Wednesday, July 30, 2008

THE PROVICE OF LEYTE


The province is situated in the Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines.
Leyte has hosted some of the turning points in the history of the Philippines. General Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmena and Carlos P. Romulo, landed in Palo, Leyte to reclaim the country from the Japanese forces. A historical marker in Palo marks the spot in Leyte where General Douglas MacArthur and his army landed on October 20, 1944. The provincial capitol building (second picture above), was the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government from October 23, 1944 to February 27, 1945.
The picturesque San Juanico Bridge (third picture) connects the Leyte and Samar islands and is a vital component of the road network that spans the whole country. It is the longest and best aesthetically designed bridge in the Philippines.
Industrious, cooperative, and very hospitable, whatever your business is, you will find that doing business with the people is a pleasure and a treat.
Land Area5,712.80 square kilometers or 571,280 hectares
Population 1.57 million (2000 census)
Average Annual Growth Rate 0.85%
Local LanguagesLineyte-Samarnon (Waray-waray) and Cebuano
Other Major Languages English, Chinese and Filipino
Political Subdivisions

- Congressional Districts 5

- Cities 3
- Municipalities 40
- Barangays 1,641
Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla
Provincial Capital
Tacloban City
Literacy Rate 91.1%
Total Labor Force 1.022 million
- Employment Rate 87.8%
- Unemployment Rate 8.2%
- Underemployment Rate 11.1%
Income Derived in
- Agriculture 53%
- Trade & Services 36%
- Industry 11%
Climate
There are two types of climate in the province. The eastern part has Type II climate characterized by a very pronounced rainfall from November to January. The western portion has Type IV climate with a rainfall that is more or less distributed throughout the year.
Peace and Order
Peaceful and Safe Environment for Investment. With a very low crime rate and the absence of armed conflicts, Leyte is among the safest and peaceful provinces in the country. Our police force was awarded the "Best Police Provincial Office" and the �Best Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee� for two consecutive years.


VISION & GOALS



GOALS
To accelerate economic development for all at sustainable levels;
To develop Leyte as a strategic hub for inter-regional trade and industry; and
To develop healthy, highly-skilled and self-reliant Leytenos.

OBJECTIVES

Main Objectives:
To generate more employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas in order to reduce poverty.
Specific Objectives:
To increase the productivity level of major food and industrial crops;
To increase investments for agri-processing and power-intensive industries;
To optimize the utilization of existing industrial facilities;
To upgrade the tourism facilities and services;
To regenerate the coastal and forest resources;
To provide efficient infrastructure facilities and utilities;
To optimize the benefits derived from the utilization of the province's geothermal reserves; and
To improve the quality of education, basic health, manpower, population and social services.


CULTURE AND ARTS
FESTIVALS


TRAVELS AND TOURS




for more details:
http://www.leyte.org.ph






Tuesday, July 29, 2008

COPPER SMELTER AND REFINERY IN ISABEL




About PASAR




The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation owns and operates the only copper smelter and refinery in the Philippines.


Formed in 1976, the company actively pursued the construction of the plant in Leyte which was completed in 1983 to signal the Philippine Government's industrialization plans for the country. PASAR's primary product is electrolytic copper cathodes, the raw material used for manufacturing various kinds of electric cables, telecommunication wires, copper shapes and copper-alloy products. The PASAR Copper Cathode is registered as Grade A Copper in the London Metal Exchange (LME) and as COMEX High Grade Copper in the Commodity Exchange (COMEX) Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). It is also listed in the Shanghai Futures Exchange.The location of PASAR copper smelter and refinery in Leyte in the central Philippines has resulted in many advantages for the company and its partners. The port possesses a deep-harbor facility which is being reconstructed to berth and handle vessels up to 50,000 DWT. It lies in the center of the Philippine archipelago, ready to serve the smelting needs of the country's reviving mining industry.PASAR's strategic location in the Asia Pacific Rim allows access to copper concentrates supplies from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It also has access to the huge refined copper markets of China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.The complex includes pollution abatement facilities; port and bulk handling facilities; an airstrip; a medical facility; and housing, recreation and educational facilities for company personnel and their dependents



