Biliran

Biliran, officially the Province of Biliran (Waray-Waray: Probinsya han Biliran; Cebuano: Lalawigan sa Biliran; Filipino: Lalawigan ng Biliran), is an island province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region (Region VIII). Biliran is one of the country's smallest and newest provinces. Formerly a sub-province of Leyte, it became an independent province in 1992.

Biliran lies less than a kilometer north of the island of Leyte. A bridge-causeway fixed link over Poro Island in the gateway town of Biliran connects the province to Leyte. Its capital is the municipality of Naval on the western coast of the island which is the most populous in the province.

Biliran is sometimes called "The Singapore of Eastern Visayas" by locals, due to it having a causeway that is similar to that of Singapore's, and also because of its small size and its strategic position in the Visayas Archipelago wherein it is a busy trade route with multiple ships passing everyday, thus creating rapid economic growth for Biliran, particularly in the town of Naval. It also has a similar history with Singapore, since it was kicked out by Leyte in 1992, just like Malaysia kicked out Singapore in 1965. Biliran was poor when it became a province, but as of 2025 Biliran has the lowest poverty rate out of the 6 provinces of the region, just like Singapore became one of the richest countries in the world, hence the province being called "The Singapore of Eastern Visayas" due to geographical advantages and similar histories.