HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
Father
of the Province of southern Leyte :
Hon. Congressman Nicanor E. Yñiguez through House Bill No. 1318
Legal Basis of
the Creation of the Province of southern Leyte:
Republic Act No. 2227 signed by President Carlos P. Garcia on May
22, 1959, Friday at 10:00 o’clock in the morning.
Effective Date
of the Creation of the Province of Southern Leyte:
July 1, 1960
Original
Administrative Composition :
There
were 16 municipalities and 349 barangays with Maasin as the Provincial
Capital and the Seat of the Provincial Government.
These municipalities and barangays were the following:
|
Name
of Municipality
|
No.
of Barangays
|
|
1. Anahawan
|
13
|
|
2. Bontoc
|
33
|
|
3. Cabalian
|
13
|
|
4. Hinunangan
|
35
|
|
5. Hinundayn
|
17
|
|
6. Libagon
|
9
|
|
7. Liloan
|
9
|
|
8. Maasin
|
59
|
|
9. Macrohon
|
20
|
|
10. Malitbog
|
22
|
|
11. Padre Burgos
|
9
|
|
12. Pintuyan
|
27
|
|
13. St. Bernard
|
24
|
|
14..San
Francisco
|
2
|
|
15. Silago
|
13
|
|
16..
Sogod
|
40
|
The
first Leaders of the Province of Southern Leyte:
Governor:
Hon. Alfredo K. Bantug
Vice-Governor:
Hon. Graciano H. Kapili
Senior
Board Member: Hon.
Isabelo Kaindoy
Board
Member:
Hon. Generoso M. Herrera
Composer of
the Lyris of the Southern Hymn: Dr.
Angel Beaunoni Espina
Composer of the Tune/Music of the Southern Leyte Hymn:
Dr. Jesus Bacala
Provincial Flower: Orchid
(Variety-Intermedia, Family-Phaleanopsis)
Meaning
of the Provincial Flag:
The
Green Background – identifies Southern Leyte as an agricultural
province where majority of its people derive their livelihood from the
products of the soil.
The Golden Trimmings – suggests golden
harvest, not so much as an assurance, as it is an expression of a common
prayer and a hope in the face of the unpredictable elements of nature
and vagaries of chance.
The
Cross – is an illusion to its past in connection with the First
Christian Mass on the Philippine soil which was celebrated at Limasawa
Island.
The
coconut and abaca leaves – represents the two major agricultural
products of the province from which majority of the people derive their
livelihood.
The
four Orchid Flowers – represents the major areas into which the
province is divided namely: Maasin,
Macrohon, and Padre Burgos Area; Sogod Bay Area; Pacific Area and Panaon
Area.
The
Meaning of the Provincial Seal:
Two Hands in a Handclasp – connotes friendship and hospitality,
in broader sense, it means the proverbial meeting of the East and the
West (one hand belongs to a native while the other belongs to a
foreigner-Spaniard)
The Cross
and the Spanish Galleons – are illusions to its past, the discovery of
the Philippines by Ferdinand Magellan in the Seville of the Spanish
Crown and the First Christian Mass on Philippine soil on Easter Sunday,
March 31, 1521 at Limasawa Island.
The Coconut
and Abaca Leaves – represents the two major agricultural products of
the province from which majority of the people derive their livelihood.
July 1, 1960
– the effective date of the R.A. 2227 – An Act Creating the Province
of Southern Leyte.
NATURAL
AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Recent
Administrative Composition of the Province of Southern Leyte:
Number of Cities: 1
Number of Municipalities: 18
Number of Barangays: 500
Number of islands within its jurisdiction:
4
(San
Pedro and San Pablo Islands in Hinunangan, Panaon Island , and Limasawa
Island
Provincial Capital and Seat of Provincial Government:
Maasin City
Number of municipalities within 100 km. radius from Maasin City: 8
Number of municipalities outside the 100 km. radius from Maasin City: 10
Location
·
So. Leyte is one of the six provinces in Region 8 or Eastern
Visayas Region.
·
It is approximately located within the geographic coordinates of
9˚52’ to 10˚37’ North Latitude and 124˚45’ to
125˚15’ East Longitude
·
It is abouit 1 hour by air transport from NAIA-Manila Airport to
Tacloban City Airport and 3 -4 hours mega taxi ride from Tacloban to
Maasin City.
·
It is about 1 hour by air transport from NAIA-Manila Airport to
Mactan International Airport
in Cebu Province, about 30 minutes taxi ride from
Mactan Airport to Cebu City Port and
about 6 hours slow boat ride from Cebu City Port to
Maasin City Port or about 2 hours fast
craft ride from Cebu City Port to Hilongos and/or
Bato Port, Leyte to Maasin City.
·
It is about 36 hours land transport from Pasay City or Cubao,
Quezon City to Maasin City.
Boundaries:
North :
Leyte Province
South:
Mindanao Sea and Surigao Strait
West:
Canigao Channel or Visayas Sea
East:
Pacific Ocean
