The Municipality of Dinagat is the oldest town on the island that gave the province its name — the first Spanish pueblo and Catholic parish on Dinagat, created in 1855[2]. Today it is the smallest of the seven municipalities by land area[1], but it is the "mother town" from which Cagdianao, Basilisa and San Jose — and part of Libjo — were formed[4][5][7][8].

At a glance

ProvinceDinagat Islands, Caraga (Region XIII)[10]
Land area21.36 km² — 2.61% of the province[1]
Barangays12[1]
Population10,621 (2020 Census); 10,632 (2015); 3,050 (1903)[1]
Founded25 April 1855, as a Spanish pueblo and parish[2]
NeighboursSan Jose, Cagdianao, Basilisa and Libjo; across the water, San Francisco and Tagana-an (Surigao del Norte)[1]

Location

The town centre lies at about 9.9609° N, 125.5911° E, some 11.6 m above sea level, on the southern part of Dinagat Island[1].

Dinagat — the marker shows the town centre. Open the larger map · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

History

The first town on the island

In 1609 the Spanish established a town in nearby Surigao, and Dinagat was considered part of its jurisdiction[3]. As settlements grew, the priest recommended a separate town, and on 25 April 1855 Governor-General Crespo created Dinagat as the first Spanish pueblo and the first Catholic parish on the island, covering Libjo, Loreto, Tubajon and Cagdianao. Its first gobernadorcillo (town head), for 1855–1856, was Pedro Ga Ventura[2].

The mother town

In the 20th century, one new town after another was formed from Dinagat's barrios:

  • 1959 — Cagdianao, from eleven of its barrios (Executive Order No. 367, 23 December 1959)[4].
  • 1960 — Albor, today Libjo, from the barrios of Osmeña, Kahayag, Arellano and Plaridel of Dinagat together with four barrios of Loreto (Executive Order No. 381, 29 February 1960)[5].
  • 1967 and 1969 — Rizal and then Basilisa, from its western barrios (Republic Acts No. 4986 and 5775)[6][7].
  • 1989 — San Jose, from twelve of its barangays (Republic Act No. 6769, 15 November 1989)[8].

In 2006 Dinagat became one of the seven municipalities of the new Province of Dinagat Islands[10].

People and barangays

The town counted 3,050 people in the 1903 census and 10,621 in 2020 — 8.29% of the province[1]. Its 12 barangays are Bagumbayan, Cabayawan, Cab-ilan, Cayetano, Escolta (Poblacion), Gomez, Justiniana Edera, Magsaysay, Mauswagon (Poblacion), New Mabuhay, Wadas and White Beach[1].

Places to visit

  • Islander Beach (Barangay Cab-ilan) — sugary white sand, about 30 minutes by boat from Dinagat's municipal port[9].
  • Cab-ilan Rock Formation Dive Site — sea-carved rock formations in Cab-ilan[9].
  • Bijasong Beach Resort (Barangay White Beach) — a long stretch of sand framed by coconut trees[9].
  • PBMA Founder's Monument — built by members of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association as a tribute to its founder, Ruben E. Ecleo Sr.[9]

See our tours and How to Get Here.

The other municipalities: Basilisa · Cagdianao · Libjo · Loreto · San Jose · Tubajon · About Dinagat Islands

References

  1. PhilAtlas. Dinagat, Dinagat Islands Profile (based on Philippine Statistics Authority data). Source
  2. Municipality of Dinagat. Historical Background. Source
  3. Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands. History of Dinagat Islands. Source
  4. Office of the President. Executive Order No. 367 — Creating the Municipality of Cagdianao in the Province of Surigao (23 December 1959). LawPhil Project. Source
  5. Office of the President. Executive Order No. 381 — Creating the Municipality of Albor in the Province of Surigao (29 February 1960). LawPhil Project. Source
  6. Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 4986 — An Act Creating the Municipality of Rizal in the Province of Surigao del Norte (approved 17 June 1967). LawPhil Project. Source
  7. Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 5775 — An Act Creating the Municipality of Basilisa in the Province of Surigao del Norte (approved 21 June 1969). LawPhil Project. Source
  8. Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 6769 — An Act Creating the Municipality of San Jose in the Province of Surigao del Norte (approved 15 November 1989). LawPhil Project. Source
  9. Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands. Dinagat — Attractions. Source
  10. Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 9355 — An Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands (approved 2 October 2006). LawPhil Project. Source

Compiled by Island Getaway Travel and Tours from the sources above. Figures are those published by each source; if you notice something that has changed, please let us know.