BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 13:08:00 11/14/2013

In a text message to BiliranIsland.com, Rep. Espina did not deny that he opposed the appointment of Genson as OIC President. However he pointed out that his opposition is based on the issues pointed out by the evaluation Committee, such as the unresolved issues on the opening of the Tacloban Campus and the issues on the Maritime and Engineering courses.

It has to be remebered that last October, an Evaluation Committee, headed by former U.P. President Emerlinda Roman and VSU President JOse Bacusmo came to NSU to evaluate Mrs. Genson’s performance as President. They interviewed faculty, employees, students, and alumni. Rep. Espina said that he asked for the written report of the committee, but he was not given a copy as it is confidential.

Rep. Espina further pointed oout that the students and parents were short changed due to the abolition of the Bachelor of Science degrees in Maritime. Enrolees in these courses can only avail of Associate degress and not the supposed of B. S. degrees Rep. Espina further stated that “9 years she handled the institution as NIT and NSU President, but unfortunately na abolish pa ang BS courses sa Maritime Trasportation at Engineering. Kaya nga NAVAL ang pinaglaban na name natin dyan. ” It is noteworthy that the “Naval: in the Naval State University is pronounced as “Ney-vahl”. in reference to the flagship program of the University which is Maritime, pertaining to the Navy.

BY: FLORDELIS JACKSON

NAVAL, Biliran – The town of Culaba suffered the least damage to agriculture which is estimated at P623,296.68 among the eight municipalities in Biliran province, said Jaime Casas, Provincial Agriculturist in a report given to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Biliran Provincial Information Center.

He said, the total amount of damage is broken down as follows: damage to rice is P401,099.66; corn – P131,637.02; banana – P64,000 and assorted vegetables P26,560.

Further, he said, no damage to rootcrops and fruit trees was reported in said municipality based on the report submitted to his office.

It was learned that few months before super typhoon Yolanda hit Biliran province and the rest of the provinces in Eastern Visayas, the provincial government of Biliran headed by Governor Gerryboy Espina, through the Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services conducted a hands-on season-long training for six months to farmers in the eight municipalities of Biliran including the municipality of Culaba on the production of high value vegetables and crops.

The farmer-participants were trained on the modern farming technology in order to yield high produce of their crops, thus helping increase their family income.

On the other hand, Mr. Casas reported that the municipality of Kawayan suffered P5.6M damage to high value crops, fruit trees and assorted vegetables.

He informed that damage to rice plantation in Kawayan was placed at P7.3M while damage to corn plantation was only P15,000. (PIA 8 Biliran)

BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 08:04:00 12/02/2013

Biliranisland.com, the official website of Biliran province conducted a relief operation that catered 300 families to the two barangays of Caibiran, Biliran who were typhoon Yolanda victims on November 29, 2013.

Two hundred ten families at Brgy. Villa Vicenta and ninety from Brgy. Pulang Yuta received the relief goods. This is an aide after the typhoon destroyed the properties of the people. The goods can supply the families for two to three meals. The natives of each barangay were happy to accept the relief goods.

Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) also helped the entire operation by providing vehicle that carried the goods with security.

The website will have their annual bundles of joy as gift for Christmas on December at Cabucgayan, Biliran.

Click here to donate

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By Jalmz
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 07:14 PM 07/10/2008
Last Updated 08:47 AM 12/12/2013

Only MV Blessed Stars now ply the Naval to Cebu route. The sked is …

Roble Shipping, Inc.

M/V Blessed Stars Photo by Kenskie

NAVAL to CEBU:

M/V Blessed Stars
Sunday – Tuesday 8:30PM

CEBU to NAVAL

M/V Blessed Stars
Saturday – Monday
8:30PM

M/v Blessed Stars:

Roble Shipping, Inc.
43-C Escario Extension, Cebu City 6000
Telephone: (032) 255-3871, (032) 254-0583
Fax: (032) 416-6117
Website: http://www.robleshipping.com (soon)

Booking Offices:
Naval Telephone: (053) 500 7898
Cebu Telephone: (032) 255-5904, (032) 255-1849

Note: All schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

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by: Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran – The Biliran Geothermal, Incorporated (BGI)immediately extended its corporate social responsibility (CSR)to Biliran province after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda on November 8 which hit hardly Eastern Visayas including this island province, according to its community relations (ComRel)officer in an interview at the BGI office this morning.

