View source for Dingalan

{{Short description|Municipality in Aurora, Philippines}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = {{PH wikidata|name}}
| image_skyline           = File:Dingalanjf3332.JPG
| image_caption           = Fisherfolk at Aplaya
| image_flag              = Flag_of_Dingalan,_Aurora.png
| flag_size               = 120x80px
| image_seal              = 
| seal_size               = 100x80px
| image_map               = {{PH wikidata|image_map}}
| map_caption             = {{PH wikidata|map_caption}}
| image_map1              = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe
|frame-width=250}}{{hidden end}}
| pushpin_map             = Philippines
| pushpin_label_position  = right
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location within the {{PH wikidata|country}}
| coordinates             = {{PH wikidata|coordinates}}
| settlement_type         = Municipality
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Philippines]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = {{PH wikidata|region}}
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of the Philippines|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = {{PH wikidata|province}}
| official_name           = Municipality of Dingalan
| native_name             = 
| other_name              = 
| nickname                = Gateway to Southern Tagalog
| motto = {{force singular}} ''Positibo, Agresibo, Progresibong Pagbabago''
| anthem                  = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines#District representation|District]]
| subdivision_name3       = {{PH legislative district}}
| established_title       = [[Date of establishment|Founded]]
| established_date        = 1962
| parts_type              = [[Barangay]]s
| parts_style             = para
| p1                      = {{PH barangay count | {{wikidata|label|raw}} }}  (see [[#Barangays|Barangays]])
| leader_title            = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name             = Shierwin H. Taay
| leader_title1           = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1            = Edgardo R. Galvez
| leader_title2           = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines#Current composition|Representative]] <!--congressman or congresswoman -->
| leader_name2            = Rommel Rico T. Angara
| leader_title3           = [[Sangguniang Bayan|Municipal Council]]
| leader_name3            = {{PH Town Council
 | 1 = <div style="border-style:solid none;border-width:thin;border-color:Gainsboro;background-color:#e6e6e6;text-align:center;width:95%;font-variant:small-caps;"></div>
 | 2=Sheldon H. Taay
 | 3=Raffy B. Padilla
 | 4=Ian Ildefonso Joseph Mary B. Evangelista
 | 5=Conrado L. de Guzman Jr.
 | 6=Abigail G. Tan
 | 7=Mylene M. Figuracion
 | 8=Monaliza B. Belgar
 | 9=Luis A. Borreo
}}
| leader_title4           = [[Elections in the Philippines#Qualification|Electorate]]
| leader_name4            = {{PH wikidata|electorate}} voters ([[Philippine general election, {{PH wikidata|electorate_point_in_time}}|{{PH wikidata|electorate_point_in_time}}]])
| government_type         = {{PH wikidata|government_type}}
| government_footnotes    = {{thinsp}}<ref>{{DILG detail}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = {{PH wikidata|elevation_m}}
| elevation_max_m         = 1367
| elevation_min_m         = 0
| elevation_max_rank      = 
| elevation_min_rank      = 
| elevation_footnotes     = {{PH wikidata|elevation_footnotes}}
| elevation_max_footnotes = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = 
| area_footnotes          = {{PH area}}
| area_total_km2          = {{PH wikidata|area}}
| population_footnotes    = {{PH wikidata|population_reference}}
| population_total        = {{PH wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of        = {{PH wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_blank1_title = [[Household]]s
| population_blank1       = {{PH wikidata|household}}
| population_blank2_title = 
| population_blank2       = 
| population_demonym      = Dingaleño
| population_rank         = 
| population_note         = 
| timezone                = [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset              = +8
| postal_code_type        = [[List of ZIP codes in the Philippines|ZIP code]]
| postal_code             = {{PH wikidata|postal_code}}
| postal2_code_type       = {{PSGCstyle}}
| postal2_code            = {{PSGC detail}}
| area_code_type          = {{areacodestyle}}
| area_code               = {{PH wikidata|area_code}}
| website                 = {{PH wikidata|website}}
| demographics_type1      = [[Economy of the Philippines|Economy]]
| demographics1_title1    = {{PH wikidata|income_class_title}}
| demographics1_info1     = {{PH wikidata|income_class}}
| demographics1_title2    = [[Measuring poverty|Poverty incidence]]
| demographics1_info2     = {{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence}}% ({{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence_point_in_time}}){{PH wikidata|poverty_incidence_footnotes}}
| demographics1_title3    = [[Revenue]]
| demographics1_info3     = {{PH wikidata|revenue}} {{PH wikidata|revenue_point_in_time}}
| demographics1_title4    = Revenue rank
| demographics1_info4     = 
| demographics1_title5    = [[Asset]]s
| demographics1_info5     = {{PH wikidata|assets}} {{PH wikidata|assets_point_in_time}}
| demographics1_title6    = Assets rank
| demographics1_info6     = 
| demographics1_title7    = [[Internal Revenue Allotment|IRA]]
| demographics1_info7     = 
| demographics1_title8    = IRA rank
| demographics1_info8     = 
| demographics1_title9    = [[Expenditure]]
| demographics1_info9     = {{PH wikidata|expenditure}} {{PH wikidata|expenditure_point_in_time}}
| demographics1_title10   = [[Liability (financial accounting)|Liabilities]]
| demographics1_info10    = {{PH wikidata|liabilities}} {{PH wikidata|liabilities_point_in_time}}
| demographics_type2      = Service provider
| demographics2_title1    = Electricity
| demographics2_info1     = {{PH electricity distribution | {{wikidata|label|raw}} }}
| demographics2_title2    = Water
| demographics2_info2     = 
| demographics2_title3    = Telecommunications
| demographics2_info3     = 
| demographics2_title4    = Cable TV
| demographics2_info4     = 
| demographics2_title5    = 
| demographics2_info5     = 
| demographics2_title6    = 
| demographics2_info6     = 
| demographics2_title7    = 
| demographics2_info7     = 
| demographics2_title8    = 
| demographics2_info8     = 
| demographics2_title9    = 
| demographics2_info9     = 
| demographics2_title10   = 
| demographics2_info10    = 
| blank_name_sec1         = {{PH wikidata|climate_title}}
| blank_info_sec1         = {{PH wikidata|climate_type}}
| blank1_name_sec1        = [[Languages of the Philippines|Native languages]]
| blank1_info_sec1        = {{PH wikidata|language}}
| blank2_name_sec1        = [[Crime index]]
| blank2_info_sec1        = 
| blank3_name_sec1        = 
| blank3_info_sec1        = 
| blank4_name_sec1        = 
| blank4_info_sec1        = 
| blank5_name_sec1        = 
| blank5_info_sec1        = 
| blank6_name_sec1        = 
| blank6_info_sec1        = 
| blank7_name_sec1        = 
| blank7_info_sec1        = 
| blank1_name_sec2        = Major religions
| blank1_info_sec2        = 
| blank2_name_sec2        = Feast date
| blank2_info_sec2        = 
| blank3_name_sec2        = Catholic diocese
| blank3_info_sec2        = 
| blank4_name_sec2        = Patron saint
| blank4_info_sec2        = 
| blank5_name_sec2        = 
| blank5_info_sec2        = 
| blank6_name_sec2        = 
| blank6_info_sec2        = 
| blank7_name_sec2        = 
| blank7_info_sec2        = 
| short_description       = 
| footnotes               = 
}}

