SLT 1245
December 30-January 5, 2024
SOUTHERN LEYTE – One of the most significant developments in last year 2023 is the establishment of the Civil Registry System (CRS) outlet of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) last January 25 in Maasin City. It was the first outlet installed in Region 8 under the Civil Registry Systems – Information Technology Project 2 or the CRS-ITP2, in close coordination with the Unisys, a global technology solutions company. Clients need not to go to Tacloban to obtain faster and easier their CRS documents like birth, marriage and death certificates.
International institutions funded the drive to curb the alarming teenage pregnancy problem in the province and the region.
The year 2023 started with landslides in certain parts of the province caused by continuous rains; minor quakes were also felt, and towards the end of the year, quakes of 4 to 6.8 magnitude alarmed Southern Leyteños. In April and May heat wave hit Maasin City.
In the agricultural sector, coconut farmers and entrepreneurs revealed that the industry was far from being recovered since Typhoon Odette destroyed millions of coconut trees in December 2021. However, in the later part of the year, big nurseries in Liloan and Bontoc towns were set to carry high-quality seed nuts under the government’s hybridization program.
In tourism and adventure, Sogod Bay hosted 34 Europeans, mostly Swiss and French, in a week-long underwater dive event of the Objectif Atlantide. Sogod Bay, being tagged as one of the exceptional diving destinations in the Philippines, has been dubbed as the Rising Star of Philippine Dive Destinations.
In the environmental front, Panaon Island was declared a Protected Seascape. And, Pacific towns engage in regenerative ocean farming.
The Southern Leyte Chapter of Philippine Red Cross reaped three national awards on its diamond anniversary celebration giving hope and pride to the province.
Meanwhile, a three-day, 404 kilometer distance cycling tour was held in June around Southern Leyte in four stages in coordination with the Maasin City Cycling Club.
Maasin City takes pride and honor on Jomari Arnaiz, who was chosen to join Team Pilipinas Ultimate in 2023 Frisbee Championship in California,USA.
Padre Burgos town has been abuzz with supply cargo trucks transported to and coming from Mindanao via Lipata in Surigao, with some P132 million earmarked for its port development, including a new passenger terminal to be constructed in 2024.
The lack of ships docking at Maasin City Port was exacerbated by the suspension of boat services by Cokaliong Shipping Lines in July, which was revived in September through the initiatives of the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI) and collaboration with the City Government of Maasin.
In the cultural front, the Southern Leyte Tourism and Investment Promotions Center (SLTIPC) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) launched a comprehensive cultural mapping in November to identify, document, and safeguard the diverse cultural assets in the region, particularly in Southern Leyte.
High prospects for better health care at the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital come with its inauguration into the Eastern Visayas Region Hospital through congressional bills filed by District Representatives Luz Mercado and Christopherson Yap.
The nursing department of the College of Maasin (CM) added another feather for CM’s recognition as being ranked 1st among top performing schools in the Philippines with 100% passing average in 2023.
Saint Joseph College produced 120 new teachers who passed the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT).
Year 2023 was capped with the PADAJON Christmas Bazaar and Livelihood Trainings from December 15-29,2023 spearheaded by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stirring the micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially the start-up businesses.
Southern Leyte got 1st place in the SubayBayani awards and Maasin City athletes excelled in Batang Pinoy 2023.
