Governor of Biliran
{{Short description|Local chief executive}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = Biliran
| image = Biliran Gov Gerard Roger Espina.jpg
| incumbent = Gerard Roger Espina
| incumbentsince = June 30, 2022
| style = His Excellency, The Honorable
| seat = Biliran Provincial Capitol
| termlength = 3 years, renewable for 3 consecutive terms
| formation = April 8, 1959 (as Sub-Province of Leyte by virtue of Republic Act No. 2141)
May 11, 1992 (as Independent Province by virtue of Republic Act No. 7160)
| deputy = Vice Governor Brigido C. Caneja III
| succession =
| inaugural = {{ubl|Uldarico R. Reyes (Sub-Province)|Wayne M. Jaro (Province)}}
| website = {{url|biliran.gov.ph|Official website}}
}}
The governor of Biliran ({{langx |fil|Punong Lalawigan ng Biliran}}) is the local chief executive of the Philippine province of Biliran. The governor holds office at the Biliran Provincial Capitol located at Brgy. Calumpang, Naval, Biliran. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the governor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term (although the former governor may return to office after an interval of one term). In case of death, resignation or incapacity, the vice governor becomes the governor.{{cite web |title=Republic Act No. 7160 |url=https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html |website=lawphil.net |accessdate=13 December 2019 |archive-date=18 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318005919/http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html |url-status=dead }}
The current governor is Rogelio J. Espina who was elected during the last May 13, 2019 local elections. He previously served as governor for 3 consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010.{{cite news |author1=Marie Tonette Marticio |title=Espina clan still holds sway in Biliran |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/21/espina-clan-still-holds-sway-in-biliran/ |accessdate=13 December 2019 |publisher=Manila Bulletin News |date=21 May 2019}}{{cite news |author1=Rodrigo S. Victoria |title=Biliran governor lays down plans in first day of office |url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1023997 |accessdate=13 December 2019 |publisher=Philippine Information Agency |date=2 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Biliran - Region VIII |url=https://lga.gov.ph/province/info/biliran |website=lga.gov.ph |accessdate=14 December 2019}}
History
On April 15, 1959, President Carlos P. Garcia appointed Caibiran Mayor Uldarico R. Reyes as its first lieutenant governor of Biliran which was made as a sub-province of Leyte after the enactment of Republic Act No. 2141.{{cite web |title=Appointments and Designations: July 13, 1959 |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1959/07/13/appointments-and-designations-july-13-1959/ |website=officialgazette.gov.ph |accessdate=13 December 2019}} Reyes assumed the position on October 25, 1959. Thereafter, the position was generally elected.{{cite web |author1=Atty. Jose C. Gonzales |title=A Position Paper on the Formal Recognition of Biliran as a Separate, Independent and Autonomous Regular Province |url=http://www.oocities.org/rolborr/bilpospaper.html |website=oocities.org |accessdate=13 December 2019}}
Subsequently, the title of lieutenant governor was changed into a governor on June 21, 1969 pursuant to Republic Act No. 5977 thereby giving the office holder the executive powers of a provincial governor.
List of governors
This is the list of governors who served the province of Biliran since becoming a sub-province of Leyte to the present day:{{cite web |title=Provincial Governors |url=http://biliran.gov.ph/provincial-governors/ |website=biliran.gov.ph |accessdate=13 December 2019}}{{cite web |title=Provincial Elective Officials |url=https://www.oocities.org/rolborr/elective.html |website=oocities.org |accessdate=14 December 2019}}
= Sub-province of Leyte =
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: center;" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! style="text-align: center;" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! style="text-align: center;" | Lieutenant Governor ! style="text-align: center;" | Start of term ! style="text-align: center;" | End of term ! style="text-align: center;" | Special Board Member |
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center;" | Biliran Sub-Province of Leyte (1959-1992) |
|---|
| 1
| 1 | Uldarico R. Reyes | 1959 | 1963 | Carlota Limpiado |
| 2
| 2 | Jorge A. Zamora | 1963 | 1967 | Jesus Maderazo |
| (1)
| (1) | Uldarico R. Reyes | 1967 {{ref|gov|1}} | 1971 | Leoncio Limpiado |
| rowspan="2" | 3
| rowspan="2" | 3 | rowspan="2" | Teofilo D. Sabonsolin | 1971 | 1980 | rowspan="2" | Hospicio Tiu |
| 1980 {{ref|gov|2}}
| 1986 |
| 4
| 4 | Jose C. Gonzales {{ref|gov|3}} | 1986 | 1986 | Arturo A. Velasquez {{ref|gov|3}} |
| —
| — | Lolita S. Velasquez {{ref|gov|4}} | 1986 | 1987 | rowspan="4" | Dalmacio Colasito, Jr. |
| —
| — | Jacinto Barbanida {{ref|gov|4}} | 1987 | 1987 |
| (4)
| (4) | Jose C. Gonzales | 1987 | 1992 |
| 5
| 5 | Wayne M. Jaro {{ref|gov|4}} | 1992 | 1992 |
;Notes
:{{ref|gov|1}} The title of lieutenant governor was changed into a governor on June 21, 1969 pursuant to Republic Act No. 5977.
:{{ref|gov|2}} Term extended without election.
:{{ref|gov|3}} Office-in-charge.
:{{ref|gov|4}} Governor-appointee.
= Province =
| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: center;" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! style="text-align: center;" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! style="text-align: center;" | Image ! style="text-align: center;" | Governor ! style="text-align: center;" | Start of term ! style="text-align: center;" | End of term ! style="text-align: center;" | Vice Governor |
| colspan="7" style="text-align: center;" | Province of Biliran (1992–present) |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | (5)
| rowspan="2" | 1 | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | Wayne M. Jaro | 1992 {{ref|gov|1}} | 1995 | rowspan="2" | Danilo M. Parilla |
| 1995
| 1998 |
| 6
| 2 | | Danilo M. Parilla | 1998 | 2001 | rowspan="3" | Carlos L. Chan |
| rowspan="3" | 7
| rowspan="3" | 3 | rowspan="3" | 100px | rowspan="3" | Rogelio J. Espina | 2001 | 2004 |
| 2004
| 2007 |
| 2007
| 2010 | Lucila C. Curso |
| rowspan="3" | 8
| rowspan="3" | 4 | rowspan="3" | 100px | rowspan="3" | Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. | 2010 | 2013 | Manuel Montejo |
| 2013
| 2016 | rowspan="2" | Eriberto D. Tubis, Jr. |
| 2016
| 2019 |
| (7)
| (3) | 100px | 2019 | 2022 | rowspan="2" | Brigido C. Caneja III |
| 9
|5 |Gerard Roger Espina{{Cite web |title=Same families to rule Leyte, Biliran provinces |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174055 |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.pna.gov.ph |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Directory of Governors (2022-2025) {{!}} League of Provinces of the Philippines Online |url=https://lpp.gov.ph/directory-of-governors-2022-2025/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |language=en-US}} |2022 |present |
;Notes
:{{ref|gov|1}} Appointed.