Dinagat Islands

This article is about the province. For the municipality, see Dinagat, Dinagat Islands. For the primary/main island of the province, see Dinagat Island.
Dinagat Islands
Province
Province of Dinagat Islands[1]

Seal

Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°06′N 125°36′E / 10.1°N 125.6°E / 10.1; 125.6Coordinates: 10°06′N 125°36′E / 10.1°N 125.6°E / 10.1; 125.6
Country Philippines
Region Caraga (Region XIII)
Founded 2 December 2006
Capital San Jose
Government
 • Type Sangguniang Panlalawigan
 • Governor Glenda Ecleo (UNA)
 • Vice Governor Benglen Ecleo (UNA)
 • Representative Kaka Bag-ao (Liberal)
Area[2]
 • Total 1,036.34 km2 (400.13 sq mi)
Area rank 75th out of 81
Population (2015 census)[3]
 • Total 127,152
 • Rank 77th out of 81
 • Density 120/km2 (320/sq mi)
 • Density rank 65th out of 81
Divisions
 • Independent cities 0
 • Component cities 0
 • Municipalities
 • Barangays 100
 • Districts Lone district of the Dinagat Islands
Time zone PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP code 8411–8415, 8426, 8427
IDD : area code  +63 (0)86
ISO 3166 code PH-DIN
Spoken languages
Website dinagatislands.gov.ph

The Dinagat Islands (Cebuano: Mga Isla sa Dinagat; Surigaonon: Mga Puyo nan Dinagat; Waray: Mga Isla han Dinagat; Filipino: Kapuluang Dinagat) (PSGC: 168500000;[4] ISO: PH-DIN) are a group of islands constituting a province in the Caraga region in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. The island of Leyte is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south. Its main island, Dinagat, is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) from north to south. Declared a province in 2006, the Dinagat Islands comprise the second newest province of the Philippines, with Davao Occidental (2013) being the newest.

History

An old map showing the current territories of the province as part of the historical province of Surigao
Surigao province map in 1918

The province is known as one of the archipelago's holiest sites in the Pre-Christian native religion. It is here where the God of Hurricanes was persuaded to relent his attacks on the islands by Da, the God of Peace. The province in pre-colonial times was much influenced by the Rajahnate of Butuan which was nestled in present-day Agusan del Norte. It was also used as the entry point of the Rahajnate of Ternate, present-day Moluccas of Indonesia, to attack the Rajahnate of Butuan, Rajahnate of Cebu, the indigenous settlements in the Anda Peninsula of Bohol, and the Kingdom of Dapitan (located 'between Panglao and Bohol), which later moved in northern Zamboanga after the Kingdom of Dapitan was destroyed.

Although one of the newest provinces of the country, settlements in the Dinagat Islands were already present during the Spanish regime as a result of migration of people from nearby provinces of Bohol and Leyte. The so-called mystical province played an important role in the country's history, particularly during World War II. Adding to the historical significance of the province is the foundation of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association by Ruben Ecleo, Sr.

The municipality of Dinagat is the oldest community in the province. In the early days, a story was told that a stranger reached the place in search of greener pastures. He approached a native and asked what the inhabitants do for a living. The natives said that they farm and fish to live. The stranger's interest in fishing prompted him to inquire where they fish, and the native replied and pointed to a place saying dinhi niini na dagat (here from this bountiful waters). Since then, the place was called "Dinagat".

The municipality was formally established in 1855. It occupies the territorial boundaries of the whole island. From 1890 to 1990 its boundaries were gradually reduced giving rise to six municipalities, Loreto, Cagdianao, Libjo, Basilisa, Tubajon and San Jose.

Loreto became a Spanish pueblo on September 4, 1890 under the supervision of Governor General Manuel Sanchez by the virtue of Direccion General No. 30. It was originally called Mabua due to the ever-foaming river that runs right into the center of the community. It was named Loreto in 1881 by the Spanish priest who frequents the town, in honor of the wife of the Alcalde Mayor of the Province of Surigao.

