NAVAL, Biliran, July 17 (DPWH-BDEO) – P100M project of road opening and concreting of access road going to Germohenes Waterfalls in Biliran, Biliran has started construction.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) implemented the project under its 2018 Local Infrastructure Program (LIP) with a total length of 2.9-kilometers.
According to David P. Adongay Jr., District Engineer the project covers the construction of 100- meter length spillway and a rehabilitation of 60-meter existing local road that was washed out by tropical storm Urduja late last year.
From its construction date on June 3, 2018, the project has accomplished 3% as of June 30, 2018. Road excavation works is on-going on the said project. It is under contract with Samarinan Construction and Development Corp. and EZJones Construction Inc., a joint venture firm.
Adongay said that the completion of the project will reduce the walking time from 4-5 hours to just 30 minutes to reach the beautiful Germohenes Waterfalls.
Biliran is known as an island of waterfalls with more than 30 waterfalls in its mountainous province.
The road opening and concreting of access road project going to Germohenes Waterfalls will add another tourist destination in the Province of Biliran that will encourage more local and foreign tourists to visit the place. The project is proposed to be completed in January 28, 2019.
Meanwhile, Adongay reported that under its 2018 project implementation, Biliran DEO has completed nine projects with 38 on-going and 13 Not-Yet-Started (NYS) projects with an overall accomplishment of 29.49% as of June 30, 2018. Biliran DEO has a total projects of 60 with a budget amount of P1.6B under the General Appropriation Act (GAA) of year 2018. (cheqs)
SOGOD, Southern Leyte – Eastern Visayas has the most number of learning sites and schools for practical agriculture.
This was revealed by Director Vilma Patindol of the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 8 (ATI RTC 8) during gathering of organic farming practitioners and stakeholders in the recently held 4th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress in this town.
Farm schools serve as venue for demonstration and promotion of sustainable agriculture through organic farming.
Canaan Hill Farms and Honey Garden from Caibiran, Biliran, which won as the ‘Outstanding Organic Farming Family category’ is now on their 7th batch in training farmers under the iniative of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to introduce organic farming skills.
They are currently training members of Mamanwa tribe who live in an upland community found at the foot of Mount Panamao in Barangay Caucab, Almeria, Biliran.
It is the first accredited farm school of TESDA in Eastern Visayas and it’s only farm school in Biliran province owned by the Espinazo family.
“Being a farm school of TESDA in Biliran province is a great help to the farm and to our fellow farmers who want to know the organic way of farming,” shared Jeffrey Espinazo, manager of Canaan Hill Farms and Honey Garden.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the committee on agriculture and food, and environment and natural resources earlier stressed the importance of supporting agriculture to solve poverty in rural lands.
“We have discovered that there are enough lands, ang problema is the technology and mechanization doon tayo hindi magaling that is why we are building farm schools,” she told reporters.
She added that they have convinced 1,955 farms to become farm schools to be accredited with TESDA so they would pay for their students’ tuition.
“After all it is a business, it is not just being a farmer, it is agribusiness so we have to upgrade our farming,” Villar noted.
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 07:14 PM July 18, 2018
Last Updated 09:18 PM July 18, 2018
Naval, Biliran – An alleged drug pusher was shot and killed by a joint force of Biliran PPO PDEU (Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit) and Naval PS DEU (Drug Enforcement Unit) during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Atipolo here around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 18, 2018.
Rogelio Vaporoso Caparro, 34, resident of Brgy. Sampao, Almeria, Biliran was in the police drug watch list. He attempted to flee using a motorcycle when he sensed that the buyer was an undercover policeman.
Caparro suffered fatal bullet wounds after he attempted to draw out his pistol. He was rushed to the Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH) where he was declared dead in arrival (DOA) around 3:55 p.m.
Authorities recovered 5 sachets of alleged illegal substance and 500 pesos marked money.
He is the first Police Anti Drug Operation casualty in Biliran since the start of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 10:41 AM July 21, 2018
Naval, Biliran – Walay mahitabo nga geothermal exploration sa lungsod sa Almeria. – Almeria Mayor Richard Jaguros, Cong. Rogelio Espina and Gov. Gerardo Espina.
This early, some residents of Higatangan Island have already in mind the influx of local and foreign tourists.
This shall follow with the full operation of the Higatangan Micro-Grid project that is expected to serve the power needs of the island, known for its shifting powdery sand bar.
“Tourists arrivals will definitely increase,” said Burthon B. Montes, a tourism student of Naval State University and a resident of barangay Mabini, one of the two barangays of Higatangan Island in Naval town.
