This Year 2024 was full of significant surprises and achievement for the province of Southern Leyte, notably in the fields of education, economy health and nutrition which provided positive outlook for New Year 2025.
Southern Leyte’s two colleges and one university produced graduates that excelled in their chosen professions. Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) produced its 4th board civil engineer topnotcher, Jason Bordas; SLSU produced 33 civil engineers.
The College of Maasin’s nursing department was ranked first among top performing schools in the November 2024 Philippines Nursing Licensure Examination, having achieved a 100% passing rate for its 75 examinees.
Meanwhile, SLSU also produced 228 new teachers from all its campuses. Saint Joseph College boasts of eight (8) new Certified Public Accountants (CPA’s); 22 Civil Engineers and 113 new Teachers.
On the economic front, the Port of San Ricardo in Panaon Island has been slated for a P300 million worth of improvement.
Through its Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 215 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) were slated to receive P10, 000 worth of business kits to help foster their long-term growth and sustainability. DTI conducted 9 seminars on entrepreneurship in May and June in selected areas in Southern Leyte.
The OceanJet made its maiden voyage on the Cebu City-Maasin-Surigao route last September 4, 2024.
Among the significant features of Southern Leyte’s 64th Founding Anniversary was the first Poultry and Livestock Expo last June 24 to 29, 2024.
On the environmental front, coral restorations were done in Sogod Bay by French marine biologist Jean Francis Marailac in Balagawan, Silago and retired US Air Force personnel Alan Binnebose of the Padre Burgos Coral Restoration Project.
Senate Bill 2617, slated to become a law soon, now protects Panaon Island under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
In health and nutrition, Southern Leyte achieved the second lowest malnutrition rate in Region 8, next to Biliran.
On Nov. 4-8, Press Freedom Week was observed with students from the National High Schools from Dongon, Ibarra, Manhilo, Saint Joseph College and the College of Maasin attending a seminar on “Ethical Communication and Legal Risks in Reporting.” It was conducted by Southern Leyte Times publisher Atty. Ruevivar Markines Reyes.
On religion and culture, the Maasin Cathedral was declared a National Shrine with the Lady of Assumption as its Patroness.
On crime and law enforcement, P387.8 million of shabu was found abandoned in a vehicle by two suspects at Liloan Port by personnel from PDEA Region 8, Maritime Police, PPA- Liloan and PCG- Liloan.
A pleasant surprise came to Silago when fishermen hauled 2,000 kilos of bolinao (anchovy) along its shorelines.
