Dinagat Islands | ||
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Province | ||
Province of Dinagat Islands | ||
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![]() Location in the Philippines |
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Coordinates: 10°06′N 125°36′E / 10.1°N 125.6°ECoordinates: 10°06′N 125°36′E / 10.1°N 125.6°E | ||
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 | ||
• Total | 1,036.34 km2 (400.13 sq mi) | |
Area rank | 75th out of 81 | |
Population (2015 census) | ||
• 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 |
7
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• 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 |
The Dinagat Islands (Cebuano: Mga Isla sa Dinagat; Surigaonon: Mga Puyo nan Dinagat; Filipino: Kapuluang Dinagat) (PSGC: 168500000;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.
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.