Provincial Board Reviews Key Development Initiatives
LEYTE - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan convened its second regular session at the Provincial Capitol in Maasin City on July 13 under the leadership of Vice Governor Rosa Emilia G. Mercado. During the session, board members discussed several priority measures aimed at improving public services and local governance across Southern Leyte. Among the proposals reviewed was an ordinance establishing a mandatory Home Visit Program for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), designed to make healthcare and essential services more accessible to vulnerable members of the community. The board also examined supplemental budget proposals submitted by the local governments of Maasin City and the Municipality of Liloan to support ongoing public programs and development projects.
Supporting Tourism and Cultural Heritage
Tourism development also formed an important part of the legislative discussions as local ordinances promoting cultural heritage and community identity were presented for review. The Municipality of Padre Burgos proposed declaring July 19 to 25 as "Padre Burgos Tourism, Cultural Heritage, and Festival Week" to celebrate its local traditions while attracting more visitors to the municipality. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Silago introduced a proposal to officially declare Poblacion Districts I and II as a public beach to be known as "Silago Brown Beach." These initiatives demonstrate the continued efforts of Southern Leyte's municipalities to strengthen tourism, preserve local heritage, and create new opportunities for economic growth through sustainable destination development.
Province and SOLECO Explore Ways to Address Rising Electricity Costs
A major highlight of the session was the presentation by representatives of the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO), who discussed the recent increase in electricity rates experienced across the province. SOLECO explained that higher power costs were influenced by several external factors, including developments in the international energy market resulting from ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. Despite these challenges, the electric cooperative assured provincial officials that discussions are underway with the Provincial Government to identify practical measures that could help lessen the financial burden on consumers. The dialogue reflects the shared commitment of both SOLECO and provincial leaders to finding sustainable solutions that protect residents from rising electricity costs while ensuring the continued delivery of reliable power services.
