Water
Resources. The principal rivers in Palompon are the Binagyohan, Masaba, Agbanga, Tabunok, San Pedro, Lakaw-Lakaw, San Guillermo and Hilum. These rivers as drainage with their tributaries flowing toward the sea.

These are also 15 principal springs located in barangay Liberty, Santiago, Tinubdan, Lomonon, Tinabilan, Masaba, Caduhaan, Himarco, Tambis, Taberna, Belen, Lat-osan and Tabunok.

III. FINANCIAL RESOURCES

At present, the municipality still rely much on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the National Government. However, it is worthwhile noting that local revenue collection has been increasing from year to year without passing a new revenue-raising ordinance. Palompon is now classified as third class municipality.

Education and Culture

The municipality has forty-six (46) elementary schools. There are eight (8) secondary schools, five (5) of which are national High Schools located in Big Barangays two (2) are privately owned high schools and one(1) a laboratory high school at PIT. The High School are Lomonon National High School, Tinabilan National high School, Alfredo Parrilla National High School in San Miguel, Taberna National High School, Cantuhaon National High School, Colegio de San Francisco Javier, Northern Leyte College and Palompon Institute of Technology.
To the increasing number of out-of-school youths after finishing elementary education, the municipality is planning to establish a Municipal High School. The municipality is proud of its state college, the Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT) which offers courses such as, Marine Transportation, Computer Courses, Masters and Doctorate Degrees, Extension Education is also available and 3-month vocation courses are also offered. The Northern Leyte College offers high school and Computer and Secretarial Courses.
One of the thrust of the present administration is high quality education and the Municipality of Palompon (LGU) is trying its best to increase its literacy, completion and retention rates of elementary pupils and reduce dropouts. At present the literacy rate of the population is 95.75%, completion rate is 66.25% (1103/1665), retention is 90% (6564/7294). The dropout rate of the elementary school pupils is 1.3% (114/8214).
The LGU aspires for high quality education to acquire the essential education foundation for the morally upright school children in developing academic proficiency, scientific and technical skills.

Housing

Palompon is a fast growing municipality and the urban center is beset with housing problems. The residential houses are generally made of light materials except those above average income families whose houses are made of concrete and other materials. Existing situation indicates that the houses are built at random where the buildingwis either used as dwelling unit or as a business establishment.
One of the existing social problems in the municipality is the congestion-giving rise to squatting and immigrating problems, thereby causing pollution, over-population and disanitation. Some of the squatter areas in the poblation include Binato-an of Ipil III, coastal area of MAZAWALO, Sudlon I and II of Ipil I and II, and Gin-awayan of Guiwan I.

To help solve the housing problem some civic spirited citizens organized cooperatives. As os date there are two registered housing cooperatives in Palompon.

Social Welfare

The municipal social welfare and development office is directly responsible for the delivery of the basic social welfare services to the disadvantage individuals, families and groups to enable them to become self-reliant and productive citizens of the community. It has a package of programs and armed with service catered to respond to the welfare needs of the clientele group, such as child and youth program, family and community program, women program, self-employment assistance program emergency assistance program and for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. It is implemented through integrated and unifying approach with other line agencies, barangay councils and other sectors in the community. The MSWD office is manned by six staff headed by a social worker.

Sports and Recreation

The sports and recreational facilities in the municipality of Palompon includes children’s playgrounds, billiard halls, basketball courts, volleyball and tennis courts, and a multipurpose social center. The municipality has also athletic ground which is capable of accommodating a Provincial Athletic Meet. In addition to these recreation centers in the poblacion, multi purpose social center are provided in all barangays in order to promote health through physical fitness, to deviate the attention of the youth to the commission of crime and drug addiction or illegal drug use.

Presently, billiard halls, aerobic or practice resistance-weight training is available in the municipality. Physical Fitness program are also undertaken by the school authorities both private and public to keep the youth active and physically strong. Various sports competition are conducted all year round such as the municipal basketball tournament spearheaded by the sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation. LGUlympics and quarterly Social is also conducted where all local government employees compete different sports and activities once every three months.

Protective/Peace And Order

The municipality of Palompon is known to be very Peaceful. The crime rate in Palompon is very low compared to other towns in the province. So far almost all the crimes committed have not been considered, as the municipality of Palompon is known to be very peaceful. The crime rate in Palompon is very low compared to the other town in province. So far almost all the crimes committed have not been considered as serious.
According to police officials there are only about two to three crimes monthly and this result mainly from drunkenness and are committed by in-migrants. The maintenance of peace and order in the municipality is good as evidenced by the crime cases filed and disposed although the ratio is 1 policeman to almost 2,000 inhabitants, support of the existing barangay tanods of each barangay under the close monitoring and coordination of the local government unit’s-civil security office has greatly helped maintain peace and order.

Labor

The major industry in the municipality are fishing and farming. Self employed fishermen sell their products in the market and farming industry who mostly sell products like rice, corn, root crops, vegetables and other agricultural products.
Of the population of 50,342,56.55% constitute total labor force or 28,468 of the population based on municipal statistic. Unemployed is 7.3% of the labor or 2,078 while employed is 92.7 % of labor force.
As an agricultural town, most of the populace defend much on the products of the land such as bunsod, bobo, dumpil, gango, okay-okay, pamalaran, ganta-aw, pamo gathering seashells and other edible marine products. Palompon has professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses, priesta, overseas marine engineers, business, dentists, lawyers, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and communication engineers.
Many Palomponganons migrated to the other places in the country and abroad in search for greener pastures. Many of theme are successful in their field of endeavor.

