Biliran
Encyclopedia
In 1945 liberated by the Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was landed in Biliran with the local guerrilla forces by the attack of the Japanese troops from the island during the Battle of Biliran during World War II
.
, Biliran has a total population of 140,274, which makes it the fifth least populous province in the country, and the smallest in the region. There are 27,907 households in the province with an average size of 5.02 persons, slightly higher than the national average of 4.99.
and Waray
, both Visayan
languages. Majority of the residents also speak and understand Tagalog
and English
.
and Maripipi Island
. Other islands include Higatangan Island and Dalutan Island (inhabited).
Biliran Island lies off the northern coast of Leyte across Biliran Strait. To the southeast is Carigara Bay, to the northeast is Samar Sea
, and further on, the island of Samar. To the west is the Visayan Sea
and Masbate
lies 30 km to the northwest.
The main island features mountainous interiors with very narrow coastal areas. Mountain ranges occupy the major portion of the island municipality of Maripipi. Only the municipalities of Naval
and Caibiran
have wide plains extending about 7 km from the coast suitable for agriculture. Mount Suiro, which has an elevation of 1,300 meters is the highest point on the island.
Biliran has a combination of warm and cool climatic zones, thus the prevailing climate is ideal for the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural crops. There is no distinct dry season but the heavy wet season generally occurs in December.
Biliran volcano's single historic eruption was from a flank vent in 1939. There are five solfatara fields on the island. The solfatara on the west side of Mt. Guinon contained more than 400 tones of sulfur
in 1880.
are located on Biliran Island while Maripipi is an island municipality located to the northwest. The largest among the towns is Naval
which is the capital of the province while the smallest is Maripipi.
and Biliran
, have excellent seaports. There are 95 hectares of brackish water fishponds which produce prawn
s, shrimp
s and milkfish
. Another 30 hectares of seawater are suitable for seaweed farming and 10 more hectares for fishcage culture.
Being mountainous, Biliran can support various agricultural crops. The warm lowlands are conducive to palay
production and other tropical crops. The cool highlands are favorable to high-value crops such as cutflowers and varieties of vegetable traditionally grown in Baguio City
or Tagaytay City
.
The inhabitants also engage in hunting, lumber, and manufacturing. The principal raw material produced is copra
and coconut oil
. Processed goods include white clay ceramic
s, dried fish, raw gulaman, and citronella oil
.
The untapped natural resources of the island include geothermal power
and the abundant sulfur
and gypsum
deposits.
Major industries includes fashion bags, Romblon bags, shellcrafts, placemats, hotpads, baskets, coasters and trays.
The Managing Director in Asia Pacific of Reykjavik Energy Invest informed that this is the first geothermal development project undertaken by Reykjavik Energy Invest (REI), a global leader in the development of renewable energy with specific focus on geothermal energy, here in the Philippines
This is an ambitious project that they have to jumpstart in the country since their firm is committed to the Department of Energy thru Secretary Angelo T. Reyes and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to provide part of the 1, 200 MW needed by the country by 2013 during the signing of the contract agreement between their firm and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on July 10, 2008, Sigurjonsson added.
The Envent Managing Director added that if the surface exploration that cost $1M can start by next month, it is expected that it will be finished by May of next year.
He added that it will cost from $16M to $19M for the drilling of the two geothermal wells found in Sitio Pulangyuta in Barangay Cabibihan and Barangay Villavicenta in Caibiran and the other one found in Barangay Libtong in Naval.
According to Sigurjonsson, an investment of $125M is expected to be financed by their firm for a 50 MW source of geothermal energy that will be taken from the project. It is expected that the geothermal project in Biliran province can produce up to 100 MW.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Conversion
On April 8, 1959 Republic Act No. 2141 was signed into law effectively making Biliran a sub-province of Leyte. The island was only made an independent province on May 11, 1992 by virtue of Republic Act No. 7160, making it one of the newest provinces in the country.Demographics
Based on the May 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Biliran has a total population of 140,274, which makes it the fifth least populous province in the country, and the smallest in the region. There are 27,907 households in the province with an average size of 5.02 persons, slightly higher than the national average of 4.99.
Languages
The inhabitants of Biliran primarily speak CebuanoCebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
and Waray
Waray-Waray language
Wáray-Wáray or Samarnon is a language spoken in the provinces of Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and in some parts of the Leyte and Biliran in the Philippines...
, both Visayan
Visayan languages
The Visayan languages of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine languages...
languages. Majority of the residents also speak and understand Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Geography
Biliran has a total land area of 555.4 square kilometers, making it the fourth smallest province in the Philippines. The province is composed of two major islands; Biliran IslandBiliran Island
Biliran is a volcanic island in the central Philippines. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines.*Classification: Active*Current Summit Activities: Solfataric*Province: Biliran Region VIII*Nearby Cities/Towns:...
and Maripipi Island
Maripipi, Biliran
Maripipi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,319 people in 1,562 households.-Barangays:Maripipi is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.* Agutay* Banlas* Bato...
. Other islands include Higatangan Island and Dalutan Island (inhabited).
Biliran Island lies off the northern coast of Leyte across Biliran Strait. To the southeast is Carigara Bay, to the northeast is Samar Sea
Samar Sea
The Samar Sea is a small sea within the Philippine archipelago, between the Eastern Visayas and Luzon.It is bordered by the islands of Samar to the east, Leyte to the south, Masbate to the west, and Luzon to the north...
