Basilisa

Basilisa
Rizal
Municipality of Basilisa
Map of Dinagat Islands with Basilisa highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Basilisa
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 10°03′56″N 125°35′49″E / 10.065428°N 125.596844°E / 10.065428; 125.596844
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga
ProvinceDinagat Islands
District Lone district
FoundedJune 17, 1967
Named afterBasilisa Meso
Barangays27 (see Barangays)
Government
  TypeSangguniang Bayan
  MayorOzzy Reuben M. Ecleo
  Vice MayorManuelito N. Piodo Jr.
  RepresentativeAlan 1 B. Ecleo
  Municipal Council
Members
  Electorate15,193 voters (2025)
Area
  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
 (2020 census)
  Total
36,911
  Density360/km2 (930/sq mi)
  Households
7,060
Economy
  Income class4th municipal income class
  Poverty incidence
34.83
% (2021)
  Revenue179.5 million (2022)
  Assets443.8 million (2022)
  Expenditure145.4 million (2022)
  Liabilities100.7 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityDinagat Island Electric Cooperative (DIELCO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8413
PSGC
IDD:area code+63(0)86
Native languagesSurigaonon
Cebuano
Tagalog
Websitebasilisadinagatislands.gov.ph

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.

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. 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.