Mark Oraa, BGI ComRel officer, disclosed that BGI was able to make the cross country road connecting Naval town to Caibiran passable within 24 hours after super typhoon Yolanda hit Biliran province in the entire morning of November 8.

“We immediately dispatched our personnel and some of our heavy equipment in the afternoon of November 8 to clear the cross country road” Oraa informed.

He disclosed that BGI also helped in the clearing operations of other national, provincial and barangays roads in the province to make them passable to commuters.

BGI also provided 200 liters of diesel fuel per day to the power generator of the Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH) for the sustainability of the daily operations of the hospital in serving the Biliranons who need the necessary health care services.

He added that BGI was able also to provide 20 liters of diesel fuel to the municipality of Kawayan and gasoline fuel to Caibiran town to be able to continue serving the people.

Oraa further said that BGI even offered its diesel fuel reserve bought from Cebu to the gasoline stations in Naval when said stations ran out of supply few days after the super typhoon hit the province. However, the gasoline station owners declined the offer because they still had pending orders from their respective suppliers.

The barge that brought the diesel fuel from Cebu to Biliran province was also used to transport relief goods for Biliran province facilitated by a former provincial official, he added.

BGI also offered free charging of cellular phones and other electronic devices at the ground floor of their office for 50 persons every two hours from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon, Oraa added.

Oraa further said that the geothermal company was able also to provide two pick-up type vehicles and two dump trucks for the relief operations of the Department of Energy (DOE) in Tacloban City.

The geothermal company also conducted minor repairs of the Biliran airport located in Barangay Catmon in Naval town in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), provincial government of Biliran and the Department of Public Works and Highways-Biliran District Engineering Office (DPWH-BDEO) for use by the private plane hired by the company to ferry BGI officials from Manila to Biliran and vice-versa, he further disclosed.

“BGI is also planning of providing relief goods to the typhoon victims in Biliran province, more particularly in its host community, as part of its corporate social responsibility in the province of Biliran” Oraa emphasized. (PIA 8 Biliran)

by: Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran – The community relations officer of the Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) assured the public, in an interview at the BGI office this morning that the geothermal company’s drilling operation is safe and going smoothly.

“So far so good” was the positive remark of Mark Oraa, BGI community relations officer, regarding the on-going drilling operations of BGI in the Biliran geothermal project located in Barangay Cabibihan in Caibiran town.

Oraa disclosed that there were personnel from the Department of Energy (DOE) who conducted inspection before the drilling activity was conducted just to ensure the safety of the drilling operations at the project site.

It was learned from Oraa that BGI has established one drill pad at the project site in Barangay Cabibihan.

He also assured the safety of BGI’s drilling operations since it is closely supervised by experts on geothermal project from the Icelandic Drilling Corporation (IDC) who have vast experience in undertaking various geothermal projects in Iceland and in other parts of the world.

“These experts are strictly supervising the drilling operations of the Biliran geothermal project in Biliran province” Oraa informed.

He added that personnel from the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also conducted random visits to the geothermal project site to ensure environmental safety of the project.

Personnel from the provincial office of the Biliran-DENR also conducted regular visits to the BGI geothermal project, he further informed.

“All activities regarding the implementation of the Biliran geothermal project undergo thorough scrutiny, inspection and approval by concerned government agencies and stakeholders” Oraa emphasized

He disclosed that BGI was able to accomplish approximately 500 meters since it started the drilling operation on the second week of October, this year.

DOE only allowed BGI to drill 2.4 kilometers at the maximum per hole to be drilled or lesser if the geothermal source will be hit immediately during the drilling, he said.

He also clarified that the capacity of the geothermal source that will be obtained from the drilling of the first hole will be deducted from the 49 megawatts applied by BGI to the DOE in its project pursuant to the exploratory drilling permit granted. (PIA 8 Biliran)

by: Flordelis E. Jackson

NAVAL, Biliran – The Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO), Incorporated headed by Marlon Roa, General Manager (GM) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) bared its accomplishments on the on-going 3-phase line repair and rehabilitation activities after super typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas including the island province of Biliran.

