The Provincial Government of Northern Samar took a bold step to officially launch its bid to declare the Biri Rock Formations as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) global geopark.
Last March 23 to 26, 2025, a team composed of geologists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), representing the National Committee on Geological Sciences (NCGS), conducted a fieldwork to provide technical assistance in gathering data that will be used to support the establishment of Northern Samar as one of UNESCO’s Global Geopark.
Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando (left on the left picture), Leopoldo T. Virtucio (left on the right picture), Senior Science Research Specialist of MGB-CO, and Mr. Edrian M. Tubalado (right on the right picture), Geologist II and a MS Student of UP NIGS during a courtesy call with the Northern Samar Provincial Planning and Development Office.
Sites visited included rock formations in the Municipalities of Palapag, Mapanas, Allen, Lavezares and Biri. The highlight of the fieldwork was the visit to the Biri Rocks in the Municipality of Biri. The unique composition of the rocks comprising the famous 7 rock formations along the northeastern coast of the island made it possible for the island to be formally declared as a National Geological Monument (NGM) after more than two decades since the last NGM declaration. The site is now a geological wonder as significant as the Montalban Gorge (Rodriguez, Rizal), Taal Volcano (Batangas), Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes (Ilocos Norte), Hundred Islands (Alaminos, Pangasinan), St. Paul Limestone Formation (Puerto Princesa) and Chocolate Hills (Bohol).
Dr. Fernando (center) presenting a token of Philippine rock collection to the Province of Northern Samar with Dr. Kevin Garas (left) of the MGB-CO.
On June 4, 2025, the Launching Ceremony of Biri Rocks National Geological Monument was conducted with the presence of UNESCO National Commission Philippines Secretary General, Dr. Ivan Anthony Henares, the Provincial Government leadership of Governor Edwin Ongchuan through Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Biri Mayor Amelita Delos Reyes, and NCGS Member and UP NIGS Prof. Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando. According to UNESCO Secretary General Henares, the province of Northern Samar and the rest of Eastern Visayas “harbors many other geologically sites” that await recognition and the declaration of the new NGM is a “testament to the region’s geological richness and heritage.”
The Magasang Formation Proposed Stratotype of Biri, Northern Samar (pictures courtesy of Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando).