by:Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran – With only few days left before his first term ended on June 30, re-elected Biliran Governor Gerardo “Gerryboy” J. Espina, Jr. presented his administration’s major accomplishments from June 2012 to June 2013.
During his oath taking, Espina first cited the award received by Biliran province as one of the ten outstanding provinces of the country in the search for the Best Agri-Pinoy Outstanding Rice Achievers Award which showed the successful a program in agriculture during his first term.
He also mentioned the Seal of Good Housekeeping given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) due to upholding the good governance guideposts.
The re-elected Biliran governor also shared the various accomplishments of the province in terms of health services like the province’ Inter-Local Health Zone where Biliran topped in Region 8 and placed fifth in the entire country; declared as rabies-free in 2012 and maintained the status as a filaria-free province since 2010; consistent top performer in 2011 at the national level since it ranked first among the six health indicators LGU scorecards (top performer in household with access to safe water, maternity care package, TB-DOTS program, TB case detection, TB cure rate);top performing province in Region 8 in the field of health services, information system, facility-based deliveries, nutrition.
He also made mentioned of the 95 college scholars who were able to graduate in 2013; 84 in 2012; 45 in 2011 and 42 in 2010.
Espina also presented the sharp drop in the poverty incidence in Biliran province from 34.6% in 2009 to just 20.7% in 2012 based on the report from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).
He added that Biliran province also has the lowest poverty incidence among the six provinces in Region 8 where it climbed to cluster three composed of 18 provinces nationwide including big provinces like Cebu, Iloilo, Palawan. Likewise, Biliran topped among these 18 provinces that belong to cluster three as the province with the lowest poverty incidence.
Espina who was given a fresh three-year mandate to serve as Biliran governor starting July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016, called for cooperation and unity of the Biliranons for the sustainability of the positive gains achieved by the province and for the continuity of its progress.
Meanwhile, Re-elected Biliran Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. administered today, Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Nipa Hut in the capitol compound, the oath-taking of Biliran Vice-Governor-elect Eriberto D. Tubis, Sr., re-elected provincial board members Brigido C. Caneja III and Eden S. Apolinar of the first district; Dominador Corpin, Rolando Sabornido and Atty Edgar Igano of the second district; and the newly-elected and re-elected municipal councilors of Naval namely: Engr. Ricardo Kho, Miguel Casas, Eduardo Gaviola, Ofelia Tabla-Espina including the new president of the Association of Barangay Captain of Naval, Libtong Barangay Captain Judy Espregante and of the re-elected Biliran town councilors namely: Ernesto Gelizon, Asisclo Talaogon, Oscar Mejia III and Ma. Esther Hope Trani.
Other newly-elected and re-elected provincial and municipal officials in Biliran province were not present during the oath-taking because they have their scheduled oath-taking on June 30 and some have attended other equally important activities. # (PIA8 Biliran)
