Transportation
The province has one operational airport; Borongan Airport located in the capital city. Currently, only SkyJet Airlines operates out of Borongan Airport with flights weekly to serve locals and tourists to and from Manila.
By land, mini buses and vans ply from the regional center in Tacloban City to some towns in Eastern Samar. From Borongan City, buses ply to Manila. Motorized boats plies through the Leyte Gulf ferrying passengers going to Tacloban City seaport.
Guiuan Transport Terminal
Guiuan Transport Terminal is actually built on a reclaimed land like SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. It does not only cater land transportation but it is also where you can ride boats to Homonhon Island, where Ferdinand Magellan first landed in the Philippines, and Manicani Island. Though I’m not sure if they also have rides going to Suluan Island.
(Left side of the Wall) Guiuan Transport Terminal, (Right side of the Wall) Houses in stilts
Getting around, accommodation
From Borongan it is quite easy to reach any town along the coast, there are either buses or jeepneys. Only a trip to Arteche could be a bit difficult since the road from Oras northwards is not finished yet. All buses and jeepneys leave from the market in Borongan. Only the very early buses leave from the “highway” in front of the church. It is recommended to leave quite early as the numbers of jeepneys leaving Borongan are going down sharply later in the day. If you intend to go back to Borongan at the same day make sure you ask about the last trip back to Borongan. Going inland is more difficult, some towns and villages can only be reached by boat like Maslog andJipapad. It also requires an adventurous spirit and a willingness to improvise, if needed.Short distances are done by multicabs (tiny pick-up busses like the indonesian bemos) and tricycles. Tricycles and multicabs have always a flat fare per person, depending on the distance. Tricycles in Borongan cost P 8 per trip and person, regardless of distance. If you are not sure about the fare ask other passengers before agreeing to “special trip” fare which is often overpriced.
Destinations:
Around Borongan: Sulat, San Julian and Maydolong can be reached by multicab or jeepney. You will be faster with the multicab.
The beaches of Cabong (P 11) und Lalawigan (P 14) can easily be reached by tricycle. They leave from the crossing at the “Bishops Palace”.
North of Borongan
Arteche and San Policarpo: There are jeepneys from Borongan to Arteche (3,5 – 4 hours, P 170) and San Policarpo (3 – 3,5 hours, P 120). The trips are less frequent than to other towns, so alternatively take a jeep to Oras and proceed by another jeepney or by Habal Habal (motorbiketaxi, P 80 per person).
Oras, Dolores, Can Avid, Taft: There are quite a lot of busses and jeepneys to Oras (2 1/2 hours, P 110), Dolores (2 hours, P 90), Can Avid (1 1/2 hours) and Taft (1 hour, P 50). The last trip directly to Oras leaves around 2 PM to 3 PM, the same applies for the trip back to Borongan.
Going inland north of Taft: The following places you can only reach by boat. Jipapad can be reached from Oras (P 130, 3 hours), boats to Maslog go from Dolores and to Can Ilay you can go from Can Avid. The boats always leave from the jetty next to the market.
South of Borongan
Guiuan, Salcedo: Jeepneys leave from the market in Borongan (3 1/2 hours). The last trip back to Borongan is about 2 PM! The fare for going to Guiuan is about P 110.
Balangiga: The best way is to take a jeepney to Guiuan, get off at the junction near Quinapundan and wait for a jeepney or bus from Guiuan to Tacloban (or Basey). The trip can take some time, depending on the waiting time at Quinapundan it can take up to 5 hours. If you intend to go back to Borongan at the same day, make sure to arrive at the junction (Quinapundan) not later than 2 PM. If you miss the last jeepney to Borongan, you might have a hard time to get back to Borongan, passing minibusses (coming from Tacloban) are mostly full.
Gen. Mac Arthur, Hernani, Llorente: Take any Guiuan – bound jeepney, there are also some jeepneys going only as far as Gen. Mac Arthur (2 1/2 hours), Hernani (2 hours, P 60)) oder Llorente (1 1/2 hours, P 40). This jeepneys might also still run later in the afternoon.
External Resources:
http://www.lakas.com.ph/2011/11/guiuan-transport-terminal-in-eastern-samar/
http://www.easternsamar.de/html%20englisch/info%20e.%20samar.htm