Dalutan Island, Biliran

Many Filipinos are only starting to get to know more about Biliran, as it has only become a province in 1992, but this land is quickly becoming a progressive communtiy with healthy and bustling trade, hardworking and friendly people, and a rich, deep-rooted culture.

There are many fascinating things that we should get to know about the province:

1. Biliran is one of the country's smallest and newest provinces, being formerly a sub-province of Leyte until achieving full-fledged provincehood in 1992.
2. During the early Spanish era, Biliran Island was formerly known as Isla de Panamao which refers to an ethnic fishing net. According to many publications, the island’s present name was derived from a native grass called borobiliran which once grew abundantly on the island's plains. Another theory states that the name came from the word bilir which was defined in an old Visayan dictionary to be the “corner or edge of a boat, vase or anything protruding, like veins, or the furrow made by the plow.”The dictionary also gives biliran as an alternate spelling for bilir. This theory is supported by the fact that Biliran was site of the first large-scale shipyard, built in the 17th century. Galleons were built to support the galleon trade between Manila and Acapulco in Mexico.
3. Mount Suiro, which has an elevation of 1,300 meters, is the highest point on the island. 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.
4. The economy of Biliran is largely into fishing. Most of its towns, especially Naval and Biliran, have excellent seaports. There are 95 hectares of brackish water fishponds which produce prawns, shrimps and milkfish. Another 30 hectares of seawater are suitable for seaweed farming and 10 more hectares for fishcage culture. The inhabitants also engage in hunting, lumber, and manufacturing. The principal raw material produced is copra and coconut oil. Processed goods include white clay ceramics, dried fish, raw gulaman, and citronella oil.
5. The inhabitants of Biliran primarily speak Cebuano and Waray, both Visayan languages. Majority of the residents also speak and understand Tagalog and English.

View of Biliran Island from Leyte

How to get there

Daily flights from Manila to Tacloban are offered byalmost all local airlines.  From Tacloban City, shuttle vans and buses to Naval are available.  Vehicles can be rented for tours around the province.

Where to stay in Naval

There are many inns, pension houses, and hotels located in and around Naval:
•    Marvin's Seaside Inn – Located in Barangay Atipolo, about two kilometers north of Naval.
•    Biliran Garden Resort – Located in Barangay Lomboy, Naval
•    Higatangan Beach Resort – Located in Naval, and from the resort it is a very short walk to the famous sandbar.
•    Napo Beach Resort – Located in Maripipi Island
•    Bunga Prime Resort – located along the coast in the village of Bunga, Municipality of Cabucgayan in Biliran province.
•    M and M Inn – Located in Biliran poblacion, Biliran Town.