OCTOBER 20 - SPECIAL HOLIDAY IN ENTIRE PROVINCE OF LEYTE

Tacloban City (October 16) - October 20 is special holiday in the entire province of Leyte.

This is in answer to the numerous telephone queries that Philippine Information Agency has been receiving this week on whether their local government units are included in the pronouncement.

The Philippine Information Agency made some research and learned that per Republic Act No.1745, issued on June 21, 1957, better known as an act declaring October 20 of every year as special holiday in the Province of Leyte.

This is in order to give meaning to the commemoration of the historic Leyte Gulf Landings of the Allied Forces of Liberation under General Douglas McArthur in 1944, thus ending the Pacific War of World War II.

The Legal Division of the Provincial Government of Leyte informed the PIA that the same legal document is the reference the province of Leyte is holding.

Atty. Gil Cana said that the Special Holiday will be observed in all the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Province of Leyte.

As to the several constituents of the province of Southern Leyte as to whether or not Southern Leyte is included in the Republic Act, Atty. Roque Tiu, Board member of the first district of Leyte, said that since Southern Leyte is now a separate province, it is no longer a part of Leyte province.

Thus, Board Member Tiu opined that Southern Leyte is no longer included in the local government units which are covered by the Republic Act.

Southern Leyte used to be the third district of Leyte until it was inaugurated as a new province on July 1, 1960.

Thus, the third District of Leyte became the province of Southern Leyte and Lone District of Southern Leyte (PIA8).(Photo courtesy of kabyahe.wordpress.com