M E S S A G E

STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS
Delivered by
HON. ROGELIO J. ESPINA, MD, FPOA
Governor, Province of Biliran
January 29, 2004

The highly respected Presiding Officer of this esteemed august chamber, Honorable Vice Governor Carlos L. Chan, Sr.; the equally respected members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Biliran; our trusted Local Chief Executives; the Most Reverend Msgr. Filomeno Bactol; representatives of the national government agencies, non-government organizations, and the various sectors of our society like the women, the youth, farmers and fishermen; officials and personnel of the provincial government; my dearly beloved wife Cecil, who has constantly supported me in my new career as a politician; distinguished visitors, ladies and gentlemen - Maayong Buntag sa inyong tanan!

What I foresee as another great year has just started, and I certainly hope it will be more fruitful than last year. As a good start, I am once again privileged and glad to take center stage to deliver my annual Address before my respected colleagues in the Sanggunian on the occasion of your first official session for 2004, and to my beloved people of Biliran province. After having served the Biliranons for two and a half years as your Provincial Governor - I am filled with pride as I stand before you to report the achievements of this administration, and to refresh you and my constituents about my priority programs for the time to come.

In my previous state of the province addresses, I have emphatically said that the efforts and resources of my administration would focus on the development of the social sector and at the same time giving priority to the economic sector and infrastructure development. These guideposts for leading Biliran to progress has not changed much; we have only enhanced the enabling strategies and sustained the effective ones.

With your legislative support for which I am sincerely thankful, with the hard work, dedication and cooperation of the personnel and staff of the provincial government, the local and national government and non-government organizations, and with the effective teamwork that I get from our generous congressman and municipal mayors, I believe we have done much in our common pursuit of a development agenda for a progressive Biliran.

Medical and Health Care Services

Alam nyo po na bilang isang doctor, ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan ang aking unang inaalagaan.

We have conducted numerous medical and dental missions, of which a total of 32,623 Biliranons have availed of free dental/medical services brought by the provincial government right at their doorsteps. We have also distributed medicines to the barangays to make medicines readily available for our people especially the poor. People's organizations and non-government organizations like the Couple's for Christ, Biliran Medical Society and others have also conducted medical mission in some areas, where the provincial government provided the medicines used, further increasing the number of Biliranons who have availed of the free medical and dental care.

For the year 2003 alone, a series of free surgical missions and other health related activities were conducted at the Biliran Provincial Hospital. First is the "Pungkol nga Igsoon, Atong Palakwon" project, in collaboration with the Mahaveer Prostheses Camp of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, where 24 leg amputees were successfully fitted with artificial legs on September 2003, these prosthesis will definitely provide a more productive life for our amputees. We also had the Second Dagdag Liwanag para sa may Katarata at Iba Pa, where free cataract and other eye surgical operation were conducted on November 2003 by opthalmologists from the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, in which 45 patients underwent cataract operation.

A general surgical mission was provided on December 2003 by surgeons from Amang Rodriguez Medical Center based in Marikina City. Twenty patients underwent general surgical procedures such as thyroidectomy / hysterectomies / gynecologic surgery, herniarrahaphy, breast and prostate surgery. All in all we have delivered 7 free surgical missions in which surgical operations were done to 255 Biliranons - this would have cost P5 million if computed at P20,000 per operation which could have been a financial burden for our people. In order to assist Biliranons that are confined in EVRMC in Tacloban City, we have also allotted P100,000 as financial assistance to our patients under a MOA with EVRMC officials.

We shall continue to hold free medical and dental missions to the barangays and sitios as well as the free surgical missions in our hospital. We will make the most commonly needed medicines readily available to the barangay captains for the health care needs of their residents, to our Barangay Health Workers, senior citizens and other groups. For this purpose, we have initially allocated P4 million for the conduct of medical missions and other support undertakings and P1 million for field health services.

In 1998, the total allocation for the health sector was posted at P30.635 million. When I assumed office in 2001, the budget was at P29.778 million. In the year that followed, 2002, we increased the allocation at P47.120 million. Last year, the budget was again raised to P50.867 million. The provision of additional funds for health care is paramount so that we can provide the best possible quality of health services for the people of Biliran province, especially the less privileged.