, and further on, the island of Samar. To the west is the Visayan Sea
Visayan Sea
The Visayan Sea is a sea in the Philippines, surrounded by the islands of the Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas located to the east and west, while the Central Visayas is located to the south...
and Masbate
Masbate
Masbate is an island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. Its capital is Masbate City and consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.-History:...
lies 30 km to the northwest.
Naval, Biliran
Naval is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households....
and Caibiran
Caibiran, Biliran
Caibiran is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 19,606 people in 3,597 households.-Barangays:Caibiran is politically subdivided into 17 barangays....
have wide plains extending about 7 km from the coast suitable for agriculture. Mount Suiro, which has an elevation of 1,300 meters is the highest point on the island.
Biliran has a combination of warm and cool climatic zones, thus the prevailing climate is ideal for the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural crops. There is no distinct dry season but the heavy wet season generally occurs in December.
Biliran volcano's single historic eruption was from a flank vent in 1939. There are five solfatara fields on the island. The solfatara on the west side of Mt. Guinon contained more than 400 tones of sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
in 1880.
Political
Biliran is subdivided into 8 municipalities. It has an overall 132 barangays. All the municipalities except MaripipiMaripipi, Biliran
Maripipi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,319 people in 1,562 households.-Barangays:Maripipi is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.* Agutay* Banlas* Bato...
are located on Biliran Island while Maripipi is an island municipality located to the northwest. The largest among the towns is Naval
Naval, Biliran
Naval is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households....
which is the capital of the province while the smallest is Maripipi.
Municipalities
|
Culaba, Biliran Culaba is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 11,506 people in 2,193 households.-Barangays:Culaba is politically subdivided into 17 barangays.* Acaban* Bacolod... Kawayan, Biliran The word kawayan means bamboo.Kawayan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 17,507 people in 3,688 households.-Barangays:... Maripipi, Biliran Maripipi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 8,319 people in 1,562 households.-Barangays:Maripipi is politically subdivided into 15 barangays.* Agutay* Banlas* Bato... Naval, Biliran Naval is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households.... |
Economy
The economy of Biliran is largely into fishing. Most of its towns, especially NavalNaval, Biliran
Naval is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Biliran. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,288 people in 9,575 households....
and Biliran
Biliran, Biliran
Biliran is a 5th class municipality in the province of Biliran, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 13,817 people in 2,619 households....
, have excellent seaports. There are 95 hectares of brackish water fishponds which produce prawn
Prawn
Prawns are decapod crustaceans of the sub-order Dendrobranchiata. There are 540 extant species, in seven families, and a fossil record extending back to the Devonian...
s, shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
s and milkfish
Milkfish
The milkfish is the sole living species in the family Chanidae. - Description and biology :...
. Another 30 hectares of seawater are suitable for seaweed farming and 10 more hectares for fishcage culture.
Being mountainous, Biliran can support various agricultural crops. The warm lowlands are conducive to palay
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
production and other tropical crops. The cool highlands are favorable to high-value crops such as cutflowers and varieties of vegetable traditionally grown in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
or Tagaytay City
Tagaytay City
The City of Tagaytay is a second class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Only away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tagaytay City provides a good view of the Taal Volcano...
.
The inhabitants also engage in hunting, lumber, and manufacturing. The principal raw material produced is copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
and coconut oil
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm . Throughout the tropical world, it has provided the primary source of fat in the diets of millions of people for generations. It has various applications in food, medicine, and industry...
. Processed goods include white clay ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s, dried fish, raw gulaman, and citronella oil
Citronella
Citronella is a word used for several things, including:* Citronella , a genus of trees and shrubs in the Cardiopteridaceae* Citronella oil, an insect-repelling essential oil derived from Cymbopogon...
.
The untapped natural resources of the island include geothermal power
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
and the abundant sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
and gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
deposits.
Major industries includes fashion bags, Romblon bags, shellcrafts, placemats, hotpads, baskets, coasters and trays.
Biliran geothermal surface exploration
The much awaited development of the geothermal power reserve in the province of Biliran will finally be realized as its surface exploration will finally start next month.The Managing Director in Asia Pacific of Reykjavik Energy Invest informed that this is the first geothermal development project undertaken by Reykjavik Energy Invest (REI), a global leader in the development of renewable energy with specific focus on geothermal energy, here in the Philippines
This is an ambitious project that they have to jumpstart in the country since their firm is committed to the Department of Energy thru Secretary Angelo T. Reyes and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to provide part of the 1, 200 MW needed by the country by 2013 during the signing of the contract agreement between their firm and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on July 10, 2008, Sigurjonsson added.
The Envent Managing Director added that if the surface exploration that cost $1M can start by next month, it is expected that it will be finished by May of next year.
He added that it will cost from $16M to $19M for the drilling of the two geothermal wells found in Sitio Pulangyuta in Barangay Cabibihan and Barangay Villavicenta in Caibiran and the other one found in Barangay Libtong in Naval.
According to Sigurjonsson, an investment of $125M is expected to be financed by their firm for a 50 MW source of geothermal energy that will be taken from the project. It is expected that the geothermal project in Biliran province can produce up to 100 MW.