around the city.

Banks

* Allied Bank
* Bank of Commerce
* Bank of Ormoc
* Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
* China Bank
* City Savings Bank
* Coop Bank of Leyte
* Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
* BDO-Equitable PCI Bank
* Green Bank
* Landbank
* Maybank
* Metrobank
* Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank)
* BPI Family Bank
* Philippine Farmers Bank
* Philippine National Bank (PNB)
* Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)
* Rural Bank of Dulag

See also List of Banks in Ormoc City at eyp.ph.

Cooperatives

* Metro Ormoc Community Cooperative (OCCCI)
* Leyte Fourth District Women's Credit Cooperative (LFDWCC)
* CFI
* Macario Primary Cooperative

Accommodations

* Bantigue Beach Resort(BBR)
* Don Felipe Hotel
* GV Pension Hauz
* JB Pension Plaza
* Ormoc Villa Hotel (former international five star "Days' Inn" hotel)
* Pelacor Lodge
* Pongos Hotel
* Sabin Resort Hotel
* Vegstar Lodge
* Zenaida's Chateau Tourist Inn
* Cristina Business Suite
* 3M Pension House
* Ormoc Sugarland Pension House
* Sky Garden Pension House
* Ormoc Friendly Inn
* Amber's Inn
* Rafael Lodge & Beach Resort
* Baybayon ni Agalon
* Tempura Haus

more....still getting info.

Transportation and Communications

Land, sea and air transport are available year-round. TV and radio networks broadcasting from Cebu reach the city. Internet connection are served by local and national ISPs like Globe broadband wired & wireless internet, Smart Bro wireless internet etc.

* Telecom companies and offices are also available like Ormoc Telephone Company(OrTelCo), PLDT, BayanTel, Globelines, Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular etc.

Education

Private schools in the city are:

* Western Leyte College, Four-Year Nursing, Midwifery Course, Two-Year Nursing Aide, One-Year Health Care Services (HCS) & 6-Months Caregiver Course, Certified TESDA Reg.VIII Assessment Center
* St. Paul's School,
* St. Peter's College of Ormoc,(SPC)
* Ormoc Se San School
* Sto. Niño College,
* San Lorenzo Ruiz College (Nursing and Medtech) same owner of Cebu Doctors' University,
* STI College - Ormoc Branch,
* AMA CLC College - Ormoc Branch, BS Computer Science, BS Information Technology, BS Business Administration, BS Hotel and Restaurant Management and BS Tourism
* Syntacs College,
* Eastern Visayas State University-Ormoc Campus
* Ormoc Institute of Technology (Seafarer's Course)

& the proposed University of San Jose Recoletos - Ormoc Campus

Public school and the known school in the city:

* Ormoc City SPED Center
* Ormoc City Central School
* New Ormoc City National High School
* Punta Elementary School
* Linao Elemantary School
* Linao National High School
* Ipil Elementary School
* Ipil National High School

Awards

Ormoc City is a consistent winner of the Cleanest and Greenest City program of the DILG from 1995 to the present. The Asian Institute of Management's study titled The Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2005 ranked the city first in 'infrastructure' and tenth in 'dynamism of local economy' among small cities of the Philippines. The city also garnered the 2005 Most Business-Friendly City award in the Visayas by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

[edit] Barangays

Ormoc City is politically subdivided into 110 barangays.

* Alegria
* Bagong
* Labrador (Balion)
* Bantigue
* Batuan
* Biliboy
* Borok
* Cabaon-an
* Cabulihan
* Cagbuhangin
* Can-adieng
* Can-untog
* Can-alo
* Catmon
* Cogon Combado
* Concepcion
* Curva
* Danao
* Dayhagan
* Barangay 1 (Pob.)
* Barangay 2 (Pob.)
* Barangay 3 (Pob.)
* Barangay 4 (Pob.)
* Barangay 5 (Pob.)
* Barangay 6 (Pob.)
* Barangay 7 (Pob.)
* Barangay 8 (Pob.)
* Barangay 9 (Pob.)
* Barangay 10 (Pob.)



* Barangay 11 (Pob.)
* Barangay 12 (Pob.)
* Barangay 13 (Pob.)
* Barangay 14 (Pob.)
* Barangay 15 (Pob.)
* Barangay 16 (Pob.)
* Barangay 17 (Pob.)
* Barangay 18 (Pob.)
* Barangay 19 (Pob.)
* Barangay 20 (Pob.)
* Barangay 21 (Pob.)
* Barangay 22 (Pob.)
* Barangay 23 (Pob.)
* Barangay 24 (Pob.)
* Barangay 25 (Pob.)
* Barangay 26 (Pob.)
* Barangay 27 (Pob.)
* Barangay 28 (Pob.)
* Barangay 29 (Pob.)
* Dolores
* Domonar
* Don Felipe Larrazabal
* Donghol
* Esperanza
* Hibunawon
* Hugpa
* Ipil
* Lao



* Libertad
* Liloan
* Linao
* Mabini
* Macabug
* Magaswi
* Mahayag
* Mahayahay
* Manlilinao
* Margen
* Mas-in
* Matica-a
* Milagro
* Monterico
* Nasunogan
* Naungan
* Nueva Vista
* Patag
* Punta
* Quezon, Jr.
* Rufina M. Tan
* Sabang Bao
* Salvacion
* San Antonio
* San Isidro
* San Jose
* San Juan
* San Vicente



* Santo Niño
* San Pablo (Simangan)
* Sumangga
* Valencia
* Airport
* Cabintan
* Camp Downes
* Gaas
* Green Valley
* Licuma
* Liberty
* Leondoni
* Nueva Sociedad
* Tambulilid
* Tongonan
* Don Potenciano Larrazabal
* Kadaohan
* Guintigui-an
* Danhug
* Alta Vista
* Bagong Buhay
* Bayog
* Doña Feliza Z. Mejia
* Juaton
* Luna
* Mabato

Copyright © 2008 Ormoc, GRP. All rights reserved.