Libjo is a coastal municipality in the central part of Dinagat Island, created in 1960 under the name Albor and renamed Libjo in 1967[2][3]. It is the gateway to some of the province's most photographed places — the Kisses Islets, the Pangabangan tidal pool or "Blue Lagoon", and Mount Palhi[5][6].
At a glance
| Province | Dinagat Islands, Caraga (Region XIII)[4] |
|---|---|
| Land area | 180.57 km² — 22.09% of the province[1] |
| Barangays | 16[1] |
| Population | 18,051 (2020 Census); 17,760 (2015); 6,959 (1970)[1] |
| Created | As Albor, 29 February 1960 (Executive Order No. 381); renamed Libjo, 17 June 1967 (Republic Act No. 4981)[2][3] |
| Neighbours | Tubajon, Basilisa, Loreto, San Jose and Dinagat; across the water, Anahawan (Southern Leyte)[1] |
Location
The town centre lies at about 10.1953° N, 125.5325° E, some 8 m above sea level[1]. To the south, the islets and coves toward Pangabangan Island form one of Dinagat's favourite island-hopping areas[6].
History
On 29 February 1960, President Carlos P. Garcia signed Executive Order No. 381 creating the Municipality of Albor from barrios of two older towns: Libjo, Quezon, Bolodbolod and San Jose from Loreto, and Osmeña, Kahayag, Arellano and Plaridel from Dinagat. Its seat of government was the barrio of Libjo[2].
On 17 June 1967, Republic Act No. 4981 changed the town's name from Albor to Libjo[3]. The province's charter of 2006 still lists it as "Libjo (Albor)", and Albor survives as the name of one of its barangays[4][1].
The old name also lives on in science: the Dinagat gymnure (Podogymnura aureospinula), a small spiny mammal found only on Dinagat, was described in 1982 from specimens collected at Plaridel, in what was then Albor[7].
People and barangays
The population was 6,959 in 1970, 17,760 in 2015 and 18,051 in 2020 — 14.09% of the province[1]. The 16 barangays are Albor, Arellano, Bayanihan, Doña Helen, Garcia, General Aguinaldo, Kanihaan, Llamera, Magsaysay, Osmeña, Plaridel, Quezon, Rosita, San Antonio, San Jose and Santo Niño[1].
Places to visit
- Kisses Islets — karst rocks whose rounded shapes recall the famous chocolates, between Barangay Quezon and Libjo Bay[5]; good for island hopping, swimming, snorkelling and kayaking[6].
- Pangabangan Tidal Pool (Barangay Magsaysay) — also called the Blue Lagoon; swim in the tidal pool, explore rock pools and snorkel[6]. See also Blue Lagoon (A.O. Beach Resort).
- Mount Palhi — locally called Babaeng Bukid for its lady-like silhouette, rising between Libjo and Tubajon; the provincial government gives its height as 734 m[5], while an earlier conservation profile lists 770 m[8].
- Jelmar's Islet Resort — an islet with fine white sand and clear water[5].
Libjo's islets are part of our island-hopping tours. See also How to Get Here.
The other municipalities: Basilisa · Cagdianao · Dinagat · Loreto · San Jose · Tubajon · About Dinagat Islands
References
- PhilAtlas. Libjo, Dinagat Islands Profile (based on Philippine Statistics Authority data). Source
- Office of the President. Executive Order No. 381 — Creating the Municipality of Albor in the Province of Surigao (29 February 1960). LawPhil Project. Source
- Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 4981 — An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Albor, Province of Surigao del Norte, to Libjo (approved 17 June 1967). LawPhil Project. Source
- Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 9355 — An Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands (approved 2 October 2006). LawPhil Project. Source
- Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands. Libjo — Attractions. Source
- Department of Tourism, Republic of the Philippines. Dinagat Islands (Love the Philippines). Source
- Heaney, L.R. & Morgan, G.S. (1982). "A new species of gymnure, Podogymnura (Mammalia: Erinaceidae) from Dinagat Island, Philippines." Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 95(1): 13–26 — as recorded in the Mammal Diversity Database. Source
- Foundation for the Philippine Environment. Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte — Conservation Site Profile. 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.