In a report rendered by Carlitus Cae Casinillo, Operations Maintenance and Special Equipment Supervisor of BILECO, he informed that of the 1,266 total number of 3-phase structures of BILECO provincewide, 331 were damaged.

He said, the damaged structures represent 26.15% of the total number of 3-phase structures.

He added that of the 331 damaged structures, 297 have already been reapired or an accomplishment of 89.73% as of Monday, December 2, 2013.

For Area-1 (Biliran town-Brgy.Mapuyo, Kawayan) covering the areas of Biliran-Bato; Bato-Sabang; Sabang-Tabunan North and Tabunan North-Villa Cornejo in Kawayan town of the 603 total number of 3-phase structures, 181 were damaged, he said.

As of December 2, 2013, 165 structures have already been repaired or an accomplishment of 91.16%.

On the other hand, Area-2 (Biliran-Villa Corneja, Kawayan) covering substation – Julita; Julita-Salawad; Salawad-Tanghas Tomalistis; Tanghas Tomalistis-Salvacion and Salvacion-Villa Cornejo in Kawayan town, of the 663 total number of structures, 150 were damaged and as of now, 132 structures have already been repaired or an accomplishment of 88%.

Mr. Casinillo in his report disclosed that the town proper of the municipalities of Naval, Almeria, Kawayan, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba and Biliran are now ready to receive power from the source.

In an earlier interview with GM Marlon Roa, he said, their target days to light up poblacion Naval, the capital town of Biliran province is before Christmas, this year, however, he informed that this will depend on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Ormoc where BILECO gets the source of power. (PIA 8 Biliran)

by: Mary Lailani Pitao-Tupaz

NAVAL, Biliran – Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Biliran Provincial Office is set to receive eight units of chain saw this week from their Central Office to assist coconut farmers rebuild their houses.

Adem Atuel, Provincial Manager of PCA-Biliran, informed that the distribution of chain saws to the provincial offices in Region 8 is under PCA’s Coconut Shelter Assistance Program that aims to help hapless coconut farmers reconstruct their houses which were totally damaged by the devastating Typhoon Yolanda.

Typhoon Yolanda hardly hit Eastern Visayas including Biliran province.

The municipalities of Cabucgayan, Biliran, and Naval of the province of Biliran suffered heavy damages from Yolanda.

Atuel said that under the program, PCA will provide the chain saw, fuel and operator to make lumber out of fallen coconut trees to be used by coconut farmers in reconstructing their damaged abode.

The beneficiaries who own fallen coconut trees or have solicited fallen coconut trees from its owners or have bought fallen coconut trees for their own use may apply at their respective PCA offices for immediate assistance once the units arrive in their office.

The PCA Provincial Chief coordinated with the local chief executives of the eight municipalities of the province for the provision of fallen coconut trees for coconut farmers who don’t have coconut trees.

Atuel also coordinated with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices for the list of totally damaged houses particularly those of the coconut farmers.

PCA-Biliran made a conservative estimate of P300 million in damage to coconut trees in the entire province of Biliran as an effect of typhoon Yolanda.

The province of Biliran has an estimated 22,800 hectares of land planted to coconut trees, according to Atuel. # (PIA 8 Biliran)

by: Flordelis E. Jackson

NAVAL, Biliran – The Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO), Incorporated is now ready to receive power from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Ormoc after conducting repair and rehabilitation activities of their 3-phase structures that were damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in November 8.

This was revealed by Marlon Roa, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of BILECO in an interview.

“Actually, BILECO was ready to receive power in November 30 yet, 12 days after the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, but we were just waiting for NGCP to supply us with power”, GM Roa said.

He informed that BILECO is already done with the repair and rehabilitation of the backbone structures in its area of coverage.

He added that the repair crew of BILECO assigned in different areas of their coverage are now working on the secondary lines going to the barangays.

GM Roa informed that repair and rehabilitation of the 69 KV line from Lemon to Biliran is currently undertaken by the NGCP.

