Leyte is one of six provinces that comprise the Eastern Visayas ( Region VIII ).

The province is subdivided into forty (40) municipalities and three cities, with a total of 1.641 barangays represented as five congressional districts. The seat of the provincial government is at the capital city of Tacloban.

Leyte is among the country’s most historic provinces, proud of its rich and significant past. It was the site not only of a major uprising against the Spaniards but also of the famous landing of US forces during World War II, marking its place in history as the point of entry for the American forces of liberation.

This historical consciousness is reflected on Leyte’s provincial seal. The stars symbolize the 43 towns of the province. The alphabet on the cross indicates its second phase of development, when Magellan passed through the province en route to Cebu. And the upper portion commemorates the landing of General Douglas MacArthur, through a perspective of the National Freedom Park.