THE PROVICE OF LEYTE

LEYTE @ A GLANCE

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

VISION

By year 2010 and beyond, a progressive province of Leyte shall emerge whose empowered citizenry live within a healthy and peaceful environment, serving as the country's:
Production center for industrial crops;
Jump-off point for commerce and trade;
Seat for medium and heavy industries;
Geothermal power production and technology center; and
Major tourism destination point for history, culture and nature travel.

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