It used to be a barrio of Dapa until its creation as a separate municipality on October 31, 1953, by virtue of Executive Order No.

Poverty incidence of Pilar Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The town's economy is largely based on fishing and agriculture.

Other areas that can be explored by tourists are Taglungnan Beach and Tagbayanga Islets, which are across town proper and can be reach in 15–20 minutes by boat ride.

It is one and a half hour boat ride from General Luna, where the more popular surfing spot Cloud 9 is located.

Thirty-six Philippine freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) were released in Paghongawan Marsh (misspelled by media as Paghowangan) in Barangay Jaboy last March 2013 as part of conservation effort to bolster the population of this endangered reptile.

It is connected to Cebu City and Metro Manila through Sayak Airport in the adjacent Municipality of Del Carmen.

Pilar has a district hospital but now mostly serve lying-in and maternity services.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company provides fixed line services.