In 1994, the hospital started with 10 physicians and 15 nurses. The first provincial administration after becoming a regular province ended in 1998 with 10 doctors and 18 nurses. When the administration that followed reorganized the provincial government in 1999, by slashing-out job items and creating new ones, it ended in 2001 with 12 doctors and 14 nurses. This is the status of the hospital when I assumed in 2001. A few moths from now, first term of my administration will end with 18 doctors, 28 nurses, and 6 specialists in the field of Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, OB-Gynecology, Pathology and Radiology. We have also allowed doctors to train for 3 to 4 years in specialty hospitals of which one doctor is set to graduate in January 2005 in the field of anesthesia, to serve Biliranons needing operations in our hospital.

Corollary to this, with greatly improved facilities and services, the reputation of the hospital improved as well. Patients who previously preferred to be confined to reputable hospitals in Tacloban or Cebu now seriously consider our provincial hospital for confinement.

When I assumed office in 2001, the hospital earnings were posted at P1.932 million. The income soared to P4.706 million in 2002, or a very striking increase of 143.56 percent. For the year just ended, the gross income of the hospital has now reached P5.702 million.

The increased income is attributed to the increased number of paying patients and the increased number of indigent families we sponsored to be covered under PhilHealth insurance, providing benefits in hospital care.

As of year-end 2003, there are 6,080 families of Biliranons covered under PhilHealth, and these include not only the poorest among the poor in the barangays, but also all our barangay health workers, day care workers and barangay tanods as well. According to PhilHealth Regional Director Alfredo Capangpangan, Biliran ranks first in the number of constituents covered under PhilHealth in relation to population in the entire Eastern Visayas Region. And yet we are still continuing our efforts to add more Biliranons to benefit from Philhealth.

For the infrastructure support to the health sector, there was less then a million earmarked for the health sector from year 1994 to year 2000. Ang ating hospital na nag-iisa lamang sa ating probinsiya ay kapareho ng maraming devolved government hospitals na parang kantang Mona Lisa, "they just lie there, and they die there." For the first part of 2001, the previous administration budgeted P7.3 million for health infrastructure. When I assumed by July of that year, I deemed it significant to add P9 million as pre-cursor to the changes I wanted to implement. Last year, another P10.4 million was allocated for health infra.

Ngayon po ang ating Out-Patient Department Building na naka-aircon ang mga kuwarto ay malinis at maayos at maaring pinakamaganda sa buong region 8. We also have gained financial support from GTZet, World Bank and JICA where a P70 million hospital infrastructure package is set to be implemented possibly this year with your prayers.

As part of my vision to transform the Biliran Provincial Hospital to be the best provincial hospital in the region, we are continuously upgrading our facilities, acquiring new state-of-the-art equipment and augmenting the manpower complement. Last year we acquired P2.24 million worth of equipment for the Biliran Inter-local Health Zone through the financial assistance of the Center for Health Development Region 8.

Lately, we received 3 refrigerators from KfW, a German agency for development coordination, for the storage of vaccines that we will be using in the measles elimination campaign come February. We are still awaiting the P20 million worth of medical equipment grant from the Spanish government.

In my administration, we breathed new life to the defunct satellite or Medicare hospitals strategically located in Maripipi, Culaba and Caibiran by converting them into emergency clinics. This is to provide immediate response during medical emergencies in the area, hence providing proper treatment and less expenses for the patients. In addition to this, we also have opened a new emergency clinic in the municipality of Cabucgayan considering the distance for patients to travel from Cabucgayan to Biliran Provincial Hospital. Three brand new ambulances and one 911-type second-hand ambulance were procured and these were distributed to some municipalities which are in need of such transportation.

With a holistic approach in improving our health sector in mind, we are also keen on other ancillary services such as blood donation. I have noticed on record that for 1998, there were only 104 units of blood donated to 102 patients. This improved to 216 units of blood donated to 179 patients in my assumption at year end 2001, and at year-end 2003, there were 573 units of blood donated to 438 patients.

