BARANGAY BINENG

MISSION/VISION/GOALS

Mission

To promote one united community by strengthening the programs offered by Government Organizations (GO’s) or Non-government Organizations (NGO’s) and to initiate non-discriminatory activities.

Vision

Barangay Bineng is a God-loving, progressive, an agri-tourism, and a child-friendly barangay, where citizens are values-oriented under participative governance.

Goals

1. To maintain peace and order in the barangay.
2. To encourage participation among the barangay constituents.
3. To provide comprehensive barangay infrastructures or facilities.
4. To be a tourist destination.

BARANGAY BINENG

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

During the pre-Spanish times, Bineng was covered with thick lush forest where wild animals roamed around.  It is unknown if there were any settlements in the area.  It was originally part of the Municipality of Disdis, what is known today as Sablan.

During the Spanish period, the peopling of the area was due to the out-migration movement from the valley area of La Trinidad.  The migration picture of the Spanish was of forced labor, cruelty and exorbitant taxation.  These led many to go into hiding by moving towards the adjoining areas of Bineng, Beckel, Wamgal and Shilan.

The Spaniards appointed “Capitanes” or “Capitanes de Barangay” to join their rank and file.  Among those appointed was Saroyo who held the position at Bineng.  Saroyo, along with the others acted as liaison officers of the Spanish authorities to the local residents.

During the American period, Bineng produced Baldomero Namoro as Municipal District President of L a Trinidad for two terms in 1918-1919 to 1919-1920.  The system of election was done by first establishing the qualified voters.  Since there was no system of establishing those who have reached the age of 18, they were identified according to height and appearance.  The biggest number of followers who gathers around a candidate declares the winner of the election process.

The succeeding elections were won by assigning a color to a candidate.  The candidate who gathers the most number of colors is declared the winner.  As many began to learn to write, the elections were done through ballots.

It is said that during his term, Namoro would donate his one-month salary of Ᵽ35.00 for the conduct of festivities at the old municipal building which was located at the site where the Provincial Capitol building now stands at Poblacion.  One of the significant contributions of Namoro was the settling of boundary disputes between Sablan, Tublay and La Trinidad.

Some of the people of Bineng were able to enroll at the La Trinidad Farm School that was established in 1916 at the Balili area.  Mr. James A. Wright was teacher and Mr. Harold was school principal.  In 1924, a student demonstration occurred.  Apparently, the children of the farmers were required to use short pants and short-sleeved shirts while the others would use long pants and long sleeved shirts.  This apparent discrimination led the students like Bado Dangwa and Tomas Namoro to demonstrate against the school administration.  After this, some students stopped attending school.

The declaration of all public and idle lands for school reservations for the La Trinidad Farm School in the 1920’s led to the displacement of residents staying in the valley area.  This bought them to outlaying areas such as Bineng.

There are also memories of what the old folks referred to as the white ma’s disease:  cholera and chicken pox which occurred in the early 1990s.  Many died and there are no medicines.  It is said that Kafiri and Andulay, both from Bineng saved lives when they get thought of getting some puss from the dead victims and instituted it other people with the use of thorns.  Those “vaccinated” survived the epidemics.

During the Japanese Occupation, many loyal Ibalois were imprisoned and pitilessly tortured.  Life became very difficult and the guerilla movement started.  An organization of “bolo” men so-named because their only weapon was their own bolo was formed.  The bolo men became the basic support group of the guerilla movement.  The men of Bineng also became members of the bolo me.  They fed and acted as spies for the guerillas against the Japanese Imperial Army.

After the war, the task of re-building lives started.  Commercial farming started while rice continued to be planted in Bodiweng.  The Hydro-Electric Development Corporation likewise developed in the Bineng Mini-hydroelectric Power System.  In 1993, Bineng became one of the recipients of the Highland Integrated Rural Development Project (HIRDP) wherein farm-to-market-roads, irrigation system, rural waterworks system and post harvest facilities were constructed.  Cooperative building was likewise institutionalized.

Today, Bineng retains its rustic beauty amidst the development in the area.  It boasts of its abundant water supply and beautiful scenic spots.  Located 500 meters above sea level, Bineng has earned for itself the moniker of having natural and man-made tourist spots of mini-rice terraces, caves, fresh water and hot springs.

Due to its low-lying topography, water from the Balili River and its tributaries drain to the Danao River at Bineng.  The water here is naturally damned.  The barangay is so-named by this distinction of the natural dam by the river.  Locally termed “Nabneng”, the area was later called “Bineng”.