Two years back, Naval Mayor Gerard Espina launched his brainchild, the Higatangan Summer Festival, and since then, the island has continuously drew visitors from far and near.
For Leah Pepito, also a resident of barangay Mabini, the OFWs residing in the island have already plans to put up businesses like restaurants, more accommodation facilities, snack bars, karaoke bars, and more that will cater to the needs of both local and foreign tourists.
The Higatangan Micro-Grid Project
“The estimated start of the actual operation of the Higatangan Micro-Grid Project is on October 2018,” Maureen D. Nierra, BILECO internal auditor said in her project overview during the recent ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies in Barangay Mabini where the project will be established.
Groundbreaking of the Higatangan Micro-Grid Project.
Nierra narrated some top officials of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the ELT Co., Ltd., a Korean company, visited the island for the possible establishment of the second micro-grid project in the Philippines. The first micro-grid project was established in 2016 in Cobrador Island in Romblon.
After the receipt of the donation proposal on October 27, 2017 from the ELT Co. Ltd and from the Korean Government, BILECO was able to comply all the necessary documents for the project including the purchase of lot in the amount of P1.5 million as part and parcel of BILECO’s counterpart for the project, the young lady internal auditor of BILECO reported.
The donated equipment will be shipped from Busan, Korea on the first week of September and is expected to arrive at Higatangan Island within the month Nierra added.
“ELT Korea and its partners will arrive in Biliran province this month of September and will be staying in Higatangan Islandfor for 10 days for the commissioning of the donated equipment and training of BILECO personnel who will take charge of the micro-grid project,” Nierra said.
The donated micro-grid project has a total cost of P15,217,000.00 consisting of the following equipment: 10-KW power solar panel photovoltaic, 50-KW power control system, 50-KV diesel generator, and 20-KWH plus 16-KWH extra energy storage system.
It’s more fun in Higatangan
BILECO General Manager Gerardo N. Oledan expressed elation, while delivering his welcome message, because the only electric cooperative in Biliran province will embark another milestone of providing 24-hour power service, this time in partnership with a Korean firm and the Korean Government, to an island with promising tourism potential.
“The more than 300 households of the island provided by BILECO’s power services, will now enjoy the 24 hours service,” Oledan assured adding this will make more fun to the island residents.
It was learned that the island has only five hours of electricity service daily from 5 o’clock in the afternoon to 10 o’clock in the evening.
For his part, Naval Mayor Gerard Roger M. Espina said the 24-hour electricity will surely complement in making the tourism activities in the island attuned to the tourism slogan, ”It’s More Fun in the Philippines” wherein more fun will now eventually take place in Higatangan.
Aside from the famous shifting sand bar, Higatangan has now the Capella Del Mar, the first man-made underwater chapel; the soon to be experienced cliff diving, and the plan of making Higatangan an excursion site with more added fun-filled and relaxing activities good for vacationing families, according to Mayor Espina.
Truly, the 24-hour power service is what all awaits in the island. (LDLRSV/PIA8-Biliran)
NAVAL, Biliran– Aimed to stave off criminals in the community, the Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO) Ladies Club recently launched the Lady Bike Patrollers.
PCI Lilibeth Morillo, BPPO police community relations chief and president of the Lady Bike Patrollers, informed that the group is composed of more than 50 lady police personnel and non-uniformed personnel (NUP).
It aims to roam around the community and nearby establishments particularly schools to interact and observe behaviors in the community which could possibly result to criminal activities.
Dating in dark secluded places of youngsters had been reported to the police which can be a risky behaviour among the youths.
Overloaded vehicles, minors who are driving, and smoking in public places are a few more violations that the lady cops target to curb or better yet to cut.
The Lady Bike Patrollers visit communities during daytime especially during end of school classes in response to reports that some exhibitionists, likewise, are waiting in less populated streets showing off their private parts to passing school girls, according to Morillo.
The lady cops, which held its launching on August 28, visited and distributed flyers in Western Biliran High School for the Arts and Culture (WeBHSAC) in Brgy. Tamarindo, Almeria, and at the Naval School of Fisheries in Naval town.
The activity was a prelude to the observance of the crime prevention week celebration on September 1-7.
BPPO-PCR also launched last year the “Patrolya ni Aleng Pulis” which is a mobile patrol composed of lady police personnel, unlike the Lady Bike Patroller, the Patrolya ni Aleng Pulis patrolling is done at night using police vehicle with less interaction with the community unlike the Bike Patroller, Morillo added. (LDL/MLT/PIA8-Biliran)
BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 10:24 AM 09/09/2018
Caibiran, Biliran – A job order employee of the Department of Public Works and Highways was arrested by elements of Caibiran police station and PDEA BPO in a buy-bust operation on Saturday, September 8.
