MUNICIPALITY OF DINGLE

Mayor: Henry O. Anotado
Vice Mayor: Ruben E. Solinap

[ brief history ] [ location and accessibility ]  [ resource profile ]
[ economic profile ] [ interesting places / events ]
[ infrastructure and utilities ]

BRIEF HISTORY 

The municipality's name traces its origin to amusing legends.

One version tells of Dingle coming from the word "Dalipe", the soil found along the banks of the Jalaur River. It was said that a group of young women were once upon a time bathing in the shallow waters of the Jalaur River when Spanish soldier reconnoitering the different places of Iloilo came upon them. The soldiers wanted to know the name of the town they were passing through, but the women could not understand Spanish and they thought soldiers were pointing at the bank where the soil was black and hard clay. They answered,"Dalipe" and the soldiers nodded. But because of the strange ring of the word to their ear and tongue, the soldiers forgot the word "Dalipe" and instead gave the name "Dingle" to the town, the name it bears up to this day.

Another story relates of a group of women bathing in the Jalaur River answering inquiries of the Spanish soldiers regarding the name of the place with "Dingding Maingle", which the  Spaniards shortened to Dingle.

Whether these legends are true or not, they are the only explanations that have in many ways enlivened the imagination of the people of the Dingle.

The Augustinian priest, Fr. Blanco, first established Dingle in 1593. The town was named Ba-ong because of its shape. The town was named Orvat, a cooking utensil. The community was a part of Pototan until 1611. Later it became part of Lag-Lag, now Dueñas until 1825.

On August 16,1850, by order of Governor General Urbitondo, Ba-ong became an independent parish and was officially became Dingle. Christianity was Spain’s legacy to the Filipinos.  In Dingle, Fr. Fernando Llorente ordered the construction of the Dingle Catholic Church. The construction was started in 1865 and was completed in 1886.

During the Spanish Revolution, Dingle staged the first armed uprising in the province. This occurred in Barrio Lincud on October 28,1898. Adriano Hernandez, Julio Hernandez, Nicolas Roces led the uprising.

Adriano Hernandez became the brigadier general. He was the representative of the province at the Malolos Congress. Late, he was appointed Secretary of Agriculture. His statue stands at the town plaza today and Dingleanons regard him as their hero.

The educational system was the United States’ primary legacy to the Filipinos with the English language as an enduring heritage from them. The Gabaldon type schoolhouses of the Dingle Central Elementary School and Caguyuman Elementary School are unmistakable signs of American influence.

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Travelling to Dingle via the National Highway and travel usually takes anywhere from forty-five minutes to one hour.

RESOURCE PROFILE

Land Area - 10,153 hectares 

Distibution

• Agricultural – 8,095 has.
• Orchard / Mix Orchards / Diversified Crops – 929.12 has.
• Swamps – 2.99 has.
• Open Space (Plaza, Playground, etc.) – 3.12 has.
• Residential – 69.68 has.
• Insitutional – 5.076 has.
• Bulabog Puti-an National Park – 1.048 has.

Topography  

The topography of Dingle is relatively rolling hills and narrow plains from the Poblacion. The flat lands extend along the Jalaur River through its borderline to the southeast. This starts to roll upward from the Poblacion going to the northwest. From the west of the Poblacion rises the slopes, steep and mountainous. This indicates that the topography of Dingle meets a certain type-cropping pattern.

Forest Resources

• Coal
• Guano
• Lime
• Phosphate

Major River

• Jalaur River

Mountains

• Bulabog Puti-an Mountain
• Manyakiya Mountain

Climate  

• Average Annual Rainfall - 7.37 cm.

Soil Type

Loam Soil

covers the largest area of the Municipality’s soil. About 21% of the total land area. The soil is rich and suited for agricultural crops like rice, corn, and vegetables.


Clay Loam

about 24% of the total land area and suited to all lowland and upland crops like sugarcane, corn, coffee and orchards.


Sandy Loam

can be found most especially on the flooded plains along the Jalaur River and creeks within the Municipality. Considered as fertile because of its organic content and it is loose constitution, thus it gives favorable growth to a wide variety of crops. Comprises 14% of the total land area.


Clay

sticky when wet and hard when dry. Sugarcane tree crop and rice grow in this type of soil. This type of soil covers about 40% of the area.


Fine sandy Loam

about 0.003% of the total area


Fine clay Loam

a fine about 0.007% hectares and usually located in the tree crops area.

Mineral Resources

Manganese and Copper abounds in the Municipality. Considerable amounts of Phosphate in one of the barangays can be manufactured for commercial basis. Through excavations "Guano", a local fertilizer, could be found in caves ready for utilization.