“NGCP of North and South Luzon were tapped to do the restoration work. Twelve trucks complete with crew, equipment and materials needed were brought in here to fastrack the rehabilitation and restoration work”, he said.

“The tentative date of NGCP to complete the repair of the 69 KV line and supply power to BILECO is on Sunday, December 8, 2013”, he said further.

It was learned that BILECO has 1,266 3-phase structures in its coverage area of which 331 were damaged by typhoon Yolanda. The percentage of damage is 26.15%.

According to the report from BILECO, as of December 2, the total number of repaired structures are 297 and percentage of accomplishment is 89.73%. (PIA 8 Biliran)

By: Flordelis E. Jackson

NAVAL, Biliran – Biliranons trooped to the Naval port area, the venue of the Diskwento Caravan to avail of the discounted prices of basic necessities and prime commodities since yesterday, Thursday, December 5 until today, Friday, December 6.

The two-day caravan is conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enable consumers in the area to avail of discounted commodities offered for sale compared to grocery stores and other outlets in the locality selling the same items.

In an interview, Engr. Celerina Bato, Provincial Director of DTI-Biliran, informed that three companies are participating in the Diskwento Caravan and these are the Unilever, Philippines; Nestle Philippines and RVDI, which sells corned beef, luncheon meat and other processed meat products.

On sale at the Diskwento Caravan, Engr. Bato said, are milk products, laundry soap, coffee, processed foods, and other basic necessities, among others.

“Actually, the Diskwento Caravan is set for only one day, however, due to strong public demand, we extended the activity for another day, which is today, Friday, December 6”, she said further.

The Diskwento Caravan which ends at 5:00 o’clock this afternoon, gives the consumers the opportunity to purchase more because of the discounted items offered for sale by the participating companies to Biliranons who were also affected and victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

It was learned that in Biliran province, there were 25,154 families with 25,154 persons affected by typhoon Yolanda.

A total of 5,444 houses were totally damaged while 16,552 houses were partially damaged, according to the final report rendered by the Biliran Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr.

Engr. Bato is encouraging the consumers in the eight municipalities of Biliran to do their shopping early to avoid the rush towards closing time this afternoon. (PIA 8 Biliran)

BY: RODRIGO VICTORIA

NAVAL, Biliran – Seven towns in Biliran province are now ready to receive electricity as of December 9, based on the post of the Facebook page of the Biliran Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (Bileco).

The seven towns that are ready to receive power are Biliran, Naval, Almeria, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran and Cabucgayan, the Bileco FB posted.

“We are just waiting for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to complete the rehab in the 69kv Lemon-Biliran line” the Bileco FB page informed.

The Bileco FB page disclosed that the accomplishment of the NGCP rehabilitation and repair of the 69KV Lemon-Biliran power line is already at 85% as of December 9 through the information relayed by Engr. Lope L. Cañete.

There was a slowdown of work due to steep and mountainous terrain where the remaining 15% damaged line is located particularly in barangays Baco, Palarao, Kawayan, Luy-a, Tinucdugan and Bachao, all located in Leyte towns, the Bileco FB page further informed.

The crew working in the 69KV Milagro-Ormoc line which is expected to complete the rehab today will augment the Lemon-Biliran NGCP team to fast-track the rehabilitation efforts, it posted.

It added that the Bileco crew are presently working for the lateral and secondary lines of the cooperative in the entire coverage area of Biliran province.

However, the Bileco FB page categorically stated that there was yet no definite date and time as to when power will be restored in the province. (PIA 8 Biliran)

By Mary Lailani Pitao-Tupaz

NAVAL, Biliran – With Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO), Incorporated member-consumers’ long wait for power restoration in Biliran province, today may be their much awaited day.

In a mobile phone interview with Engr. Gerardo Oledan, Technical Manager for Engineering of BILECO, he said that as per information from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) crew working along Lemon-Biliran lines, they will try to energize the 69kv Lemon-Biliran lines today.

If electric power from NGCP becomes available today, BILECO is prepared to receive power to supply the main backbones to the seven municipalities of Biliran, Naval. Almeria, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, and Cabucgayan.

Engr. Oldean added that some barangays especially those along the highway may also be provided with the power supply if there are no problems with their electrical lines and connections.