our history


The Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation was wrought from the presence of abundant copper resources in the Philippines. Formed in 1976 by the Philippine Government, PASAR was the first of eleven major industrial projects intended to pave the way for the country's industrialization. The original incorporators of PASAR were the Government through the National Development Company (42%), a consortium of the Philippine copper mining companies (22%), the World Bank through the International Finance Corporation (5%) and a consortium of Japanese trading companies made up of Marubeni, Sumitomo and C. Itoh (31%).The PASAR plant complex occupies 80 hectares in the 424-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE). Completed in 1983 at the cost of US$300 million with the capacity to produce 138,000 metric tonnes of Grade A electrolytic copper cathodes annually, it was expanded in 1993 to its current production capacity of 172,500 metric tonnes per year.In June 1999, a consortium of Philippine investors and Swiss trader, Glencore International AG, procured 90% of the Philippine Government's shareholding and its receivables from PASAR. This acquisition was carried out as part of the country's privatization program, thus, transforming the company into a privately-owned corporation.Subsequently, the shares owned by the Japanese consortium were sold to a privately-held company.Now, the capacity of the smelter has been expanded to 720,000 mtpy of concentrates in 2006, and the refinery will be expanded to 215,000 mtpy of cathodes by mid-2007.




visit this link for more details:

FERTILIZER COMPANY IN ISABEL

"We Nourish the Land that Feeds the Nations"

Welcome to Philippine Phosphate Fertlizer Corporation!


"We are proud to be one of the nation's top companies in promoting a good quality of life not only by providing jobs for the people and producing quality products but by actually caring for the whole surroundings and the environment."


Jose C. Alvarez
Chairman


The Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation is the country's leading producer of phosphatic fertilizer and has one of the largest fertilizer processing capacities in the ASEAN region with a rated capacity of approximately 1.17 million metric tons per annum. It distributes its products through an extensive regional distribution network of company-leased warehouses, wholesalers and retail dealers that cover not only in the local area of the country but also in other Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia through its affiliates and joint ventures. It doesn't only takes its concern for a quality of life even outside its premises, extending towards neighboring communities and becoming a partner in building a better society but it has also helped improved the people's quality of life in spearheading waste management and reforestation projects preserving the environment for generations to come. PHILPHOS, caring not only for its people and its farmers but also for the whole community in providing products and services that are essential in upgrading the growth of our agricultural products which sustain life for children and our children's children.



for more details, visit link below:

PLACES TO VISIT IN ISABEL





Isabel:



The Industrial Zone of Eastern Visayas The municipality of Isabel is the site of the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE), a fully developed industrial area, which houses two of the country's major industries, the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR), and the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (PhilPhos). PASAR, a world-class refining company, produces copper cathodes. Among its by-products are dore metal, sulfuric acid and selenium powder. PhilPhos, on the other hand, is the largest producer of high grade fertilizer in Asia today. It also produces as by-product, gypsum, which is currently being used by the cement industry.




THE HISTORY



Two hundred years ago, the municipality of Isabel was called Dupong, named after a kind of a deadly snake which infested a river found in the settlement. This name however, did not last long. When the Spanish missionaries ventured to the place to spread Christianity, they were surprised to find the natives lavishly entertaining them with a sweet tasting delicacy, the honey from wild bees. When the Spaniards asked the natives the place where they got the honey, they answered, "dugos sa quiot." This became the name of the settlement although it was shortened to Quiot. Several years later, Spanish as well as Filipino missionaries frequented the village to improve the moral and religious life of the inhabitants. In 1851, the Spaniards made Quiot into a municipality. After fifty two years, however, Quiot was merged into the town of Merida, Leyte by virtue of the Philippine Commission Act. No. 954.There were various attempts made by prominent leaders to restore the municipality of Quiot. But all in vain. The people, despite their failures, remain undaunted. They sent a delegation to Malacañang to personally work for the approval of their petition to make Quiot a municipality. After a few months, the town was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 191 series of 1947 of the Congress of the Philippines and Proclamation No. 49, series of 1948 by President Manuel Roxas. The municipality was called Isabel in honor of the wife of Ex-Senator Carlos S. Tan who fathered the bill and of Queen Elizabeth of Spain during whose reign the former town of Quiot was officially created. On January 15, 1948, in conjunction with the celebration of the feast of Sr. Sto. Niño, the titular patron Saint of Isabel, the town of Isabel, Leyte was formally inaugurated.



