DBP funds water supply project in Isabel, Leyte
October,2010


More than 30,000 residents or 80% of the population of the municipality of Isabel, Leyte will soon benefit from clean, potable, and reasonably priced water supply as a result of a loan granted by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). The water supply is also expected to benefit key industries and businesses in this highly industrialized zone of eastern Visayas.

The loan was signed in agreement between DBP, through its Ormoc branch, and the municipal government of Isabel. It will partially finance the bulk water supply project for distribution to 24 barangays and 435 hectares of industrial land including the Isabel Water District (IWD), the industries inside the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE), and the Barangay Water Consumers Association (BWCA).

Project completion is targeted for the middle of next year.

The project is expected to advance the initiatives of the local government unit (LGU) of Isabel in improving the delivery of basic services and facilities to its residents and investors. The LIDE previously constructed a 45-km. pipeline that now supplies water to the municipality from Barangay Salvacion in Ormoc City.

DBP’s loan facility to Isabel is part of the institution’s thrusts to promote partnership opportunities that allow LGUs to empower local communities through various development projects. The Isabel bulk water supply project complements the municipality’s vision to be economically sufficient through sustained infrastructure support facilities and sound environment management program.

Isabel, Leyte is known for being a major source of copper cathodes and high grade fertilizers.

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Fiesta Celebrations

Just recently, the Province of Leyte has celebrated the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival 2010 in Tacloban City. Pintados Kasadyaan is actually a celebration of two fiestas in the province: The Pintados Festival, and the Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals.

Pintados Festival

The Pintados Festival is a way of bringing back into the awareness of the Leytenos of how the way of life was before. It is a reminder of an interesting segment of our history where the tattooed men were considered the bravest in the community. He is also the most respected among the many.

When conflict arises, the tattooed men were always sought for their words of wisdom. During battles, they would lead the warriors in defending their village from the attackers.

In all fronts of national life, this seems to be an exciting year for the Philippines. In the realm of government, the call for a stronger polity is seen as a step forward to focus on good governance. In economics, the administration’s shift from a macroeconomics policy to the microeconomics side is a welcome boost to the small and medium enterprises. In peace and order, the continued military support that US is extending has helped in combating insurgency and thwarting terrorist build-up.

The tourism sector greatly benefits from these positive developments. With bitter politicking getting the thumbs-down, local government units can concentrate on working on resources to enhance tourism in their respective jurisdictions. The focus on small and medium enterprises will create more entrepreneurial activities for low-income families living in high-tourist traffic areas. A peaceful and orderly society is always conducive to attracting more tourists who won’t have to worry about kidnappings and bomb threats.

With a re-invigorated Philippines, Filipinos and foreign visitors alike can look forward to a fantastic year. The archipelagic nation has an amusing concoction of festivals, celebrations and parties in all its 7,107 islands that an article in an international publication called the Philippines a one big carnival of sorts.

Indeed, the calendar of Philippine festivities is an exhilarating collection of revelries and special events. Every month offers various celebrations on every town and city. And the myriad of activities available is an eclectic array: from awe-inspiring fluvial processions and grand street merry-makings to thrilling whale shark watching and trekking along majestic countryscapes.

The Filipino penchance for the grand and the colorful may have been due to the intermingling of lively pagan rituals and fiery Spanish customs. This can be seen in festivals like the Ati-Atihan fiesta whose variants are scattered all over the country. Last month, Aklanons staged their annual Ati-Atihan known the world over. It’s a celebration in honor of Sto. Niño in which revelers in black paint and colorful costumes take it to the streets and dance uninhibitedly to the drum beats.

Festivals dedicated to the boy Jesus is common throughout the country like theSinulog festival in Cebu also held every January and the Sto. Niño Festival in Hagonoy, Bulacan on the third week of February. Other similar festivals which feature colorful masks and dancing are the Pintados Festival in Tacloban City, Leyte held every June and the Masskara Festival of Bacolod held every October.

Isabel Leyte

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.

Isabel is a 1st class municipality in the province of Leyte , Philippines . According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 38,486 people in 8,303 households.

Isabel is the most industrialized town in Eastern Visayas, being the site of Leyte Industrial Development Estates (LIDE). Isabel has one higher institution of learning which is the Visayas State University - College of Industrial Technology, Isabel campus. It offers undergraduate degrees in education, industrial engineering, business and information technology and various two-year technological courses that caters the need of the local and national 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 rate^1/ of 2.6 and child mortality rate^2/ 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.

Kinatumyan Beach( known for rich breeding place for milkfish(Bangus)

Public Market

Isabel Seaside

Isabel Fishing grounds(These fishing grounds are rich sources of milkfish, mackerel and other fishes)