The province was the site of the historic Battle of Surigao Strait during the Second World War. The Municipality of Loreto became the entry point of the American Liberation Forces on October 17, 1944. It was on this shore that the 6th Ranger Battalion of the 6th U.S. Army under Col. Mucci landed at Sitio Campinta of Barangay Panamaon in Loreto. It was during this landing that the first American flag flew on Philippine soil since the Japanese invasion in 1941. The Americans named the place "Black Beach No. 2."

The northern part of the island served as a refuge for the American soldiers, while the western border was held by Japanese forces. Capsized vessel structures are still found today in the waters of Basilisa.

On December 23, 1959, Cagdianao was created into a municipality under Executive Order No. 367.[5] Its name came from the Spanish word Cada dia linao meaning "everyday peaceful and calm". However some scholars say that its name came from the Visayan word Taga Danaw meaning "the lake people".

Libjo was created into a municipality and named Albor on February 29, 1960 under Executive Order No. 381.[6] It was taken from the municipalities of Dinagat and Loreto. Albor came from the surname of the mayors of Loreto and Dinagat — Alfaro and Borja. It was renamed as Libjo on June 17, 1967. The name came from the word Liboo, a kind of mussel clam.

Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Shrine built and maintained by members of the association in memory of Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. the founder of the PBMA, Situated at Aurelio, San Jose.

In 1965, Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. founded the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) at Sitio Puyange, now Poblacion in San Jose. PBMA is a non-sectarian organization bounded by a strong spirit of brotherhood. Not long after that, members from all over the Philippines migrated to the island to be in constant association with their founder.

Meanwhile, Basilisa became a municipality in June 17, 1967 under Republic Act No. 4986. It was then named as Rizal, after the country's national hero.[7] The municipality was renamed as Basilisa on June 21, 1969 under Republic Act. No. 5775.[8]

Tubajon, which was once a barangay of Loreto, became a municipality in June 21, 1969 under Republic Act No. 5643. According to local folklore, during the Spanish regime, a banca boarded with Guardia Civils landed in the shores of Tubajon in search of a criminal. One of them came across a river and saw a man pounding leaves. Curious, he asked the man, "What will you do with it?" The man answered "Akong Tubajon ang suba aron sayon dakpon ang mga isda" (I will poison the river with Tuba leaves so that the fishes could be easily caught). When the man returned to the group, he narrated everything he saw and heard from the native to his companions. From then on, the place was called Tubajon.

The newest municipality is San Jose, created on November 15, 1989, under Republic Act No. 6769.[9] The town was named in honor of Jose Ecleo who was its pioneer and father of the late mayor of the municipality of Dinagat, Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. The town is the seat of the PBMA.

The Dinagat Islands was part of the First District of Surigao del Norte Province until it became a province on December 2, 2006, with the approval of Republic Act No. 9355 (authored by Rep. Glenda B. Ecleo), the Charter of the Province of the Dinagat Islands, in a plebiscite.[1] President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed the province's first set of officials on January 26, 2007.[10] Provincial officials were first elected a few months later, in the May 14, 2007 elections; these elected officials took office on July 1, 2007.[10]

On February 11, 2010, the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the creation of the Dinagat Islands Province null and void on grounds of failure to meet land area and population requirements for the creation of local government units.[11][12][13] The decision was not yet rendered final and executory before the May 10, 2010 elections; therefore the Commission on Elections still organized the elections for the province's separate congressional representative and provincial officials.[14] Although the original decision was made final and executory on May 18, 2010—thereby reverting the Dinagat Islands to Surigao del Norte—the officials elected in 2010 continued to serve the province, even throughout the legal battles that followed, which eventually saw the Supreme Court reverse its position.[10]

On April 12, 2011 the Supreme Court reversed its earlier ruling,[15] upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 9355 and validating the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province. An Entry of Judgment on October 24, 2012 ended the legal battles surrounding the status of the province, and finalized the separation of Dinagat Islands from Surigao del Norte.[16]

Geography

Caraga region map showing the Dinagat Islands

Located to the northeast of Surigao del Norte, the Dinagat Islands are separated physically from the mainland of Surigao City by a narrow channel, which takes about 45 minutes to cross by pumpboat from the Surigao City Port to San Jose Port. The province is one of the smallest island provinces in the country with a total land area of 1,036.34 square kilometres (400.13 sq mi).[4]

The province consists of the eponymous Dinagat Island and surrounding islands and islets, including Cabilan Island in Dinagat, La Isla Aga and Lalaking Bukid in Basilisa, Kisses Islets in Libjo, and Stingray Islet and Puyo Islet in Loreto.

