Leyte is a premier province in Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines.
Profile of Leyte Province (Geography)
Location –> Eastern Visayas Region, Philippines (See map below)
Neighboring Province –> Biliran, Samar, Southern Leyte
Capital –> Tacloban City
Area –> 6,313.33 km2 (2,437.59 sq mi)
Population –> 1,966,728 (2015 census including Tacloban City)
Terrain –> Mountainous, Lowland, Coastal Plains
Industries –> Agriculture, Manufacturing, Geothermal Energy Production
Major Products –> Rice, Sugarcane, Sweet Potato, Corn, Coconut, Fertilizer, Refined Copper, Softdrinks
People/Language –> Bisaya, Waray
Budget (2020) –> 9.5 Billion Pesos
Cities –> Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Baybay City
Municipalities (Towns) –> (40) Abuyog, Alangalang, Albuera, Babatngon, Barugo, Bato, Burauen, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Isabel, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Leyte, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Matalom, Mayorga, Merida, Palo, Palompon, Pastrana, San Isidro, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tabango, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Tolosa, Tunga, Villaba
Government Officials
Go here to see the elected provincial officials of Leyte.
Leyte History
Leyte was formerly under the jurisdiction of Samar Province but in 1768, Leyte and Samar were split into two distinct provinces. On May 22, 1959, several towns in the southern part of the province were separated to comprise a new province called Southern Leyte by virtue of Republic Act No. 2227.
The province of Leyte was the scene of an amphibious invasion by American forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The landing marked the beginning of an intense campaign to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II.
On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan made a landfall on the eastern shores of Leyte, causing so much destruction of properties and thousands of deaths especially in Tacloban City.
On January 17, 2015, Pope Francis arrives in Tacloban City to celebrate mass for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. He also visited the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Lord in Palo where he met with priests, religious, seminarians and families.
Go here to see all the famous people from Leyte Province.
Go here to see the candidates and results of the 2019 election in Leyte Province.
Read the history of Leyte Province here.
Former Governors
Jaime de Veyra
Economy of Leyte Province
Agriculture is the main source of income in the province of Leyte. Rice, coconut, corn, sugarcane and fish are the chief products. The town of Isabel is home to an industrial estate where fertilizer, sulfuric acid and refined copper are produced. Other large manufacturing plants in the province are sugar milling and softdrink bottling. The province also host a geothermal plant that supplies electricity not only to Leyte Province but also to Cebu, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
Cottage industries include food processing like fish drying and bakery, furniture, and weaving of mats. Tourism is being given priority by government for development.
RELATED: Profile of Cebu Province
See also: List of Philippine Provinces and Capital by Region