Basey, officially the Municipality of Basey (/bɑːˈsaɪ/ bah-SY; Waray: Bungto han Basey; Tagalog: Bayan ng Basey), is a municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 57,645 people.

On 8 November 2013, Basey was one of the places heavily devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, leaving more than 200 people dead.

Basey, strategically located across Tacloban, has become a satellite commercial and trade center in the southwestern area of Samar.

Etymology

The town's name is pronounced "Basai" or "Basay" (how the Germans or Pangasinense would pronounce it), not "basÉY". This mispronunciation was propagated by American soldiers in the early days of the American colonial period. There is no "ey" sound in the Waray-Waray language, rather the "e" and "i" sounds are treated separately. Basay is from the Waray word mabaysay, meaning "beautiful".

Geography

Barangays

Basey is politically subdivided into 51 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In 1957, the sitio of Cancoral was converted into the barrio of Roxas.

  • Amandayehan
  • Anglit
  • Bacubac
  • Baloog
  • Basiao
  • Buenavista
  • Burgos
  • Cambayan
  • Can-abay
  • Cancaiyas
  • Canmanila
  • Catadman
  • Cogon
  • Dolongan
  • Guintigui-an
  • Guirang
  • Balante
  • Iba
  • Inuntan
  • Loog
  • Mabini
  • Magallanes
  • Manlilinab
  • Del Pilar
  • May-it
  • Mongabong
  • New San Agustin
  • Nouvelas Occidental
  • Old San Agustin
  • Panugmonon
  • Pelit
  • Baybay (Poblacion)
  • Buscada (Poblacion)
  • Lawa-an (Poblacion)
  • Loyo (Poblacion)
  • Mercado (Poblacion)
  • Palaypay (Poblacion)
  • Sulod (Poblacion)
  • Roxas
  • Salvacion (Jinamoc Island)
  • San Antonio
  • San Fernando
  • Sawa
  • Serum
  • Sugca
  • Sugponon
  • Tinaogan
  • Tingib
  • Villa Aurora
  • Binongtu-an
  • Bulao

Climate

Climate data for Basey, Samar
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)28 (82)28 (82)29 (84)30 (86)30 (86)30 (86)29 (84)30 (86)30 (86)29 (84)29 (84)28 (82)29 (84)
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)90 (3.5)67 (2.6)82 (3.2)70 (2.8)97 (3.8)145 (5.7)142 (5.6)127 (5.0)132 (5.2)152 (6.0)169 (6.7)144 (5.7)1,417 (55.8)
Average rainy days17.013.516.016.520.624.326.025.425.226.423.021.0254.9
Source: Meteoblue

Demographics

Population census of Basey
YearPop.±% p.a.
190313,504
191818,100+1.97%
193928,296+2.15%
194835,523+2.56%
196029,680−1.49%
197035,165+1.71%
197537,890+1.51%
198036,760−0.60%
199039,137+0.63%
199540,114+0.46%
200043,809+1.91%
200748,389+1.38%
201050,423+1.51%
201555,480+1.84%
202056,685+0.45%
202457,645+0.40%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Economy

Poverty incidence of Basey

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

Tourism

The town of Basey is famous for its beautiful Sohoton Caves, whose inner chamber features stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground river. The town is also known for artistically woven decorative mats called Banig. Tourists buy these mats as souvenir items.

External links