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About - Dinagat Islands
Generation of a quality plan is influenced by the type and nature of information available. Accurate and timely data is needed to reduce the uncertainties of the future. Better decisions lead to better outcomes and are expected to create positive impact. The Islandscape Profile of the province gives equal coverage to the built form and the unbuilt environment. This document complements to the Provincial Development Physical Framework Plan and address the data requirements in enhancing it. The profiling is important for it determines the current level of services that could be provided to the constituents: as to what resources are available, and those environmental factors that will affect policy and to what policies are expected to create better impact. Moreover, this document will provide an evidence-based planning and decision making for a rational, holistic, just that is consistent with the principles of the common good, social justice, equity, and sustainable development. The Provincial Planning and Development Office by virtue of its functions under R.A. 7160 is responsible in preparing the profile and spearheading the analysis of the data gathered. The profile is an outcome of various data gathering methods by the provincial offices, national government agencies and private sectors operating within the province. This book includes data on the population and social services, local economy, infrastructure and physical base, environmental management and natural resources and local institutional capability.
The following are the most frequently asked questions about the Dinagat Islands province.
Where in the Philippines is Dinagat Islands located? Dinagat Islands is located on the northeastern section of Mindanao.
Is Dinagat Islands a city or province? Dinagat Islands is a province.
What is the Capital of Dinagat Islands? The capital of Dinagat Islands is San Jose.
What is Dinagat Islands famous or known for? Dinagat Islands is famous or known for caves, resorts, and beaches.
Scope & limitations
Given the coverage mentioned above, the information in this publication is dependent on the available level of disaggregation of data. Considering that Dinagat Islands is one of the newly created province where most of the data are still part of the mother province of Surigao del Norte. The publication is annually done, hence, this edition focuses only on the data available as of December 2022. Some of the statistical reports have available information of the previous years and/or may provide statistical estimates for the upcoming years.
“Black Beach No. 2”
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 Maj. Henry A. Mucci landed at Sitio Campintac of Barangay Panamaon, Loreto. It was during this landing that the American flag was first rehoisted on Philippine soil after the Philippine-American Forces were defeated at the start of World War II by the Japanese Forces. They named the place “Black Beach No. 2”. The brave stance of the combined Philippine-American Forces in Loreto helped opened the door of Philippine liberation from the claws of Imperial Japan that culminated in the withdrawal of the Japanese Forces from the Philippine soil.
History
In 1965, Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. founded the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association Inc. (PBMA Inc.) at Sitio Puyange Barangay Matingbe of Dinagat Municipality. PBMA is a non-sectarian brotherhood association with a mission to help those who are in need, especially those sick people through divine healing without asking anything in return. The charismatic leadership and power to heal the sick by Ruben Edera Ecleo,Sr. and his missioners spread like wild fires in many provinces of the country, attracting more people to join PBMA. In the later part of 1960s, members of the association began to settle in the islands that led to the increase in its population. Later, the Sitio Puyangi became Barangay San Jose of Dinagat where the main office of PBMA was located. The barangay was named in honor of Jose Ecleo who was its pioneer settler and father of the late founder of PBMA. Ruben Edera Ecleo, Sr. served as municipal mayor in the town of Dinagat for 20 years. During that time, great improvement was observed in Barangay San Jose and in other neighboring places through voluntary labor or “pahina” rendered by the members of the Association. Thus, in 1980, Barangay San Jose became the “Most Outstanding Barangay” in the Philippines. The establishment of a haven for the members of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association in different barangays of Dinagat Municipality in 1970’s changed the local socio-political dynamics in Dinagat Islands. Their arrival suddenly highlighted the need of more social services in the area and the creation of San Jose Municipality which is now the center of trade in the island. The new province has seven (7) municipalities and forty-seven (47) islands & islets with Dinagat Island as the biggest and where all seats of municipal governments are now located. The Municipality of Dinagat is the oldest and the mother municipality of the province. The seven municipalities used to be part of the First District of the Province of Surigao del Norte until the province was created on October 2, 2006 through Republic Act No. 9355.
“dinhi niini na dagat”
Even before the coming of the Spaniards, the major islands now under the Province of Dinagat Islands were already sparsely inhabited by emigrants coming from mainland Surigao and the nearby islands of Visayas particularly Leyte, Bohol, Samar and Cebu. In the early days, a story was told that a stranger reached the place in search of greener pasture. He approached a native and asked what the inhabitants do for a living. The native 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 in this sea). Since then, the place was called Dinagat. Little is written about the ancient history of Dinagat Islands. However, the 20th century witnessed the emergence of the islands in the map of the Philippines. Three major events captured national attention and changed the lives of Dinagatnons. These are: 1) the great cholera epidemic of early 1900’s, 2) the Battle of Surigao Strait, and 3) the influx of the member of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) in the island. The spread of the great cholera epidemic from Manila to Dinagat Islands in July 1902 resulted to an octopus effect in the area threatening to dissipate Dinagat’s sparse population. This epidemic claimed 58 deaths in the towns of Dinagat, Unip, Sabanay, Libjo and Melgar alerting health authorities on end. Their epic quest to contain its spread was very well documented in Philippine medical journals.
Getting here
Municipalities & Islands
The Dinagat Islands Province are divided into 7 municipalities:
Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, San Jose, Tubajon
Islands
There are 25 outlying islands surrounding the mainland of Dinagat Islands which are under the jurisdiction of the province.
Bilabid Island, Cabilan Island, East Cabilan Island, Hagakhak Island, Hibusong Island, Kanhanusa Island, Kanhatid Island, Kanihaan Island, Kasundalo Island, Kisses Islets, La Isla Aga, Lalaking Bukid, Lingig Island, Little Hagakhak Island, Kotkot Island, Polo, Puyo Islet, Sayaw Island, Sibanac Island, Sibucaoan Island, Stingray Islet, Tabuk Island, Twin Islands, Unib Island