In a separate interview with Marlon Roa, General Manager of Biliran Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BILECO), advised all member-consumers to have their electric lines after the meter going to their household connections checked by accredited electricians in preparation for the restoration of electric power supply in the province of Biliran to avoid possible sparks or fire. # (PAI 8 Biliran)

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by: Rodrigo S. Victoria

TACLOBAN CITY – The spokesperson of the Task Force Yolanda here in Eastern Visayas disclosed in a radio program that the situation in Tacloban City and other parts of the Eastern Visayas region hit by the super typhoon Yolanda is slowly going back to normal.

Captain Amado Gutierrez, who is also the spokesman of the 8th ID of the Philippine Army, gave the positive feedback of the present situation on the ground to local radio program anchors Leo Ladan and Fred Padernos as program hosts of the Philippine Information Agency’s Power FM station based at the Task Force Yolanda Command Center here recently.

Gutierrez informed that the present situation now in areas in EV hit by the super typhoon is good and the outlook of the people is now slowly going back to normal after the devastation of Yolanda.

“The over-all picture of the security situation in Tacloban City and the other affected areas in the region is good and I hope the situation would continue” the AFP spokesperson revealed.

He said the AFP contingent that led Task Force Yolanda in Region 8 will still continue to help the affected local government units especially in the distribution of relief goods to their affected constituents.

He emphasized that the AFP troops will continue helping the affected LGUs in their relief distribution and will only stop if the LGUs can already stand on their own in their relief efforts.

He happily informed based on their rounds on the ground that some streetlights in Tacloban are already functioning and some makeshift markets began to sell goods to the public.

“From a very hard and depressing situation since the start of the operation of Task Force Yolanda on November 9 in Region 8, the affected areas now start to go back to its normal state’”Gutierrez said.(PIA 8)

Dearest Friends, Benefactors, Sponsors, Bloggers, Visitors, and fellow Biliranons;

A call to action:

A month after killer typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) wreck havoc in parts of Central and Eastern Visayas, particularly our very own province Biliran, were thousands of innocent lives perished. Despite the overflowing and enormous generosity they receive from private individuals and corporations, Local and National Government, and International Community, we at biliranisland.com could still hear their desperate scream for immediate and continuous help and support for them to recover from that devastation.

In line with the annual gift giving and sharing and bundles of joy which the biliranisland.com religiously do, we once again seeks your bounteousness , asks for your kindness, share your abundant blessing to those who were greatly affected by the typhoon, in kind and in cash.

May those who receives more gives more, let us once again joined hands and be the one to let them feel that Christmas is still a season for giving, a time for joy, and a period of love and hope.

For donations you may contact the administrator Marlon “Jalmz” Mecaral @ +639192694562 or email at admin@biliranisland.com.

Rest assured that all donations and contributions will surely reach the intended beneficiary and will be fully accounted for.

Once again thank you for your bigheartedness,
Kristin S. Ceniza
spokesperson

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Anthony Marlon Mecaral
BiliranIsland.com administrator

List of Donors as of: 11:53 am 12/19/2013
Andrea Mecaral Simon and Family: 10,000
Lourdes Matsumoto: 5,000
Marcela & Peter Fieldus: 5,000
Vivi Dublin and Dennis Bryan: 100 USD

BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 11:57:00 12/17/2013

TIMELINE

Dec. 16, 2013 12:00 AM. Some parts of Naval are already lighted by Bileco.
- BiliranIsland.com

Dec. 15, 2013 8:00 PM. Brgy. San Roque, in poblacion of Biliran town, now lighted. Naval and other towns, not yet.

By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy (DOE) said it was on track to meet the Dec. 24 target to restore electricity in Yolanda-hit areas and to light up major city and town centers as promised by the country’s energy chief.

“As of Saturday, there were still 40 towns out of 258 that were unenergized,” Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said via text. “We are on track but it’s still eight days to go. I could still lose my job.”

