Isabel: the industrial zone of Eastern Visayas
The municipality of Isabel is the site of the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE), a effusive residential 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 presently being used by the cement industry.
THE HISTORY
The municipality of Isabel was called Dupong, named after a kind of a poisonous snake which infected 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 generously 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 progress the moral and religious life of the inhabitants. In 1851, the Spaniards made Quiot into a municipality.
There were various attempts made by prominent leaders to restore the municipality of Quiot. But all in vain. The people, despite their failures, remain fearless. 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 to be found in the western part of Leyte Province. It is bounded 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.
EDUCATION The municipality has 1 tertiary school, 7 secondary schools and 26 elementary schools. There are also 5 private pre-elementary schools.