Our efforts in promoting the National Voluntary Blood Services Program lead to the 162.3 percent increase in voluntary blood donation from 2001 to 2003 for both hospital-based and mass blood donation in the field. Malaki pong tulong ito sa mga pasyente natin na walang-wala at hirap makahanap ng donor ng dugo.

For this concerted effort, we earned recognition in the implementation of the National Blood Voluntary Services Program of the DOH when your governor received the "Sandugo Award for Local Government Executives" for 2003. I was one of the four governors awarded in the country, and the only one in Region 8. I received the Plague of Recognition from DOH Undersecretary Antonio Lopez last July 31, 2003 at the PICC, Manila in appreciation of our exemplary support to the program.

Dahil sa kagandahan at kabutihan na nagagawa ng voluntary blood donation program, we decided to replicate it by launching the KADUGO TAYO Program last September 8, 2003. This is a search for the outstanding barangays, barangay captains and coordinators in promoting voluntary blood donation in their level, who will also be awarded due recognition and financial assistance.

Ang lahat po ng nagawa natin para sa kalusugan ay ating ipagpapatuloy at lalong palalawakin upang makarating sa bawat sulok ng ating probinsya.

Agriculture and Fisheries Services

We all know that Biliran province is blessed with fertile soil, abundance of water and God-fearing and hard-working people, but we need to give a strong direction to nurture and develop these gifts from God. Understanding this, I consider our local agricultural industry as a key to our socio-economic progress, thus, it needs equal attention and priority. In agriculture, even our less privileged brethren find comfort and food to eat even in times when unemployment proliferate in our country.

From 2001 up to 2003, we have planted 4,231 grafted fruit trees ranging from grafted mango, lanzones, rambutan citrus, mangosteen and even the exotic durian under the Plan Now Pay Later program, wherein 151 individual land owners were able to avail. For 2004 we will increase the number of grafted fruit trees to be distributed to nearly 6,000 or more, depending on the demand of our fruit trees farmers.

Last year alone, we distributed an additional 1,741 grafted fruit tree seedlings and 1,398 banana tubers of the "lakatan" variety from Davao to hundreds of farmers who planted them along the highway for our Fruits Along The Highway Program. Hindi magtatagal ay magkakaroon na ng mga benibentang prutas sa kahabaan ng ating highway na magiging dagdag na kabuhayan sa ating mga kababayan.

We have also established a Provincial High-Value Vegetable Techno-Demo site tenth of a hectare in size within the capitol compound. We have also established a one and a half hectare Provincial Palay Seed Production Project which will serve as guides for our vegetable and palay farmers. Only recently, a group of women visited our techno-demo farms to learn more skills in vegetable farming. We also organized 49 associations of farmers and vegetable raisers.

Under our Dag-dag Ani Program for rice farmers, we distributed a total of 5,190 bags of in-bred or certified palay seeds over a period of 6 planting seasons or phases from 2001 to 2003. At a ratio of one bag per hectare, this reflects to 5,190 hectares developed under the program. In addition, 885 bags of hybrid seeds were also distributed over the same period. In all, 946 Biliranons have availed of the program. Naging dag-dag kita po ito sa ating mga magsasaka sa probinsya.

Last year, Biliran was acknowledged by DA as over-all champion in Region 8 in the program to promote hybrid rice production by percent of hybrid seeds distribution. From our target to distribute 338 bags under Phase IV, we exceeded to 426 bags. In comparison, 3 provinces in Samar were only able to collectively distribute 350 bags as reported. We were able to distribute 27,421 kilograms rice to our people from our Dagdag-Ani program, including our Tabang sa Titsers gikan sa Dagdag-Ani. Biliran province was also adjudged in 2002 by the Department of Agriculture Regional Office as the province with the highest yield of palay per hectare in Region 8. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga suporta ng ating mga magsasaka sa ating Dagdag-Ani program.

