[ Manila Bulletin Online ] January 16, 2009
By JACK C. GADAINGAN
NAVAL, Biliran — This island province of pristine beaches and waterfalls expects to corner a larger share of foreign and domestic tourists coming to the country this year.
Sofronio Dacillo, the provincial tourism officer, said they are optimistic many tourists will visit Biliran especially now that it has officially been declared by authorities as insurgent-free.
While the province has actually long been a peaceful place, the pronouncement will further boost its tourism industry as it signals that potential visitors should not worry about abductions and extortion while they are here, Dacillo said.
Dacillo said that last year, the province recorded 6,550 tourists, an increase from the 6,100 arrivals in 2007.
He said that in the past few years, visitors to the province have been increasing especially after Governor Rogelio Espina embarked on a Park Development Project that constructed tourism support facilities and access roads to the island’s tourism sites.
At the moment, the top two destinations in Biliran are the Kasabangan Water Falls in the town of Cabucgayan and the Tinago Water Falls in Caibiran town, both included in Espina’s tourism projects and are also supported by the Local Government Finance Development Program of the Department of Finance.
The Tinago Water Fallls at Pulang Yuta, Caibiran is very accessible now, while the access road to Kasabangan Fall in Barangay Balaquid, Cabucgayan is still under construction, it was gathered.
Foreign tourists usually stay for two to three days, while local tourists from neighboring provinces arrive by bus like those from Southern Leyte who came recently.
Dacillo said that to aid the booming local tourism industry, his office has embarked on an information campaign and organized trained tourist guides to the sites.
"We contact the guides when there are tourists, and they are paid depending on their arranged agreement with the tourists," he said.
Biliran has many other attractions like the Shifting Sand Bar in Higatangan Island.
"We are promoting eco-tourism and nature lovers can come to Biliran," Dacillo said.