'''Dingalan''' {{IPA|tl|ˌdiŋɡɐˈlan|}}, officially the '''Municipality of Dingalan''' ({{langx|tl|Bayan ng Dingalan}}; {{langx|ilo|Ili ti Dingalan}}), is a [[municipality of the Philippines|municipality]] in the [[Philippine Province|province]] of [[Aurora (province)|Aurora]], [[Philippines]]. According to the {{PH wikidata|population_as_of}}, it has a population of {{PH wikidata|population_total}} people.{{PH wikidata|population_reference}}

The town has several caves, of which the [[Lamao Caves]] are the best known. The rough shoreline and very high waves of Dingalan make it attractive to surfers. Dingalan is nicknamed "Gateway to Southern Tagalog", as it is bordered by Quezon Province (in the south), which is part of [[Southern Tagalog]], of which Aurora was a part; Aurora was a sub-province of Quezon.

==History==
[[File:Administrative Divisions of the Philippines (1899).svg|thumb|350px|{{center|Map of the district of Infanta where Dingalan was formerly located in 1899.}}]]
Early settlers recounted that Dumagat tribes inhabited the territory now known as Dingalan. The names of most landmarks and places in this municipality were said to have been given by these first inhabitants. It is believed that the name “Dingalan” is a Dumagat word which means “by the River of Galan” because the territory straddles fifteen (15) rivers and streams which show the abundance of water.

It is also believed that there were two Dumagat brothers named Ding and Allan who were hunting animals in the forest. They were shouting at each other’s name as they went astray away from each other hence the name DINGALAN.