Since 2002, our Lakbay Aral activities were conducted in tandem with our Kabalikat sa Barangay or KASABAY program, wherein we purchased a Coaster for the purpose. We encouraged our farmers, fishermen, vegetable and fruit growers, local entrepreneurs and government field workers to interface with implementers of successful livelihood projects so as to learn and acquire skills which they can replicate at home. Their transportation and part of their food and medical allowance were provided by the provincial government.

For the past two years, a total of 228 Lakbay Aral participants were able interact with other implementers in places such as: the 6th National Cooperative Summit in Cagayan de Oro City; the Carabao Dairy Production in Consolacion, Cebu to learn carabao milk processing and dairy products; the Vegetable Bagsakan Center in Mantalongon, Cebu; Orientation and Field Visitation on Rice Black Bug at Leyte State University; Fisheries project at Guiuan, Eastern Samar;

Our PAFC officers and members were able to visit the Bicol Region to establish linkages; Other areas visited by our farmers are the following: the Mango Plantation and Processing Plants in Cebu, Ilo-ilo and Guimaras; the Coco Coir Production in Catarman; and the Abaca Livelihood Projects in Ormoc City, Maasin and Albuera, Leyte.

Kailangan po nating bigyan ng pagkakataon na makita at matutunan ng ating mga kababayan ang nagagawang kabutihan at maayong kabuhayan sa ibang bayan upang madala at magawa natin sa ating probinsya.

For agricultural infrastructure, the provincial government received five million pesos in financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture under its Agricultural Development Program. The grant was made possible through the request of our esteemed congressman, Hon. Gerry Espina, Sr. We used P3 million for the construction of 6 units flatbed mechanical grains dryer , each unit costing P500,000. These dryers will be for farmer cooperatives in Brgys. Hugpa and Canila in Biliran, Brgys. Lucsoon and Villaconsuelo in Naval, in the poblacion of Almeria, and in the capitol compound. Iba po talaga pag may pagtutulungan ang Congressman, Governor at ang mga mayors sa isang probinsya, lalong-lalo na kung ang mamamayan ay nakiki-isa tungo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran.

The remaining P2 million was used for the construction of 20 units multipurpose drying pavements at P100,000 apiece, and these are located in 4 barangays in Biliran, 3 in Caibiran, 8 in Naval, 2 in Kawayan, and 3 in Almeria. All 20 projects were already turned over last September and November, and were implemented by the barangay officials.

Livelihood and Employment

We have conducted trainings for Guso or seaweed farming to 24 fisherfolk associations and 4H youth organizations. A total of 1,862 kilograms of guso bought from Guiuan, Samar, were dispersed to these organizations.

A 3-phase livelihood program on fisheries was launched in my administration. Phase I was launched in early 2002 where we distributed fishing gears such as 260 units of panggal, 93 units of bobo, 60 units of crab traps, and 48 units of squid trap, to include training and construction of fishing gears and such cages to 60 groups of fisherfolks.

Due to the requests of more enterprising fisherfolks for financing to purchase fishing nets, Phase II was launched last May 11, where 14 bancas were given free, while a P170,000.00 worth of 12 units gill net, 14 nets for pamolinao, and and other fishing gears were distributed with 50 percent subsidy from the provincial government.

The implementation of Phase III followed with P913,423.00 worth of livelihood projects were implemented to 8 major fisherfolks association, including the distribution of 38 units motorboat engine to various associations and individual fishermen. In this phase, the beneficiaries avails a soft loan from the provincial government which requires an interest rate of 5 percent per annum.

All in all, we have awarded P1,148,104.00 worth of livelihood opportunities to 158 fisherfolk associations comprising more than 3,182 Biliranons under the 3 phases.

From our freshwater fishpond in Brgy. Lucsoon, we produced and distributed 50,850 pieces of tilapia fingerlings to 87 beneficiaries from January to December of 2003. A year before, we also have distributed 9,600 pieces of tilapia fingerlings to 22 beneficiaries. But most important of all is that we have organized and have inducted the officers of the 1st Provincial Federation of Fisherfolks Association along the fish sanctuary of Higatangan Island, and that this year, aside from continuing these programs, we will focus on the creation of new fish sanctuaries in selected sites along the province's coastline, and to foster and implement a provincial coastal resource management plan to preserve our environment and protect the source of livelihood of our fellow Biliranons.

