Ormoc

Ormoc is a city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It sits on the western coast of Leyte island along Ormoc Bay, at the mouth of the Ormoc River. The city is part of the Eastern Visayas region and serves as a regional center for western Leyte in terms of commerce and services.

The area has long been inhabited and developed as a trading and agricultural hub during the colonial period. A defining event in recent memory is the Great Ormoc Flood of October 1991, caused by Tropical Storm Thelma. The disaster killed thousands and damaged large portions of the city, prompting major reforms in local disaster preparedness and urban planning.

Ormoc has a tropical climate with a wet season and a landscape that includes coastal areas, river floodplains, and low hills. The economy centers on commerce, services, agriculture, and fishing, with markets for rice and vegetables and a range of small and medium enterprises. As a regional hub, the city provides administrative and commercial functions for western Leyte.

Transport access is by road to Tacloban and other parts of the island, with a coastal port and connections to air travel through nearby regional airports. The city hosts several educational institutions and cultural sites and functions as a focal point for local governance and development.

Notable people from Ormoc include figures in politics, business, and the arts.