Arrested was Wilfredo Riel Hierro, 59 years old, job order employee of DPWH, and a resident of Barangay Uson in Caibiran, Biliran.
Caibiran police was able to buy from Hierro one heat sealed plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu.
Recovered from the suspect is one piece Five Hundred Peso bill and another one heat sealed of transparent sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu thrown by the suspect. – BiliranIsland.com
By Raquel Atok
Photos by NAVRU
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 10:23 AM 09/10/2018
Naval, Biliran – Driving under the influence of alcohol resulted to a casualty with one dead and one injured in Sitio San Juan, Brgy. Capiñahan, Naval, Biliran around 12:10 A. M., midnight of September 10.
Jessie Jarge Villabane, 30 years old, male, single, laborer, and the driver of the motorcycle was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician Dr. Edgardo Nierras.
On the other hand, Abrigo Regodo, 44 years old, married, also a laborer, and the former’s back rider is alive but obtained injuries on different parts of the body.
Both the victims reside in Brgy. Villaconsuelo, Naval, Biliran.
PINSP Antonio Salas, Jr., together with PO3 Alexander Mejia and PO1 Larry Abad, found out in their initial investigation that the victims were under the influence of liquor while driving from Brgy. Villaconsuelo heading to Naval proper. Upon reaching the place of incident, which was a curve lane, they fell on the the pavement obtaining a heavy blow.
Responding police officers received the call of a concerned citizen around 12:45 A. M.
NAVAL, Biliran –– National Food Authority (NFA) rice is now available in Biliran market.
Biliran province has received a total of 3,229 bags of NFA rice which were distributed to accredited retailers and outlets, Provincial Manager Ma. Rosario Cadiz said.
Cadiz said the initial NFA rice received, comparable to commercial rice in quality, reached their office via Tacloban and Ormoc, this is part of the 30,000 bags allocated for NFA-Biliran until 2019.
However, the sghe said only the P32/kilo NFA rice is sold in Biliran market at the moment since the P27/kilo rice is allocated for the Tagpuan Rice Response Delivery (TRRD) program for the poorest of the poor in the community.
She said two accredited cooperatives, the Biliran Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. and the Naval Municipal Employees Association, will sell the TRRD stocks in remote barangays identified by the Social Welfare and Development Office.
Meanwhile, Cadiz reminded the rice retailers to renew and revalidate their licenses, install their signboards, rice box, rice tags, and weighing scale with metal plate as mandated by NFA.
NFA-Biliran accredited retailers are allocated 10 bags of NFA rice every week in support to NFA’s thrust of continuous supply of quality and cheap rice affordable for the poor families.
Currently, NFA-Biliran receives 400 bags of rice everyday from NFA-Ormoc except on Sundays, according to Cadiz.
Cadiz was guest at the PIA Kapihan radio program on September 4 and discussed updates on the current programs being implemented by NFA. (NBQ/MLT/PIA-8, Biliran)
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 07:05 AM 09/13/2018
Naval, Biliran – All mayors of Biliran province have suspended classes at all levels today due to Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut).
Here is a list of areas where classes have been suspended for Thursday, September 13, 2018.
Naval
Almeria
Kawayan
Caibiran
Biliran
Cabucgayan
Maripipi
Culaba
Fishermen and others with small sea vessels are also advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Bicol and Eastern Visayas due to moderate to rough waters.
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 09:29 PM 09/13/2018
Last Updated 06:30 AM 09/14/2018
NAVAL, Biliran – Here is a list of towns where classes have been suspended on Friday, September 14, 2018, due to Super Typhoon Ompong and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 08:15 PM 09/17/2018
Almeria, Biliran – A Department of Public Works and Highway job order employee who allegedly sold illegal substance to an undercover agent was arrested in a joint sting operation by the Almeria Police led by PSI Kim Windell Montilla and PDEA BPO.
Dave Docallos Juntilla, 36 and a resident of Barangay Matango, Almeria was arrested after he allegedly sold Php 500 worth of suspected shabu in the Barangay Health Center of Matango around 6:30 pm of September 17, 2018.
The police seized four sachets of suspected shabu and the 500- peso marked money.
The suspect is now detained by Almeria PNP, while charges for the violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are prepared against him. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 10:45 PM 09/20/2018
NAVAL, Biliran – The whole area coverage of Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO) may experience power interruption lasting up to 12 hours starting early Saturday, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said.