As a means to attain food security and provide additional sources of income, we intensified our efforts in the implementation of the DOK ROGER's Livestock Dispersal Program. Through the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, from 2001 up to 2003, we dispersed 132 heads of carabaos and 17 heads of cattle 316 heads of swine, 190 goats, 10 heads of sheep and 206 Kabir chickens. Since these animals were distributed to livestock farmers in the form of a loan, we saw to it that the recipients insured the animals as their counterpart. Malaking pakinabang ito sapagkat nakakain at nabebenta ang mga hayop para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan.

Self-enhancement and capability -building activities as well as productivity skills development training on food processing and candle making were conducted. We even bought a number of food processors to help the participants start their home-based businesses on food processing; the cost of the food processor units will have to be paid within a considerable period of time without interest charges. Apart from the self-employment capital assistance, we also helped more than a thousand indigent women cope with their financial problems in the hospital. (Note: P350,000 for food processing - P10,000 per group of 2-3 members; P115,500 for candle making.)

We have extended our livelihood assistance to 14 parolees, by awarding them with livestock for raising such as carabao, swine, and fowl such as Kabir chicken, as part of our desire to improve the lives of each and every Biliranon.

Cooperative Development

Recognizing the important contribution that cooperatives make to our economic growth and development, especially in generating livelihood opportunities for their members, and being a previous chairman of a cooperative, the provincial government has programmed substantial amounts for cooperative development in the last two years.

For 2003, we have expanded our package of assistance to these non-government organizations from conducting pre-membership seminars and evaluation sessions and facilitating project proposal preparation, processing and registration of documents to extending financial assistance. Compared to 2002's financial assistance to four cooperatives amounting to P200,000, our financial assistance in 2003 increased to P621,958.35 for the economic ventures of seven cooperatives on abaca and romblon handicraft production, rice trading, carabao dairy production tobacco-leaf trading, and re-lending. The overall collection rate for our micro livelihood program for cooperatives/NGOs as of year end was 99.02%.

From 2001 to 2004, we have 13 local cooperatives which we provided financial assistance in the total amount of P946,000.00, from only 6 cooperatives with an aggregate amount of P382,000.00 for the period covering 199-2001. Ito po ay maliban pa sa mga lakbay-aral na narating nga ating mga kooperatiba at asosasyon.

I personally believe that we need groups of people working together such as cooperatives or associations and that we should provide all the support and assistance to them, dahil sa tulong nila mas makakarating ang kabuhayan at kaunlaran para sa mas gipit nating mga kaigsoonan.

Infrastructure Development

As a developing province, the provision of basic and support infrastructure has been and remains a major thrust of the provincial government. We can see, however, that in the two and a half years I have been your provincial chief executive, more infrastructure projects were constructed than at any time in the past. The fast-paced completion of infrastructure projects can be attributed partly to the financial assistance we received from the national government, also from our beloved Congressman Gerry Espina, from the support provided by the our engineering staff, and mostly because of the support of the sanggunaing panlalawigan in appropriating the necessary funding for these projects.

The heavy equipments we recently acquired contributed much to our achievements in infrastructure development, thanks to you, honorable members of this august body, for approving the supplemental budget of P35 million that that we used to purchase these equipments. These equipment are now used to open roads such as for the Masagongsong detour and others as well as in the delivery of our Patubig sa Barangay program.

Through the Provincial Engineering Office that implements our infrastructure projects, we were able to pave with concrete more than 8,200 linear meters meters of barangay roads in the approximate amount of P23 million within within two and a half years. In addition, there are also more 3,300 linear meters of farm-to-market roads amounting to P11.5 million, and irrigation projects as well.

Under our Patubig sa Barangay program, a total of 33,159 meters or nearly 33 kilometers of assorted galvanized iron and PVC water pipes were distributed in 49 barangays and sitios provincewide. Some of these are to complete numerous water supply facilities under the ADB-assisted Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RW3SP) that benefited thousands of households. Additionally, under our Patubig sa Barangay project, we provided portland cement and steel bars for the construction of water supply facilities in barangays where water is difficult or not easily accessed.