Earlier this month, Petilla vowed to quit his post if city and town centers weren’t lit by Dec. 24. He later said he made the “bet” so that people would have something to hope for and not resort to further looting and disorder, as reported in media.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), which operates the country’s transmission superhighway, said that as of Dec. 15, only the Leyte Electric Cooperative (Leyeco) III had not been reconnected to the grid among the cooperatives/distribution utilities in Eastern Visayas.

Joseph Ferdinand M. Dechavez, special assistant to NGCP president Henry Sy Jr., said the Milagro-Lemon-Biliran 69kV line was energized on Dec. 15 and the Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco), which serves the island of Biliran, had been reconnected.

“Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (Esamelco), Don Orestes Romuladez Electric Cooperative (Dorelco) and Leyeco V are partially connected. Transmission lines serving the rest of the cooperatives and utilities in Eastern Visayas are fully operational,” said NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza.

The cost of restoring the power transmission and distribution lines in typhoon-hit areas of the Visayas was estimated to reach P6.5 billion. This excludes expenses for the deployment of generator sets.

According to the DOE, around 50 percent of power supply and distribution facilities had been restored as of Dec. 3.
Petilla said Tacloban City might have power services restored by Dec. 24 while other parts of Leyte as well as Eastern Samar might have to wait longer for transmission and distribution facilities to get back online.

“If it’s possible we want the restoration to be even earlier than Dec. 24 because historically Eastern Visayas gets struck with typhoons every December,” Petilla said.

The fuel supply has likewise improved, Petilla said, as more gasoline stations had opened. “More than 70 percent of gasoline stations in the Visayas are back in operation,” he said.

by: Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran – The People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network Incorporated (PDRRN) and the provincial government of Biliran signed an agreement which officially starts the collaborative efforts of extending humanitarian assistance to reduce the sufferings of the most vulnerable and affected households in the province by Typhoon Yolanda.

The humanitarian assistance undertaking is a multi-stakeholders project in partnership with the Church World Service (CWS)-Asia Pacific and the funding support through AmeriCares of USA; Development and Peace of Canada; Mennonites Central Committee of USA and the Peace Boat of Japan.

The ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the PDRRN and the provincial government of Biliran was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the provincial capitol.

Signing the MOA were Biliran Vice-Governor Eriberto D. Tubis, Jr. who represented Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. and Esteban Masagca, executive director representing the PDRRN.

Also present during the ceremonial signing were Emmeline U. Managbanag of CWS-Asia Pacific, Flordeliza G. Trani, Biliran provincial social welfare and development officer (PSWDO) od Biliran, Caibiran Mayor Eulalio Maderazo, Cabucgayan Mayor Gemma G. Adobo, representatives from the international organizations involved in the humanitarian assistance and the barangay captains of the identified recipient barangays of the humanitarian assistance in the province.

The agreement stipulates for the provision of non-food items such as starter kits and home return kits; shelter materials targeting the vulnerable and most affected families and communities from the municipalities of Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran and Naval.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the PDRRN informed that the humanitarian assistance will focus more on the provision of shelter assistance that will cost the household-beneficiary some P4,000 such as sheets of galvanized iron, umbrella nails, nails and sealants including home starter kits such as kitchen wares and utensils to more than 1,000 most affected families in the 15 hardly-hit barangays in the four identified towns in the province.

It was learned that part of the criteria set for every household to qualify as beneficiary of the humanitarian assistance are the following: house is totally damaged based on the actual validation of the barangay shelter committee composed of barangay health workers, barangay council and representatives from the donor organizations; has a person with disability (PWD) as member of the household ; has a senior citizen as member of the household ; has no regular source of income and has three children up in the family. (PIA 8 Biliran)

by: Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran – The top official of the tourism industry here in Eastern Visayas remained optimistic as she said in a radio interview that “there is always something positive” after super typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban City, the capital of Leyte including other key tourism destinations like the historical town of Palo, in Leyte.

Karina Rosa S. Tiopes, regional director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 8, emphasized in her radio interview over PIA Power FM radio station with Neil Moraleta about the challenges of the tourism industry in the region after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda on November 8.

Tiopes said, the region now gradually draws tourists after Yolanda, stressing that these local and foreign tourists want to see what happened in areas that were severely devastated by the super typhoon”.

