Barangay Lawaan

Situated in Pinabacdao, Samar, Barangay Lawaan is one of 24 barangays that make up the municipality within Eastern Visayas.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Lawaan had a population of 309. This made it the 19th largest of 24 barangays in Pinabacdao by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Lawaan accounted for approximately 1.70% of the total population of Pinabacdao, which stood at 18,136 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Lawaan moving from 327 residents to 309 residents, an intercensal change of -5.5%. The trajectory indicates a contracting community. Barangay Lawaan is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Pinabacdao is a municipality comprising 24 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Lawaan, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Samar, which contains 951 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Lawaan ranks 718th by 2020 population. Samar is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Lawaan is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.