Leyte town draws new investments

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 8 (PNA) – There is no stopping the progress of this historic town. Aside from being the home of the first and only Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Park in the region, investors have been coming in and are willing to shell out capitals for malls, a hotel, hardware store and food chain.

According to Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, the West Bypass Road will be the new commercial hub. The west bypass road covers Campetic, Caloogan and Arado villages.

Among the business locators who will be doing business in Palo are the City Mall, Gaisano store with a bus terminal, a hotel chain, Shakeys, City Hardware among others.

The Oriental Hotel, which is currently undergoing rehabilitation, will be open again to the public this year after it was almost totally ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in 2013.

The hotel was the biggest hotel in Eastern Visayas when it opened five years ago.

Palo maintains its rustic appeal in the main thoroughfare while development is in the government center of Candahug, Guinapunan villages and the west bypass road.

Palo town, a home to 70,000 people, has many rustic and old houses some are centuries old for conservation and preservation to maintain its picturesque appeal.

The town is the seat of most government departments, bureaus and regional offices in Eastern Visayas, although some are situated in Tacloban. The town is also home to the offices of the ecclesiastical government of Roman Catholic church in the region.

Palo is considered to be one of the most historical towns of Leyte province. It is well known as the site of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines together with Philippine and American military forces after a period of exile in 1944. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/VICKY C. ARANAIZ/EGR