The Dinagat Islands are known for its caves, resorts, and beaches. These include Bitaug Beach, Campintac Black Beach No. 2, Linao Spring Resort, and San Juan Cave (all in Loreto), Lake Bababu, Puerto Prinsesa Beach & Hagakhak Cave in Basilisa, Tagberayan Beach, Sayaw Beach, Legaspi Water Falls, Hinabyan and Leandro's Beach Resort in Cagdianao, Talisay Beach in Tubajon, Quano Blue Lagoon and Quano Cave, Ben Paz Mountain Resort and Oasis Islet Resort in Libjo, and the Cab-ilan Beach & Cab-ilan Gamay Beach in Dinagat.

Administrative divisions

The Dinagat Islands province comprises seven (7) municipalities, all encompassed by a single legislative district.

Municipality [lower-roman 1][lower-roman 2] Population ±% p.a. Area[4] Density Brgy.
(2015)[3] (2010)[17] km2 sq mi /km2 /sq mi
9°59′55″N 125°30′37″E / 9.9985°N 125.5104°E / 9.9985; 125.5104 (Basilisa) Basilisa (Rizal) 29.0% 36,880 33,880 +1.63% 92.68 35.78 400 1,000 27
9°55′22″N 125°40′19″E / 9.9229°N 125.6719°E / 9.9229; 125.6719 (Cagdianao) Cagdianao 13.2% 16,808 15,047 +2.13% 249.48 96.32 67 170 14
9°57′39″N 125°35′28″E / 9.9609°N 125.5911°E / 9.9609; 125.5911 (Dinagat) Dinagat 8.4% 10,632 12,786 −3.45% 139.94 54.03 76 200 12
10°11′43″N 125°31′57″E / 10.1953°N 125.5325°E / 10.1953; 125.5325 (Libjo) Libjo (Albor) 14.0% 17,760 17,567 +0.21% 180.57 69.72 98 250 16
10°21′33″N 125°34′45″E / 10.3592°N 125.5793°E / 10.3592; 125.5793 (Loreto) Loreto 7.3% 9,309 8,920 +0.82% 255.87 98.79 36 93 10
10°00′34″N 125°34′15″E / 10.0095°N 125.5708°E / 10.0095; 125.5708 (San Jose) San Jose † 21.6% 27,487 31,035 −2.29% 27.80 10.73 990 2,600 12
10°19′38″N 125°33′22″E / 10.3272°N 125.5562°E / 10.3272; 125.5562 (Tubajon) Tubajon 6.5% 8,276 7,568 +1.72% 90.00 34.75 92 240 9
Total 127,152 126,803 +0.05% 1,036.34 400.13 120 310 100
 †  Provincial capital      Municipality
  1. ↑ Former names are italicized.
  2. ↑ The globe 
    icon marks the town center.

Demographics

Population census of
the Dinagat Islands
YearPop.±% p.a.
1990 98,865—    
1995 100,537+0.31%
2000 106,951+1.33%
2007 120,813+1.70%
2010 126,803+1.78%
2015 127,152+0.05%
Source: National Statistics Office[3][17][18]

The population of the Dinagat Islands in the 2015 census was 127,152 people,[3] with a density of 120 inhabitants per square kilometre or 310 inhabitants per square mile.

Old settlers of the province are called "Lumad". Residents of the Dinagat Islands are called "Dinagatnon". The Dinagat Islands is predominantly a Cebuano-speaking province. However, towns facing the Surigao del Norte are Surigaonon-speaking, particularly the municipalities of Dinagat and Cagdianao due to their proximity to the province of Surigao del Norte. Influences of the Cebuano and Boholano languages with a Tausug accent can be traced. A majority speak English.

Religion

Religious breakdown in the province shows Roman Catholicism at majority with 53% adherence while Aglipayan is the significant minority religion at 23%. Other minority religions are the Seventh-day Adventists (12%), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (4%), Iglesia Ni Cristo (3%) and other smaller Christian groups (Dinagat Island Socio Economic Factbook, 2007).