Pinaiiral po natin ang Bayanihan spirit sa mga barangay kaya mas mabilis nakamit ang masaganang tubig kahit apat o limang kilometro pa ang layo ng source nito.

During the same period, we have constructed nearly 2,000 meters of line ditching or drainage in 21 locations amounting over P4 million. More, Approximately 691 meters of sea wall were constructed in 24 sites in the amount of over P4 million while more then 1,500 meters of provincial roads were also constructed in different locations.

In the last quarter of 2003, we received from the National Housing Authority a check in the amount of P3.14 million as initial fund for the housing project intended for public and private sector employees and workers and others who are preferably members of GSIS, SSS, and Pag-ibig. The housing project will be financed from NHA's Local Housing Project through the effort of Congressman Gerry Espina and will be undertaken by the provincial government to implement within this year our housing program in Larrazabal.

Indeed we have endeavored to provide the constituency with various assortments of infrastructure projects ranging from roads and drainage systems to water supply systems, health and day-care centers and school buildings, flood control and irrigation structures, tricycle and motorcycle stations, and other public buildings. In all, 195 clustered and individual infrastructure projects, costing more than P57 million, were completed while several others are still ongoing.

Social Welfare Services

For a local government unit, it is imperative to provide social safety nets and extend services to the poor and the disadvantaged in our society as primary functions. In this regard, the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office helped 15,647 beneficiaries, mostly women and family heads, cope with life's difficulties due to poverty so they could live normally as productive and useful citizens despite their being in different disadvantaged situations.

The day-care center located in the provincial capitol, which was established pursuant to Executive Order No. 340, started operation last year to serve 25 children under 5 years old of capitol employees. For the welfare of the children and the youth, we provided protective services for children in need of special protection.

A Provincial Children's Congress was held last October 30, with the theme "Mundong Payapa, Handog sa Bata." The occasion, which is held annually to coincide with the Universal Children's Month celebration, highlights the importance of Filipino children and promotes their participation in social development.

With the authority of the DSWD Central Office, we now have assessed and accredited 80 day-care workers. This accreditation is done to ensure that the maximum standards for operation are fully complied with. (Verify the incentives to day-care workers ranging from P750-P1,500).

Through the Provincial Nutrition Council and the municipal LGUs, we provided supplemental feeding to more than 500 malnourished children aged 6 years old and below for three months. We saw to it that the food served met the minimum dietary requirements of the beneficiaries for every meal.

We also facilitated the conduct of the Provincial Parent Education Congress/Forum, gave counseling to 3,600 individuals, assisted 4,783 families have their PhilHealth membership processed and avail of medical benefits, and granted livelihood assistance on figurine making.

As regards women's welfare, we have served 10,834 beneficiaries. We helped strengthen the 138 chapters of the WORD-KALIPI organization through relevant activities such as the Provincial Women's Congress and other activities that the Provincial Council for Women's Welfare, Inc, initiated and facilitated.

A Provincial Elderly Congress was held on October 14, in which the Mahal ko si Lolo Mahal ko si Lola program was launched, as a way of promoting the rights and well being of older persons. It was attended by more than 200 senior citizens. Also we assisted the elderly and persons with disabilities cope with their medical needs and problems. Recently a new day center for the Naval Senior Citizens was turned over to the officers of the federation. This again is a joint project of Congressman Gerry Espina, your Governor, Mayor Gerry Boy Espina and the DSWD.

Under the Emergency Assistance Program, we have assisted 1,392 persons who were in crisis situations or victims of disasters. We have temporarily relocated 46 families, who were victims of typhoon "Egay" in the resettlement site in Brgy. Larrazabal.

Youth Development and Support to Education

By far, one of the solid steps we have taken in youth development is the revitalization of the 4H club, a national program for agricultural and community-based youth organization. In two and a half years, we have organized 140 of these clubs in 132 barangays and 8 sitios. As of today, the number of members has now reached 6,500. Among the assistance we have given to the 4-h clubs and other youth organizations were farm inputs and sports equipment.

