Basilisa

Basilisa, officially the Municipality of Basilisa (Surigaonon: Lungsod nan Basilisa; Cebuano: Lungsod sa Basilisa; Tagalog: Bayan ng Basilisa), is a municipality in the province of Dinagat Islands, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 36,911 people.^[5]

CountryPhilippines

FoundedJune 17, 1967

Barangays27 (see Barangays)

Elevation

4.0 m (13.1 ft)

Quick facts Rizal, Country ...

Basilisa Rizal
Municipality
Municipality of Basilisa
Flag
Map of Dinagat Islands with Basilisa highlighted
Interactive map of Basilisa
Basilisa Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°03′56″N 125°35′49″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Caraga
Province	Dinagat Islands
District	Lone district
Founded	June 17, 1967
Named after	Basilisa Meso
Barangays	27 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ozzy Reuben M. Ecleo
• Vice Mayor	Manuelito N. Piodo Jr.
• Representative	Arlene J. Bag-ao
• Municipal Council	Members Juanito G. Piodo Rex Angelo S. Diaz Cinderella C. Roma Cesar T. Borja III Mark Anthony G. Aray Jefferson I. Relator Jeffrey C. Flores Norlito R. Ticod
• Electorate	15,193 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	102.4587 km2 (39.5595 sq mi)
Elevation	4.0 m (13.1 ft)
Highest elevation	192 m (630 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	27,238
• Density	265.84/km2 (688.53/sq mi)
• Households	7,060
Economy
• Income class	4th municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	34.83 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	₱ 179.5 million (2022)
• Assets	₱ 443.8 million (2022)
• Expenditure	₱ 145.4 million (2022)
• Liabilities	₱ 100.7 million (2022)
Service provider
• Electricity	Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative (DIELCO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	8413
PSGC	1608501000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)86
Native languages	Surigaonon Cebuano Tagalog
Website	basilisadinagatislands.gov.ph

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The municipality was created on June 17, 1967 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4986 and named it as Rizal. On June 21, 1969, the municipality was renamed as Basilisa by virtue of Republic Act No. 5775 in honor of the late former Mayor Basilisa Meso.

The town became a part of the province of Dinagat Islands in December 2006, when the province was created from Surigao del Norte by Republic Act No. 9355. However, in February 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional, as the necessary requirements for provincial land area and population were not met. The town reverted to Surigao del Norte.^[6] On October 24, 2012, however, the Supreme Court reversed its ruling from the previous year, and upheld the constitutionality of RA 9355 and the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province.^[7]