Recent cultural, religious and socioeconomic changes of the province have allowed the rebound of Roman Catholics (and Aglipayans in some degree) and their numbers have constantly increased; the province had experienced a Catholic decline in several decades (1970s-early 2000s) due to immigration of the members of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association in 1960s. There were some decades (1990s-2000s) where Roman Catholics became minority with as low as 37% of the population.

Several religious conflicts were recorded in the province. But at present, religious harmony is relatively observed in most parts of Dinagat Island.

Culture

The Dinagat Islands have unique structures and landmarks as reminders of an affluent way of life.

Islander's Castle at San Jose. Owned by Governor Glenda Buray Ecleo.

Some of which are:

Festivals

Government

The Governor of the Dinagat Islands is the local chief executive of the province of the Dinagat Islands.

No. Name Took office Left office Party
1 Geraldine B. Ecleo-Villaroman 2007 2010
3 Glenda B. Ecleo 2010 2013 Lakas-Kampi
2013 2016 Nacionalista
2016 present UNA

Environment and wildlife

The Dinagat Islands is one of the most environmentally-significant provinces in the Philippines, where endemism of fauna is unique in its region. Animals that are endemic to the province include the critically endangered Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat which was recently rediscovered after decades of disappearance, the endangered Dinagat hairy-tailed rat, Dinagat Gymnure which has been declared by the EDGE Species Programme of the Zoological Society of London as one of the top 100 most evolutionary distinct and globally endangered species in the world, and a strange sub-species of the Philippine Tarsier which is unusually larger and darker in color than the common Philippine tarsier. The province is highly forested and is considered as a Key Biodiversity Area by Haribon Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines because of its unique fauna and flora, along with its lush rainforest which are classified as primary forests, or forests which have never been fully obliterated since pre-colonial times.

UNESCO has once recommended the filing of UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for areas in the country with high endemism rate and high conservation rate, such as the Dinagat Islands. The UNESCO nomination bid of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary of Davao Oriental was approved last 2014 after the government filed a nomination for it after the UNESCO recommendation.

References

  1. 1 2 "Republic Act No. 9355. An Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "List of Provinces". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Census of Population (2015): Highlights of the Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population (Report). PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Province: Dinagat Islands". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Executive Order No. 367; Creating the Municipality of Cagdianao in the Province of Surigao". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Executive Order No. 381; Creating the Municipality of Albor in the Province of Surigao". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Republic Act No. 4986 - An Act Creating the Municipality of Rizal in the Province of Surigao del Norte". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Republic Act No. 5775 - An Act Creating the Municipality of Basilisa in the Province of Surigao del Norte". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Republic Act No. 6769; An Act Creating the Municipality of San Jose in the Province of Surigao del Norte". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Famacion, Lilibeth A. (March 5, 2014). "DILG-13 Opinion No. 003-2014" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government - Region XIII. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Rempillo, Jay B. (11 February 2010). "SC Voids Creation of the Province of Dinagat Islands". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "SC says Dinagat Islands no longer a province". ABS-CBN News. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "G.R. No. 180050, Promulgated: February 11, 2010". Philippine Government Supreme Court Judiciary. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  14. ↑ Commission on Elections (March 9, 2010). "COMELEC Resolution No. 8790" (PDF). Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ Nachura, Antonio Eduardo B. (April 12, 2011). "G.R. No. 180050, Promulgated: April 12, 2011". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  16. ↑ Department of Budget and Management (January 9, 2013). "IRA Shares for LGUs Jump by 37.5% in 2013". Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010): Population and Annual Growth Rates for The Philippines and Its Regions, Provinces, and Highly Urbanized Cities (PDF) (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "CARAGA". Census of Population and Housing (2010): Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay (Report). NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Tubajon Bat Sanctuary
  20. ↑ Turtz on the Go: Dinagat Islands, "The Mystical Island, Province of Love"
 Eastern Samar
Leyte Gulf
Southern Leyte / Surigao Strait Philippine Sea
   Dinagat Islands  
Hiniyuan Passage
Surigao del Norte
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