THE PROFILE



LOCATION



The municipality of Isabel is located in the western part of Leyte Province. It is surrounded by Palompon, Leyte on the north and the west; Ormoc Bay and Merida, Leyte on the south; and Ormoc City and Merida, Leyte on the east.



LAND AREA



Isabel is a coastal town which has a total land area of 9,750 hectares. Its terrain is generally considered as flat lands. The municipality has 24 barangays.



DEMOGRAPHY



Based on the 2000 Census of Population, the municipality has a total population of 38,486 with an average annual growth rate of 1.36 percent from 1995-2000. It has 8,303 households. In 2003, its population was estimated at 42,695. Majority of the people speak Bisaya and Cebuano.



HEALTH



The municipality has 1 health center, 1 private hospital, 2 medical clinics, 4 dental clinics, 32 day care centers, 1 center for the elderly and 5 barangay health stations.Medical/health services is being carried out by 21 medical/health workers, 85 active barangay health workers (BHWs) and 9 trained birth attendants. There are also private medical practitioners in the area.The nutritional status of children in the area is relatively good. In 2002, malnutrition rate of children under 5 years old and 7-10 years old were estimated at 5.8% and 16.8%, respectively. It also recorded an infant mortality rate1/ of 2.6 and child mortality rate2/ of 1.6 in 2002.



EDUCATION



The municipality has 1 tertiary school, 7 secondary schools and 26 elementary schools. There are also 5 private pre-elementary schools.Based on a survey conducted in 2002 by the Department of Education Leyte Division, Isabel is one of the municipalities with high literacy level (94.7%).



ECO-TOURISM



Aside from its fully developed industrial estate, Isabel is also endowed with tourist attractions which include Candonicot Cave in Brgy. Bantigue, Bentoraray Cave in Brgy. Tolingon, Hombayon Spring in Brgy. Tabunok and Apale Falls in Brgy. Apale. Tourists and investors will also enjoy to see the bird sanctuary located in LIDE Complex, fish sanctuary in Brgy. Tolingon and an aviary and mini-fish sanctuary within PASAR's plant premises. Employees usually go to Kinatumyan Beach during weekend. Hotels, pension houses and restaurants are also available for tourists and visitors.



THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE



The 435-hectare industrial estate located in the municipality houses two heavy industries, namely PASAR and PhilPhos. PASAR produces over 172,000 metric tons of copper cathodes every year. These are being shipped to international and domestic markets together with its by-products namely: dore metal, sulfuric acid and selenium powder. Among its major importers are Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asia. PhilPhos, on the other hand, produces phosphatic fertilizers which are also exported to countries like Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It also produces, as by-product 600 to 900 metric tons of gypsum per year. LIDE still offers 80 hectares for other investors.LIDE maintains one of the most modern ports in the country having a total berth length of 670 meters and a handling capacity of 3.4 million tons of cargo per year.LIDE has spurred economic activities in Isabel. In 2001, the municipality registered a total of 553 commercial establishments. The bulk or 77.6% were engaged in retail trading, 20.8% in business, recreational and personal services, and 1.6% in finance and other industries. Also, with the influx of workers coming from the different parts of the country, the municipality now has three subdivision sites as follows: Pleasantville Subdivision located in Brgy. Tolingon; Don Ciriaco Sotero Subdivision in Brgy. Bilwang; and Isabel Development and Realty Corporation Subdivision situated at Sitio Alipasa, Mahayag.With the big income derived from these two industries, Isabel is now classified as first class municipality. In 1988, the municipality belonged to fourth class municipalities.






THE VISION



The municipality of Isabel envisions that by the year 2011 and beyond, it will be economically sufficient with proper utilization of land resources for settlement and economic development, adequate access to social services, sustained infrastructure support facilities, sound environmental management program with people intellectually and morally upright and enjoying a better way of living under an effective and efficient local governance.



ISABEL TOWN



ISABEL PORT



ISABEL FOUNTAIN



ISABEL PLAZA



ISABEL FREEDOM CENTER



ISABEL COMMERCIAL COMPLEX



ISABEL MUNICIPAL HALL



ISABEL BAYWALK