Leyte Travel Philippines

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.

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Abuyog got its name when Spanish sailors came ashore in an early defrayal at the mouth of the Abuyog River to restock their supplies. Swarms of bees were all over the shore. The Spaniards asked the natives what the black creatures were and the reply was “Buyog.” Repeating after the natives, the sailors muttered, “Ah! Buyog”. finally the town came to be known as “Abuyog” to which some Spanish chroniclers repeatedly used in reference to the whole island of Leyte. But Abuyog in the early annals, though grown successful, remained obscure because of the absence of a dominant chieftain. It was Datu Bangcao who had is seat of government in Carigara, who ruled Abuyog. Abuyog is a 1st class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It is the largest coastal town on the eastern coast of the island of Leyte facing Leyte Gulf out into the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered on one end by a large river and inland by long mountain ranges covered with dense forests.

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Baybay is a city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. Covering an area of 46,050 hectares, Baybay City is serene of 92 barangays, 23 of which are in the poblacion. The remaining 69 are rural barangays. Baybay City is classified as a fifth class city. It is located on the western coast of the province of Leyte. Its topography is generally mountainous in the eastern portion as it slopes down west towards the shore line. In general an agricultural city, the common means of livelihood are farming and fishing. Some are busy in hunting and in forestal activities. The most common crops grown are rice, corn, root crops, fruits, and vegetables. Industries operating include the Jollibee Food Chain Corporation, Specialty Products Manufacturing, Inc. and Visayan Oil Mill. Various cottage industries can also be found in the city such as bamboo and rattan craft, ceramics, dress-making, fiber craft, food preservation, mat weaving, metal craft, fine Philippine furniture manufacturing and other interconnected activities. Baybay has great prospective as a tourist destination, especially for tennis players. It is not only rich in biodiversity and history it also houses the campus of the Visayas State University (formerly the Leyte State University/Visayas State College of Agriculture and the Jungle Valley Park. Likewise, it has river systems fit for river cruising, numerous caves for spelunking, forests, beaches, and marine treasures. This richness coupled with the friendly Baybayanos will be an element for a successful tourism program. Considering the role of tourism in development, the Baybay City intends to harness its tourism potential.

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The City of Ormoc is a 1st class city in the province of Leyte, Philippines. The city’s name is derivative from ogmok, an old Visayan term for lowland or disheartened plain. It is the first non-provincial city of the Philippines. Ormoc City is an independent component city, not subject to bylaw from the Provincial Government of Leyte.

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The word Tacloban evolved from “Taklub”, a basket-like piece of equipment for catching fish. The city is well-known for its character in World War II, being a foremost base for the US forces and the first town liberated by Douglas MacArthur’s forces from the Japanese Imperial Forces. The city is also identified for being the hometown of the flamboyant former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos, whose Romualdez family still commands a large political following in the area. At the time, the place was known as Kankabatok - meaning belonging to Kabatok, because its most outstanding inhabitant was named Kabatok. The change of name came about in this manner: Kankabatok was a favorite haunt for fishermen. They would use a bamboo tray called “taklub” to catch crabs or shrimps. When asked where they were going the fishermen would answer, “to tarakluban”, which meant the place where they used “taklub” to catch crabs. Later, the name was shortened to Tacloban. The capital of Leyte was transferred from one town to another with Tacloban as the last on February 26, 1830. The assessment to make Tacloban the capital was based on the following reasons: 1) Ideal location of the port and 2) Well-sheltered and adequate facilities. On June 12, 1952, Tacloban was proclaimed a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 760.

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