In an advisory, the NGCP said the interruption will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2018.
NGCP said this is scheduled maintenance, for relocation of structures,replacement of wooden poles with steel poles and conversion of structures. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
Photo by Yonelyn Caparro Amador
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 03:21 PM 09/26/2018
Almeria, Biliran – Two persons succumbed to fatal injuries following a collision between a motorcycle and an SUV along the national road in Upper Looc, Almeria, Biliran this 26th of September 2018 at 11:20 am.
Photo by Yonelyn Caparro Amador
Officers who responded to the accident reported that the victims were Rosita Jabuen and Nicasio Caparro Sale, 55, both residents of Barangay Talahid.
Photo by Yonelyn Caparro Amador
According to initial investigation, the victims were riding on a red and black Honda motorcycle with plate number 9539 HC and traveling to Kawayan when it was bumped by a white Mitsubishi Pajero with plate number YDV951, traveling in the opposite direction. The car was driven by Timoteo Amoroto, 63, retired post master and a resident of Brgy. Bool, Culaba.
Photo by Yonelyn Caparro AmadorPhoto by Yonelyn Caparro Amador
Both riders were thrown upon impact and were rushed by the emergency responders to the Biliran Provincial Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 08:43 PM 01/01/2018
NAVAL, Biliran – Salatiel Amit, a native of this town, never failed the thousand of his fellow Navalenos who watched live at the jampacked Naval Gymnasium, as he bagged the championship belt in the bantamweight division of the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF).
Amit, a resident of Sitio Lomboy in Barangay Calumpang, knocled down (pangalan sa kontra) in the second round of the PBF boxing championship held this town.
The boxing championship fight is the first professional boxing fight held in this town.
The first professional boxing fight is one of the crowd-drawing sports activities brought in by Naval Mayor Gerard Roger M. Espina to the public, aside from the equally crowd-drawing volleyball and basketball events held also at the Naval Gymnasium.
The staging of sports events is one of the crowd-drawers held in line with the town’s fiesta celebration in honor of the Patroness, Nuestra Senora Virgen Del Rosario on October 5-6, 2018. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 10:37 AM 10/06/2018
Naval, Biliran – Joint operatives of Biliran PDEU, Naval PS DEU in coordination with PDEA RO8 arrested one suspect in Sto. Nino, Naval in October 3, 2018.
The suspect Adonis Arrogante Abana also known as “Banzon”, 43 yrs old, working as dispatcher and a resident of Sto. Nino, Naval was apprehended after the entrapment operation.
One sachet of suspected shabu and Php 1000 marked money was seized from Banzon. He is now facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 11:11 AM 10/06/2018
Naval, Biliran – A road rage brawl broke out during the vesper night of the Holy Rosary Town Fiesta of Naval.
Concerned citizens reported the incident to the police station when they witnessed Pablito Calio Perez, 43, businessman, assaulting Eniceto Espejo Vicera, 53, pedicab driver. Both are residing in Caneja Extension.
Vicera said that the brawl ensued when he refused to carry Perez in his pedicab, citing that he had no dinner yet.
Both parties were brought to the Naval Police Station, where an amicable settlement was reached. – BiliranIsland.com
By BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 04:52 PM 10/11/2018
KAWAYAN, Biliran – With the unrelenting drive of the PNP against the illegal drug activity in the province of Biliran, a Navaleno was arrested in a buy bust operation in Kawayan town.
The joint operation of the BPPO drug enforcement unit and Kawayan police station led to the arrest of Jake Castin Delfin, a resident of Naval.
Delfin was arrested early morning of October 9, 2018 in the national highway of Barangay Buyo, Kawayan.
The very first bridge widening project implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) has started its construction at Brgy. Looc, Almeria, Biliran along Biliran Circumferential Road (BCR).
Clearing of construction site is now on-going after mobilizing the equipments and materials for the said project.
The widening of the P21.9M Looc Bridge involves the construction of two additional lanes of the bridge with a width of 3.66-meter, one lane on each side of the 24-meter length existing bridge.
It was prioritized because the approach road of the bridge going to Kawayan, Biliran side was already widened.
The said network development project is designed to accommodate more traffic volume and provide a wider and safer roads for the increasing vehicular users along BCR.
When completed, at least 5000 vehicular road users is expected to benefit on this project.
According to District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr., this will be fast-tracked for completion before its expiry date on January 29, 2019.
This is the second bridge widening project implemented in this province. The first bridge widening is Anas Bridge in Naval, Biliran which is presently implemented by the DPWH Regional Office under FY 2017 budget. (cheqs/rbr/bilirandeo)