THE ECONOMIC FACTORS

Palompon is generally an agricultural municipality. Its soil is 78% Faraon clay, known to be excellent for perennial crops. The slopes of Palompon also indicated a normal terrain such that drainage towards the sea through rivers and creeks do not permit waterlogged areas. The temperature and climate in this part of the Province of Leyte is type B or humid climate, characterized by rains evenly distributed through the year. This influence every chemical and physical process connected with plants.
Palompon has 364.5 hectares of irrigated rice area, 250 hectares of lowland rain fed and 150 hectares of upland area. Corn area is 50 hectares and 1,785 hectares is devoted to other crops (vegetable, fruits, root crops and sugar).
Fishing is another major livelihood source for Palompon knowing 26 out of 50 barangays are along the coast. There are 50 known species of fish in the waters of Palompon, most are available year round like bangus, bolinao, kitong, danggit, banak, katambak, mangse and many others. Also available year round are shrimp, salpo, crabs and shellfish.
The Office of the Provincial agriculture fisheries section has assisted CRM activities in the municipality establish projects like the Lapu-lapu culture, mud crab culture and planting of giants clams. Still there is a lot of room for regeneration and conservation in this sector.
The municipality is investing annually substantial amount for its Coastal Resource management Program. Last October 2, 2000, Palompon was awarded the Best CRMP in the non-externally funded category in the national level.

Tourism

Palompon is endowed with natural beauty and balanced ecology. As a coastal town in northwest Leyte, it is blessed with rich natural resources. In the municipal waters are three islets known as Tres Marias which serve as natural reef and marine habitat of aquatic creatures, and most famous of the three is Tabuc islets which has been declared as Marine Park and fish and bird sanctuary now teeming with fish of diverse species and haven of resident and migratory birds. Not so far away is Kalanggaman Island known for its white sandy beach, pristine waters and a site to behold with its natural coral reefs in Kalanggaman as world class dive spots. In the mountains can be found the unconquered caves, the scenic waterfalls.

Water System

The Palompon Water System used to be owned and operated by the local government since its establishment sometime in 1943 until the 1980’s. In July 21, 1988, the local government passed Municipal Resolution No. 93-210788 Transferring to the Palompon Water District All Existing Facilities, Equipment and Properties Pertaining to the Existing Water System of the Municipal Government. The move was designed to improve the water services to Palomponganons. Contrary to expectations, water services did not improve despite assistance from the LWUA. So, in 1995, the Board of Directors of the Palompon Water District passed a resolution requesting the local government to reacquire the Water District followed by another resolution in 1997. On September 28, 1998, the Sangguniang Bayan of Palompon passed a resolution manifesting its determination and interest to aquire the water District. Then on January 6, 1999 the Water District Board of Directors filed a petition for dissolution with Regional trial Court. Petition was granted on May 14, 1999. After the necessary preparation, the local government absorbed all the employees of the Water District. Beginning June 1, 1999 the water district became under the local government .Now, its called the Water Administration and Services of Hinablayan directly under the office of Treasurer as an economic enterprise.
At present only the spring of Tinubdan and Well No. 3 at PIT are supplying the water needs of Palomponganons. These two sources are capable of supplying 1,500 connections but our records showthat there are only 1,200 active connections and 300 inactive as of this date. With well no. 3 operational the capability of the water system has greatly improved. It can even serve high-rise building to at high as 80 feet in the poblacion level. The water system is still accepting new applicants for service connection while at the same time campaigning for the activation of the 300 inactive.
The present source of potable water is more than sufficient to meet the demands of increasing population, Water concessionaries are now enjoying the use of potable waters 24 hours a day.
The local government is giving top priority to the improvement of he system. Palompon now have a water system that can sufficiently supply the needs of the people and the expected eco friendly industries that will be established.

Cooperative

Palompon is the host to many cooperatives. The most known of them is Palompon community multipurpose cooperative (PACCI), a national awardes on community service. It prides of its lending services, transportation buses, machine copying center, child formation center, display center, mortuary system, plastic chairs and tables for rent and others. It is a primary municipal-wide cooperative which is the depository of many barangay-based cooperative and livelihood assocaiations.

The Municipal Cooperative Development Council was organized and is actively working on the organization of more barangay coops. Members of the MCDC are following cooperatives. Palompon Community Multi-Purpose Cooperatives (PACCI), PT Faculty and Employees Cooperative, CCF-Xavier Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Himarco La Purisima Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Liberty farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Palompon Overseas Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Tinabilan Credit Development Cooperative, Baguinbin Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Plaridel multi-Purpose Cooperative, San Juan Primary Cooperative, Parrilla Consumers Cooperative, Palompon North District Credit Cooperative, Trece Marias of Tinago and the New Millennium Farmers Cooperative, Farmers Cooperative, Palompon Housing Cooperative and many farmers cooperative in the Agrarian Reform Communities.
Cooperatives are playing vital role in developing the socio-economic life of the people. They are also serving as active partners of the local government in its program on ecological amelioration for sustainable development.

Financial Institution

PNB is the only banking institution in Palompon. It offers a variety of services. It is not only serving Palompon but also the neighboring municipalities.