Office of the Governor, Provincial Capitol Building, Naval, Province of Biliran 6543 Tel. Nos. (053) 500-9021 Telefax Nos. (053) 541-9881 Click here to send us email

FAST FACTS ABOUT BILIRAN

Biliran, an island province basking in natural splendor and teeming with natural resources, is located 1,115 km southwest of Manila. It belongs to the Eastern Visayas Region, and it became a regular province in May 1992.

The province has 8 municipalities and 132 barangays, with Naval as the capital town. The total land area is 55,542 ha., of which 60% is considered alienable and disposable while the remaining 40% are made of forestland. Biliran is strategically located. One can easily reach the place via a 1-hour plane ride from Manila to Tacloban and 2 ½ hours from Tacloban to Naval by land. Or one can board the fast ferry in Cebu City and reach Ormoc City in 2 hours, and then take the land trip to Naval.

UTILITIES

POWER SUPPLY

The NPC Geothermal Plant in Tongonan, Leyte supplies the energy needed by the province through the Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO). BILECO has energized 96% of the barangays. Power supply is estimated to be 3.5 megawatts; the demand over the past few years is a little over 2 MW.

WATER SUPPLY

Forty-four percent of the total households are served by Level 3 systems (individual household connections), 39% by communal faucets and the rest by wells and other sources. The Naval Water District provides potable water service in the provincial capital.

A total of 13,477.63 hectares have been irrigated to date, leaving a potential irrigable area 8,361 hectares.

TRANSPORTATION

SEAPORT

Naval, the capital town, has a commercial seaport that serves inter-island vessels plying mainly the Cebu route and to other cities.

AIRPORT

Although Biliran has a 1-km airstrip that can accommodate light aircraft, the province can be reached through the following airports as landing points:
· Tacloban - daily flights to Manila & vice versa
· Cebu - daily flights to domestic & international routes. Once in Cebu, you can take the fast ferry to Ormoc City and then proceed by land travel to Naval.

LAND TRANSPORT

From Manila, the province can be reached by land through bus lines that ply the Pasay or Cubao to Naval route. Travel time is estimated to be 28 hours.

It may also be reached from Tacloban City, the regional center, by bus or mega taxi in 2-1/2 hours, or from Ormoc City in 2 hours.

COMMUNICATION

Postal Offices/Telegraph Stations

Each of the 8 municipalities has a post office and/or a telegraph station located in the poblacion.

Telephone Companies

GlobeTelecom (Islacom) operates a local phone exchange in Naval and offers national & international direct dialing service. It likewise provides Internet access and fax transmission lines. In addition, PLDT, Bayantel, and Islacom have public calling offices; Bayantel also offers fax transmission.

Courier Services

LBC, JRS and Kabayan Forwarders hold offices in Naval.

Cable TV & Radio Stations

BILINET provide cable TV broadcasts in the municipalities of Naval, Almeria & Biliran while Naval Cable covers Naval and Kawayan. There is also a radio station broadcasting in the FM band in Naval.

TRADE AND COMMERCE

TRADE

Biliran's major trading partners via land are Manila, Tacloban City, & Ormoc City.

Its trading partners using sea transportation are Cebu City, Calbayog City in Samar, and Masbate.

Copra, rice, fish and bananas are the major commodities that go out of the province while the major goods that come in include prime commodities, canned goods, garments, and construction materials.

During the year 2000, 231 business establishments were registered. These establishments generated employment to 500 persons and the declared capitalization amounted to more than Php 23.6 million.

BANKS

Three financial institutions operate in the province: the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine National Bank, and the Rural Bank of Naval. In addition, three lending investors and five credit cooperatives extend financial services.  

INVESTMENT PRIORITY AREAS

A. Agriculture-Based Industries

• Warehousing, drying & milling of grains
• Abaca plantation & processing
• Japanese rice production
• High-value crops production (pepper, coffee, cutflower and vegetables)
• High-value crops production (pepper, coffee, cutflower and vegetables)
• Livestock raising
• Industrial tree plantation
• Corn production
• Coco-based processing

B. Aquamarine-Based

• Ice plant & cold storage
• Fish preservation/processing
• Seaweed production
• Fish hatchery

C. Tourism

• Theme park/tourism estate
• Tourist facilities (resorts, hotels)
• Local tour packages enterprises

D. Other Industries

• Ceramics
• Furniture
• Mineral water bottling

E. Infrastructure (utilities, schools, transportation, etc.)

• Water supply (potable water)
• Mini hydro plant/power plant
• Fast ferries
• Seaport, airport (cargo plane/bus terminal)
• Communication facilities
• Housing project
• Private hospital
• Schools
• Internet service provider  

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

 

<< REAL ESTATE >>
NAVAL(Capital Town)
Residential	2,000/sq.m.
Commercial	2,500/sq.m
All other municipalities
Residential	400/sq.m
Commercial	700/sq.m
<< TRANSPORTATION RATES >>
Passenger Bus from Naval To	Rate
Biliran	10.00
Cabucgayan	25.00
Culaba	40.00
Caibiran	35.00
Kawayan	15.00
Almeria	7.00
Outside the province; Bus from Naval to:
Ormoc City	100
Tacloban City	100
Metro Manila
**> Aircon	928.50
**> Non-Aircon	721.00
Sea Transportation
From Naval to:
Cebu City
**> Economy	200.00
**>Lower Deck	190.00
Nearby Islets	25.00

 

<< COMMUNICATION RATES >> TELEPHONE (Long Distance)
Bayantel
Naval to:
Tacloban	P4.00 per minute
Ormoc	4.00 per minute
Cebu	4.50 per minute
Manila	5.50 per minute
Davao	5.50 per minute