SOUTHERN LEYTE

By Eugene Alvin Villar (seav) – English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=584367

Southern Leyte is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Maasin. Southern Leyte was a sub-province of Leyte until it was made into an independent province. Southern Leyte includes Limasawa, an island to the south where the first Roman Catholic Mass in Philippine soil is believed to have taken place and thus considered to be the birthplace of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

Photo from: https://www.asaniquen.com/molopolo-white-beach-liloan-southern-leyte/

Southern Leyte is characterized by relatively flat lands along the coastal areas where population centers lie, but rugged mountains towards the interior.

The province has inland water features. Based on national data, the province has altogether 93 rivers including 18 major ones, namely the Amparo River in Macrohon, the Canturing River in Maasin City, the Das-ay and Pondol Rivers in Hinunangan, the Divisoria River in Bontoc, the Hitungao and Lawigan Rivers in St. Bernard, the Maag River in Silago, and the Subangdaku River in Sogod which is the biggest of all. The province has an inland lake called Lake Danao located in the mountains of San Juan and Anahawan, towns in the eastern region.

Photo from: https://bestplacefood.wordpress.com/tag/liloan-southern-leyte/

A three-year project was established in Sogod Bay conducted by the Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP) to surveyed coral reefs in the area. The undertaking was to provide local residents educational opportunities to have knowledge on protecting the province’s biodiversity as well as to have a long-term sustainability.

Photo from: http://www.southernleyte.gov.ph/26-tourism-articles

Some 200,000 tourists visit Southern Leyte each year.Domestic tourism is mostly those wishing to enjoy the sandy beaches, hotels and resorts along the coastline. Significant numbers also visit for religious festivals such as Sinulog and Limasawa.

Most international travelers visit Southern Leyte for the pristine reef diving and snorkeling, from just outside Maasin City, all the way around Sogod Bay via Padre Burgos. There are also an increasing number of non-divers who come to see the Whale Sharks between October and April.

In recent years there has been a drive to promote tourism in the region. There is a new Zoo and Wildlife Park in Brgy. Danao in Maasin City. Not far from Sogod is a zip line over the tallest bridge in the Philippines.

With this increase in numbers, there are a selection of new hotels along the coast.

Photo from: https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/More-Fun-in-Hindang-Southern-Leyte