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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/calbayog_city.webp" alt="Seal of Calbayog City" />
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(Seal of the City of Calbayog)
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The Act itself was signed into law on July 15, 1948 by President Elpidio Quirino but the first set of city officials were sworn in on a much later date of  October 16.  Also known as the Charter of the City of Calbayog, Senate President <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3065/today-in-filipino-history-august-5-1890-jose-avelino-was-born-in-calbayog-samar" class="news_link">Jose Avelino</a>, a native of Calbayog was instrumental in the passage of Republic Act No. 328.   Upon its creation, Calbayog was the 19th city of the country.
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<p>
Today the City of Calbayog comprises of 3 districts corresponding to the original 3 towns that were pulled together.  It has 157 barangays, 25 of which are urban and the rest are rural.
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<h3>
Calbayog history
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Calbayog began as early as 1600 in a settlement called <i>Hibatang</i>, presently called Barangay <i>Anislag</i>, along the riverbank of Oquendo River, about ten kilometers north from the city. It had 2,000 inhabitants under the spiritual guidance of a Jesuit, Father Ignacio de Alzina. Since the place was often flooded especially during stormy days and made the settlement unsafe, the settlers left the place in <i>"balotos"</i> (banca) and hastily rigged bamboo rafts following the river towards the sea. They would stop at <i>Cahumpan</i> (now Barangay Cahumpan) and eventually settled there to start life anew. 
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As more settlers came, some crossed the river to <i>Sabang</i> (now Barangay  Trinidad). After a period of time, the restless settlers moved again and settled at Taboc (now Barangay Obrero), a settlement facing the open Samar Sea. The place was once a vast swampland, which extended from the present Nijaga Park.
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October 16, 1948: Calbayog bacame a city