Today the 4-H'ers are proud that they can harvest substantial quantities of assorted high-value vegetables from farm lots that they themselves cultivate. They also have underwent leadership trainings, and are active participants in community activities. Recently, the 4H clubs provincewide were accredited by the National Youth Commission as voters education advocates. Naipadala na po natin sa Lakbay-Aral ang mga coordinators at ilang officers ng DOK ROGER's 4H club sa ViSCA, Baybay, Leyte. At dito sila namulat sa mga oportunidad sa buhay at mga aral na pwede nilang magamit sa kanilang grupo o sarili.

The Provincial Government through the PSWDO had also extended educational assistance to 40 college and high school students who cannot pursue their studies due to financial hardship, but who deserve to be helped in completing their secondary and tertiary education successfully.

The education sector in Biliran earns the full support of the provincial government. This is manifested by our strong collaboration during the implementation of the TEEP, for which the Biliran Division has been noted by the national program implementors for its exemplary management. The prudent use of the Special Education Fund has provided plus points for the education sector, being utilized to hire contractual teachers. For the year 2001, 9 teachers have been hired, this rose to 13 in 2002 and 14 in 2003. For this year, 16 teachers will be fielded to schools that are in dire need for additional teaching force, hence, will improve the quality of learning for our young students studying in public schools.

For the year 2001, we have allocated P269,714.03 for wages of our SEF teachers. This was increased to P621,374.15 in 2002, and last year, we have paid P856,990.78 to our contractual teachers. For the implementation of the Secondary Education Development and Improvement Program in 2004, we have allocated 700 thousand as counterpart for its implementation. In addition, over P4 million worth of various constructions were implemented in 12 school sites.

Maintenance of Peace and Order

Biliran remains relatively peaceful. For us, peace is a very precious commodity that we are proud to possess and very zealous to maintain. However, this distinction has not allowed us to wallow in our pride, but rather the more we are keen on maintaining it so. The communications equipment and service vehicles we provided to the PNP offered a great help in deterring the commission of criminal acts and in sustaining the prevailing peaceful situation.

Through the years, the provincial government has continued to provide logistical support to the PNP to augment their services. In my administration, we have purchased three 4x4 Mitsubishi Jeeps, which were donated to the police stations of Naval, Culaba and Almeria. The police stations of Cabucgayan, Kawayan and Maripipi were each given one unit multi-cab.

New radio communications equipment were also distributed to provide faster communications between stations. These were provided through the funds of the provincial government and from our supportive Congressman Gerry Espina. The police stations of Naval, Cabucgayan, Kawayan, Biliran and the Coast Guard detachment in Naval each received one unit a Land/Mobile Radio Base and one unit hand held radio. A one unit VHF/FM transceiver with accessories such as desktop charger were also given to the PNP stations of Naval, Almeria, Caibiran, Culaba and Maripipi. The firs station in Naval also received one unit of a mobile radio base.

Pinaliwanag po natin ang mga poblacion at ibang lugar by providing 393 units of 70 watts Sodium lights to include the Biliran Bridge which connects our province to the province of Leyte. A police sub-station was recently established in Brgy. Sanggalang, Biliran to curb the incidence of hold-ups and highway robbery in the vicinity. Dadagdagan po natin ngayong taon ito pong mga sodium lights at mga police sub-stations sa mga critical na lugar sa ating probinsya.

Further, 1,200 barangay tanods from all of the 132 barangays in the province underwent training under the DILG's Barangay Tanods Professional Program, to which we also sent 200 hundred habal-habal drivers as participants. These tanods and habal-habal drivers took their oath to combat criminality in their respective areas. Now they can help our police officers by providing information about illegal and criminal activities in certain areas and in responding to emergencies that need their assistance.

Binigyan pa po natin ng mga IDs, uniporme, tear gas, Philhealth ID at accidental death insurance policy na worth P20,000 ang mga tanod natin para madagdagan ang kanilang sipa na magbantay para sa isang mapayapang komunidad.