Their visit is a good learning experience and for them to observe, how the values of the people affected in the region helped them cope up and rise from the devastating effect of Yolanda, Tiopes added.

She is also contemplating on discussing with the local communities on how to turn the devastation into promising tourism attractions in the region.

“Maybe we have to come up with the establishment of memorial parks and markers” she disclosed as come on to tourists to visit the sites where thousands of people perished and interesting view like that of big ships that ran aground in residential areas in one of the barangays in the city of Taclpban.

She already heard of the plan of an architect to design a memorial park in Tanauan, Leyte as a way of remembering the residents of the town who died due to super typhoon Yolanda.

“If many people went to Guinsaugon to offer prayers to the victims of the tragic landslide that also killed many people, maybe more people will come to offer prayers to the hardly hit areas where thousands have perished” the DOT chief stressed.

She added that the department will also repackage the tourism capabilities of the provinces in Region 8 not affected by Yolanda like Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, part of Samar and Biliran to make it attractive to tourists.

She also informed that the best way to attract tourist is to inculcate in them the spirit of volunteerism which is really a big help in rebuilding the region from the devastating effect of Yolanda.

The lady regional tourism chief also revealed that DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez who is scheduled to visit the region by January of next year is committed in helping the tourism industry of the region as the secretary has proposals already in mind for funding.

Tiopes further informed that she already approached the chairman of Barangay Bel-Air and the president of the Women of Bel-Air for possible sources of funds of the department in rebuilding the tourism industry in the region. (PIA 8 Biliran)

BiliranIsland.com Staff
Photos by Jalmz
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 11:24:00 12/24/2013

The prices of goods are high, but residents buy them for their Christmas feasts.

List of prices.
Lechon Manok 320
Pork 200 per kilo
Chicken 170 per kilo
Beef 300 per kilo
Mango 80 per kilo
Commercial rice 42 per kilo
Egg 10
Bangus 160 per kilo
Malasugi/Tangigi 240 per kilo
Lagaw 160 per kilo
Malatindok 100 to 80 per kilo
1.5 coke 65

Long lines at ATM machines in Naval, many people at the market, readying for tonight’s Christmas feast.

Also long lines for claiming remittances from money couriers. Photo by Jalmz

Prices are truly high. Lechon manok costs P320 in Naval. Photo by Jalmz

No firecrackers being sold at Naval terminal. Less explosions heard, only from lantaka ra or improvised lantaka.

Prince Naval
Dec 24, 2013 8 am

Padre Inocentes St. Naval, Biliran
Dec 24, 2013 9 am

BiliranIsland.com Staff
Photos by Jalmz
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 20:39:00 01/22/2014

New Zealand ambassador Reuben Levermore expresses his symphaty to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in the province of Biliran in a press conference held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall on Wednesday, January 22. He supports the long term commitment of Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) in generating more jobs and the energy needs for the people of Biliran.

Video:

New Zealand Amb. to the Phil. Reuben Levermore; Eirikur Bragasson, CEO of ORKA Energy; and reps. from the Dept. of Energy are expected to visit Biliran prov. today, Wed., Jan 22, said Atty. Thea Gicela Nueve-Zamora, Legal & Office Mgr. and Mark Oraa ComRel of Bilran Geothermal, Inc. (BGI). They informedthat a press conf. is set at 2pm today at the SP SHall to focus on the Biliran Geo Project of BGI.

Arrived at the Biliran Airport in Naval at 8:00 am today were New Zealand Amb. to the Phil. Reuben Levermore; Eirikur Bragasson, CEO of ORKA Energy; and representatives from the Dept. of Energy.

BGI guests now visiting and welcomed at NSU.

Presscon with BGI guests at SP Session Hall, 2.00 pm.

Biliran Geothermal Project History

BGI presscon has started at SP Hall, attended by members of SP, academe and media.

According to Eirikur Bragasson, CEO of ORKA Energy, Biliran will have the most advanced geothermal power plant in Asia.

According to Mario Marasigan, chief of the Renewable Energy Bureau of DOE, Biliran has a good source of geothermal energy.

According to Eirikur, BGI can provide electric power in approximately 2 years thru the provide geothermal power plant. BGI assures that they can give lower electricity cost.