Morion’s Travel| Don’t you dare to explore Dinagat Province...without Me!

The weather is good when the passenger boat departed in Surigao Boulevard. That is around 6:00 am and one hour ahead of 7:00 am scheduled trip. We're heading to Port of San Jose of Dinagat Province...

We arrived in Port of San Jose at exactly 7:30 am. Just dropped my backpack in our staff house at San Jose then hunt for the cheapest habal-habal ride going to Basilisa. That day my schedule/itinerary is to visit our newly-established office in the said municipality next to San Jose- the capital town. Basilisa is 30 to 45 minutes travel  from San Jose. Habal-Habal  is the primary mode of land transportation in the province. There  is also one jeepney traveling from San Jose to Libjo passing the town of Basilisa (vice-versa) but with 2 scheduled trips only.  "Minsan wala pa pag sira ang makina o daan"- that's is according to one of the locals I talked with. The road is still under construction, habal- habal is  the only mode of transportation that can tolerate the muddy and rocky road of the province.

While on the road going to Basilisa- at the top side of the mountain, I saw the majestic view of the lake and the beautiful islets surrounding the province- eye-catching and picturesque! Expect the amazing rock formations and the beauty of the red mountains along the highway.

"Living Dinagat"

TRIVIA

Dinagat Islands had been part of the First District of Surigao del Norte Province until it was declared as the country’s newest province on December 02, 2006 with the approval of Republic Act 9355, the Charter of the Province of Dinagat Islands, in a plebiscite. After 4 years, on February 11, 2010 the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the creation of Dinagat Province as null and void on the grounds of failure to meet the required population and land area. However, on March 30, 2011 the Supreme Court reversed its ruling from 2010, and upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 9355 pertaining to the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province.

WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO

1. Visit the famous Holy Land or Shrine of Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA)
2. See/Visit the Ecleo's White Castle
3. Island Hopping in Basilisa and Libjo -  beautiful rock formations, turquoise water  and pristine white sand beaches.
4. Diving in Lake Bababu of Basilisa

30 minutes after leaving Surigao Port: One of the
Islets surrounding Dinagat Province

"untitled"

"Island Living"

"45 minutes after leaving Surigao Port and 45 minutes before arriving at Port of San Jose"

35 minutes after leaving Surigao Port: Blue water and White Sand Beach
 in one of the Islets surrounding Dinagat Province 

"Protected Nature"

5 minutes before Arrival at Port of San Jose: "Countryside living"

The Quarrying Site

"Untitled"

" Gold Stone and the newly-constructed highway"

"Rock Formations "

"Nature's Haven"

View from San Jose Port: The Famous White Castle 

"Closer Shot of the White Castle"

Expect more posts and continuation of my Dinagat Province Journey, keep on coming back HERE for Updates...

HOW TO GET THERE 

Cebu Pacific and Airphil express flies directly from Manila to Surigao City.
From Surigao City Airport, ride in a tricycle or Multicab bound to Boulevard- Port of passenger boats going to Dinagat Province.

There are 7 entry points/sea ports in Dinagat Province| 1.Dinagat wharf : 1 passenger boat leaves Surigao Boulevard @ 6:00 am; 2.Basilisa wharf: with only one scheduled trip - leaves Surigao Boulevard going to Basilisa wharf at 6:00 am, going back to Surigao City @ 6:00 am (the following day) ; 4. Libjo/Albor wharf :scheduled trip going to Libjo- 6:00 am and 11:00 am, going back to Surigao- 4:30 am and 11:00 am; 5. Tubajon wharf; 6. Loreto wharf (no information gathered); and 7. San Jose Port: 2 passenger boats leaves Surigao Boulevard @ 7:00 am, another 2 @ 10:00 am and the last scheduled trip is @ 4:00 pm while the scheduled trip going back to Surigao are @ 7:00 am, 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm.

NOTE: If your point of destination is San Jose just ask for the port of passenger boats  going to San Jose. Don’t ever say that you’re going to Dinagat, porters may lead you to the boats going to Municipality of Dinagat.

Boat Fare from Surigao Boulevard costs 100-150 pesos and the only mode of transportation going to the majestic Island Province is via Passenger Boat.

Don’t forget to be at the Port at least 1 hour ahead of the scheduled time of departure “umaalis ang Bangka kahit wala pa sa oras, pag napuno na.”

Prepare your Bandana, Malong or sweatshirt/jacket as Habal-habal is the most common mode of transportation in the whole province. The roads are under construction, be prepared to rocky and dusty ride!

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Let's #explore7107islands

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