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Agriculture: Agricultural production such as rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables and other highly valued crops.

INTERESTING PLACES / EVENTS

Cultural Attractions

Dingle Catholic Church – Built in1886, this church of  Baroquial style is made of limestone from Bulabog Mountain, painstakingly carried by the early parishioners through narrow, steep and dangerous trails to the present site. The Dingle Catholic Church remains a landmark of Dingle and a symbol of human ingenuity.

Natural attractions  

Some natural formations, which are wonders to themselves, are located in different barangays not far from the Poblacion. They too have names after the legends connected with each of them: Nabaliskad, Ganga, Pulucan, Linuksohan sang Usa, Sig-ang, Baboy-baboy, Tina, Buyongan, Tinobhan sang Man-og, Pakpak sang Banog , Nimatay and Sampaobato.

Caves are another attraction. For those who love to explore nature they are: Guiso Cave, Mistranza Cave, Luñgib Cave, Lapus-lapus Cave, Hapo-hapo Cave, Maarhong Cave, Ticondal Cave, San Roque Cave, Nautod and Linganero Cave. These wonders can be reached only on foot, however, the hike is a fun part of it.  

In the heart and fringes of Bulabog-Puti-an Mountain, nestled are the springs with their cool, fresh, clear and root-scented water. Two of these springs have become the sources of the Dingle – Pototan Water District: Morobo and Moroboro Springs. The latter has become one of the most sought for beauty spots in Iloilo besides the Jalaur river.

Events

Girl Scout National Encampment at Camp Pasica
Centennial Celebration of the Dingle Parish Church

Special Interests

Mountain Climbing and Spelunking 

Mountain Climbing – those who live on mountaineering can exhilarate and satisfy their cravings at the conquest at Mt. Mañaquia. One has a good view of the town center at the mountains peak during the day and its romantic aura at night.   
Lake Bito – for those who love hiking. A limestone cottage built from limestone slabs from the slopes of Bulabog mountain presents an inviting view.

Man-Made Attractions

Hanging Bridge
Moroboro Swimming Pool
Dingle Parish church
Jala-ur Irrigation Dam
Camp Hernandez
Camp Pasica
Cry of Lincud Market

Tourist Facilities   

Resorts - Moroboro Springs Resort, with a dancing pavillon, six cottages and a shower room.    

Transportation - the tourist spots are all accessible to transportation facilities either by buses, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles, taxis, L3 vans and pedicabs. 

Sports Recreation Center - a covered court located at the Poblacion.

Existing Tourism Development Projects

The Provincial Government has contributed funds for improvement of the area to be used as a municipal nursery, also allocated an amount for construction for market commemorating the Cry of "Lincud" the site where the first uprising by the revolution forces against the Spanish Regime in Panay was held.  

The renovation and improvement of Moroboro Spring Resort that includes its swimming pool, especially its operation and construction of six cottages new pavillon and shower rooms inside the premises of the resort.

Proposed Tourism Development Projects

• Improvement of road system route to the recommended Tourism areas.
• Rehabilitate and improve the trails going to the different caves for proper identification.
• Acquired additional area for the resort for additional construction of cottages.
• Consciousness of forest conservation by planting more trees even on the land owned by private persons.
• Promote "Bantay Gubat" at the Bulabog-Puti-an Park in order to curb illegal logging.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

Roads and Bridges

National Roads - 21 kms.: asphalt (19 kms.), gravel (2kms.)
Provincial Roads - 43.465 kms.: concrete (1.965 kms.), gravel (41.50 kms.) 
Municipal Roads - 4.139 kms.: concrete
Barangays Roads-  67.19 kms.: gravel
National Bridges – concrete (259.54) 259.54 LM.
Provincial Bridges–concrete (91) 91 LM.

Communication facilities 

SMART cell phones, Bayan-Tel Telecom, VHF Radio Transceiver, SSB Radio Transceivers, PLDT and ISLACOM.

Banks

Dingle Community Rural Bank

PT&T – 1 station
TELECOM – 1 station

Banks

Land Bank of the Philippines
Sara Field Officer
Keppel Savings Bank, Sara Branch

Medical facilities 

Dingle Rural Health Unit (RHU) – lying-in three bed capacity
Clinic - 3
Pharmacy - 3

Schools

Dingle Agricultural and Technical College -1 Tertiary Course
Elementary School - 22
Primary School -1
Central School - 1
Public High School - 1
Private High School - 1

[ brief history ] [ location and accessibility ]  [ resource profile ]
[ economic profile ] [ interesting places / events ]
[ infrastructure and utilities ]