Nagtayo tayo ng Search and Rescue Team, who trained for 17 days with representation from 8 municipalities wherein, due to our sincere endeavor to conduct the training to become more responsive to emergencies brought by calamities and other incidents, we were rewarded by the NDCC with two rubber boats with 40 hp outboard motors worth P600,000.00 each.

Tourism Promotion and Environmental Protection

We are promoting tourism as a strategy for economic development but in pursuing it we take into consideration the preservation and protection of our environment.

On tourism promotion, the provincial government in close coordination with the Biliran Provincial Tourism Council sent representatives to the Eastern Visayas Councils Assembly that was held in Tacloban City. The province also sent a contingent that participated in the successful Best of the Regions tourism fair, which was held in Intramuros last September 15-30, 2003.

Meanwhile, the officers of our provincial tourism council attended the 2nd Philippine Travel Festival in Tagbilaran, Bohol in the last week of May. We participate in these events with the objective of promoting our island province as a tourist destination site. Apart from these events, however, the province also hosted some ABS-CBN personnel who took photo coverage of our island paradise for promotion in the network's Lakbay TV Program.

On the environmental protection side, we continue to uphold the principles of sustainable development. We have adopted measures to protect and maintain our natural. To help enforce prevailing environmental laws as well as local legislation on environment, we have created the Provincial Task Force Kalikasan, with 22 volunteer members who were officially deputized to carry on apprehensions. This task force is based in the Provincial Tourism Building in Brgy. Atipolo, Naval, where all their operations are coordinated with the maritime PNP.

Our serious campaign against illegal cutting of trees helped to a great extent in the preservation of our watersheds and forests. With the combined forces of the Biliran Provincial Task Force Kalikasan, the PNP and the DENR, a total of 2,917.97 board feet of illegally hand-sawn lumber was confiscated from the period the task force was created in 2002 until 2003.. The 1-unit motorboat we donated to the Task Force had facilitated the apprehension of 69 vessels that were caught doing illegal fishing in our seas.

Our efforts to beautify our landscape along the highways and maintain a clean and livable environment did not stop after winning three times in a row the Cleanest and Greenest Province Award in the regional level. We are still continually maintaining the image by planting flowering shrubs, and lately fruit-bearing seedlings, along the highway.

Last year we planted 2,780 pieces of caballero or fire trees and 5,000 pieces of morning glory along the Biliran-Naval-Almeria thoroughfare. Further, 2,500 seedling of fruit bearing and ornamental plants were provided to the Diocese of Naval-Commission on Ecology and sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Prior to that, 25,000 cuttings of flowering plants were distributed and 15,000 mahogany seedlings were awarded to tree farms and growers. A few years hence it will be a sight to behold to motorists and travelers as they pass through our highways.

However, the aftermath of typhoons Egay, Gilas and Harurot has affected much of our efforts and caused a temporary set-back in our bid to win more awards in the Clean and Green program.

Other Accomplishments

The construction of the Provincial Museum, Library and Information Technology Center has started. In a few years, we can revisit our cultural and historical past and acquire knowledge through modern technology in one place.

At this point, let me take this opportunity to express in public my sincere thanks and deep gratitude to you, honorable ladies and gentlemen of this Sanggunian, for your full support to our partnership, especially for approving as early as November the annual budget for calendar year 2004 which appropriated P178,199,573.67, and for passing important resolutions.

As I promised last year, the legislative building is now undergoing construction, and very soon you will have your own place where you can work more comfortably and productively.

May I thank also our Honorable Congressman Gerry Espina, the municipal chief executives headed by Honorable Mayor Gerry Boy Espina, president of the mayors' league, the capitol employees, local, national, and private sector leaders, and all Biliranons for extending your hand in utmost cooperation as we endeavor to improve the living conditions in our communities, and for believing in my vision and my brand of leadership.

Let us unite and work together as we march onwards in our quest for a better and more progressive Province of Biliran.

Magtulungan po tayo para sa ika-uunlad ng ating Probinsiya.

Maraming salamat po at Mabuhay tayong lahat!.

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