the diocese of borongan was created on october 22, 1960 by saint pope john xxiii. bishop vicente reyes was the first diocesan bishop of borongan. on june 19, 1965, the island of samar was politically divided and the province of eastern samar was born thus the island of samar has three dioceses: calbayog for western samar, catarman for northern samar and borongan for eastern samar.