QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9859)
RA 9859 amends Section 1 of Republic Act No. 6769 to segregate certain barangays of the Municipality of Dinagat (Dinagat Islands) to create a separate and independent Municipality of San Jose in the Province of Dinagat Islands.
Barangays San Jose, Matingbe, Jacques, Aurelio, Mahayahay, San Juan, Don Ruben Ecleo, Justiniana Edera, Sta. Cruz, Cuarenta, Wison and Luna.
Dinagat remains a municipality exercising powers and discharging functions over the areas specified in its creation law, except the segregated barangays, which are removed to form the new Municipality of San Jose.
Both the remaining Municipality of Dinagat and the new Municipality of San Jose are within the Province of Dinagat Islands; the new municipality is “separate and independent” but still in the same province.
Section 1 of RA 9859 amends Section 1 of RA 6769 by revising the boundaries/coverage and the disposition of the listed barangays, now creating the Municipality of San Jose from those barangays.
It is defined by geographic coordinates and described routes: starting at point 1 (N Latitude 09A 59' 33", E Longitude 125A 33' 28"), then following shorelines and specified distances/directions through points 2 to 5, and returning to point 1, including Puyo Island.
It follows the shoreline of Melgar Bay toward Mahangin Point and then follows the shoreline along Tagbabui Cove in the southeasterly direction to point 2.
They provide a precise metes-and-bounds boundary description to avoid ambiguity in the municipality’s territorial jurisdiction.
The boundary includes Puyo Island (“due West, 8,600.00 meters to point 1, including Puyo Island”).
The area covered is approximately 3,422 hectares.
It shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
All barangays listed in Section 1 of RA 9859 are excluded from Dinagat and segregated to constitute the Municipality of San Jose.
It means the segregated barangays form a new local government unit (LGU) distinct from the original municipality, with its own territorial jurisdiction and governance structure as provided by law.
It preserves the corporate existence and jurisdiction of the original municipality while clearly limiting its territorial coverage by excluding the enumerated barangays transferred to the new municipality.
It originated in the House of Representatives; it was finally passed by the House of Representatives on October 12, 2009 and by the Senate on May 25, 2009.