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Southern Leyte occupies the southern portion of Leyte Island in eastern Visayas. It is bounded on the north by Leyte, on the east by the Leyte Gulf, on the west by the Camotes Sea, and on the south by the Surigao Strait.
The province includes Limasawa and Panaon Islands south of mainland Leyte. It is
characterized by relatively flat coastal areas and a mountainous interior. It has no dry
season, with more or less evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year.
Limasawa, where the first Christian Mass was held in the country in 1521, is in
Southern Leyte. It became the springboard of Catholicism in the Philippines. A movement to
divide Leyte Province began as early as 1919 when the first bill dividing it into two was
filed in Congress but was defeated in the Senate. In 1922, Act No. 3117 was passed,
providing for an Oriental and Occidental Leyte to take effect after the proclamation of
the governor general, but the proclamation never came. In 1953, another bill for the
division of Leyte was filed in Congress but this time it died in the House of
Representatives. Finally, on May 22, 1959, Republic Act No. 2227 divided Leyte into the
present Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces.
Most of the people of Southern Leyte are descendants of Boholanos. Generally, they
speak the Cebuano and Boholano dialects.
Southern Leyte is primarily agricultural with palay and coconut as its main products, followed by abaca, white corn, bananas and rootcrops. Fish production in 1993 was nearly 10,000 metric tons consisting mostly of indian sardines, roundscad, indian mackerel, frigate tuna and other species. It has luxuriant forests comprising 27% of the total land area while mining is limited to extraction of non-metallic minerals such as sand and gravel. Major sources of income include trading, services, fishing, livestock and poultry raising. The small-scale industries are mainly engaged in handicraft production while most of the manufacturing industries are classified as cottage industries. The important crops grown in the province are coconut, abaca, rice sugarcane, and banana. Sugod Bay abounds with fish. (Go to
Socio-Economic Profiles of Southern Leyte for more details)
Maasin, 183 km from Tacloban, is the port where buses travelling the Pan-Philippines Highway take the ferry to cross to Mindanao. Its Spanish-era cathedral is notable for its altar, ceiling and santos. The waters of Guinsohotan Falls in this town emerge from a limestone cave, slide down a 30-m slope, then drop five meters into a pool.
Kuting Beach Resort in Macrohon, south of the capital, has wide stretches of sandy beach. Tancaan Point in Santa Sofia Beach, Padre Burgos, has a concrete stairway to a watchtower overlooking the sea and Limasawa Island. .
HISTORICAL Malitbog, Southern Leyte Location: 253 kilometers from Tacloban City by land. One of the oldest towns in the province of Leyte which was once the center of trade and commerce. NATURAL Magsuhot Park Location: Sogod, Southern Leyte; only 3 kilometers from Phil-Japan
Friendship Highway. Has a forested area of 500 hectares and 4 waterfalls falling into a
common basin and is 20 meters high.
Tancaan Point/Buenavista Fish
Sanctuary
Location: Liloan, Southern Leyte. A part of Mindanao Deep, the second deepest body of water in the world; one of the most mystifying dive destinations in Southern Leyte. Sun-ok Fish Sanctuary Location: Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; situated below an imposing rock edifice; this sanctuary can be reached by motorized banca in about two hours from Maasin upon prior arrangement with private operators. Hosts a variety of marine life. Tabugon Fish Sanctuary Location: Liloan, Southern Leyte. The coastal town of Liloan, with its protective bay, has large reef areas recommended by the Silliman University Marine Laboratory as marine reserves. Ilijan Point/Napantaw Fish Sanctuary Location: San Francisco, Southern Leyte; can be reached by motorized banca in about two hours from Maasin upon prior arrangement with private boat operators. Sogod Bay Location: 124 kilometers from Tacloban City via the Maharlika Highway. Have already established big fish sanctuaries which will soon transform into excellent dive sites. Patag Daku Location: Libagon, Southern Leyte; to reach Patag Datu, one has to ride a bus or private vehicle from Maasin to Libagon. The trip may take about 2-3 hours. Patag Daku, means big plain. But the land is actually in a valley dense with vegetation that novice campers and mountaineers need an experienced guide to lead the way. RELIGIOUS
Southern Leyte may be reached by land via the Pan-Philippine Highway or by sea via Aboitiz Lines. Philtranco and Inland Trailways have one trip each daily from Pasay to Maasin.
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Magellan's Cross: Location: Southern Tip of Southern Leyte. 45 minutes
pumpboat ride from Padre Burgos to the island. Site of the celebration of the First
Christian Mass in the Orient when Ferdinand Magellan came in 1521; historical and cultural
viewing of the Magellan Shrine/Marker. Also a diver's paradise.