In the early 1900s, settlers from Quezon, [[Nueva Ecija]], and [[Ilocos Region|Ilocos]] started to migrate to Dingalan. They were generally lowland cultivators in search of arable land. In-migration heightened in the 1930s when Don Felipe Buencamino started his logging and sawmill operations. Soon after, inter-marriages among Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Pampangos (Kapampangans), and Bicolanos enriched the cultural stock of settlers.

During World War II, Dingalan was occupied by the Japanese imperial forces. The Japanese took over the operation of sawmills and cut timber to construct their barracks and garrisons. The Dingalan-Gabaldon highway was originally built (1942-1945) as a logging road. On the verge of defeat in 1945, the Japanese used Dingalan Bay as an “exit point” when they retreated.

The strategic location of Dingalan Bay for military purposes was rediscovered after the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, when the municipality became the Training Ground in 1957 for the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) as well as the United States Seventh Fleet. Dingalan also became a site of the RP-US Balikatan Military Exercises for three (3) consecutive years from 1982-1984.

Dingalan was recognized as a municipal district on June 16, 1956 under Republic Act 1536 with an initial population of 2,000 residents. Prior to that, Dingalan was merely a sitio of Barrio [[San Luis, Aurora|San Luis]] in the municipality of [[Baler, Aurora|Baler]], then part of [[Quezon]] (formerly Tayabas). Dingalan became a regular municipality on June 16, 1962 by virtue of Republic Act No. 3490. It was then part of Quezon under its sub-province of [[Aurora (province)|Aurora]] until the latter became a province of its own in 1979.<ref name=ChanRobles-BatasPamb7>{{cite PH act|chamber=BP|number=7|title=An Act Separating the Sub-province of Aurora from the Province of Quezon and Establishing It as an Independent Province|url=https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/25082|date=November 21, 1978|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref>

From the 1930s to 1990s, logging was the main driver of Dingalan’s economy and the principal magnet to migrants. In the 1970s, three logging companies operated in Dingalan namely; Dingalan Wood Industries Corporation (DWICO), South Eastern Timber Corporation (SETIC) of Mr. Roberto Gopuansoy, and Inter-Pacific Forest Resources Company. They obtained a combined allowable cut of {{convert|169,416|m3|sp=us}} of lumber per annum, roughly equivalent to 4,500 fully loaded ten-wheeler trucks each year.

Because of relentless logging between 1930 and 1995, Dingalan today has only 2% of its original old growth dipterocarp forest. More than 10% of the area is denuded or devoid of trees. Its rate of deforestation is faster than the country’s average of 1.4% per year. The brownish color of Dingalan’s river channels reveals the extent of soil erosion and siltation resulting from the loss of adequate tree cover upstream.

==Geography==
According to the [[Philippine Statistics Authority]], the municipality has a land area of {{convert|304.55|km2}},{{PSGC detail|area}} constituting {{percentage|304.55|3,147.32|2|pad=yes}} of the {{convert|3,147.32|km2|2|adj=mid|-|sp=us}} total area of Aurora.

Dingalan is situated {{convert|140.93|km|sp=us}} from the provincial capital [[Baler, Aurora|Baler]], and {{convert|227.31|km|sp=us}} from the country's capital city of [[Manila]]. It is bounded on the north by [[San Luis, Aurora|San Luis]], west by [[Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija|Gabaldon]], [[General Tinio]], and [[Doña Remedios Trinidad]], south by [[General Nakar]], and east by the [[Benham Plateau|Benham Rise or Plateau]] and [[Philippine Sea]].

It is a small town with one main cemented road with branching alleys. Further south of the town proper are the barangays of Aplaya, Butas na Bato, Matawe, Ibona, Dikapanikian and Umiray. The premier barangay north of the town is Paltic. All of the barangays are located on the seashore, except for Poblacion and two barangays located in the mountains. The whole town is mountainous due to the [[Sierra Madre (Philippines)|Sierra Madre]]. The [[Umiray River]] separates the town from [[Quezon]] Province.

The National Government has an ongoing move to transfer Municipality of Dingalan to become part of Nueva Ecija Province for the reason that the said municipality is geographically and strategically within the said Province. This was favored by most of the residents was opposed by the Provincial Government of Aurora. One reason is that you must travel via the province of Nueva Ecija before reaching the province of Aurora, which is especially difficult during disasters. It is more economical and practical to deliver Dingalan to the province of Nueva Ecija.

===Barangays===
Dingalan is politically subdivided into 11 [[barangay]]s.{{PSGC detail|nscb}} Each barangay consists of [[purok]]s and some have [[sitios]].

{{PH brgy table lite|top}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705001| Aplaya               | 1802| 1619}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705002| Butas Na Bato        |  909|  813}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705003| Matawe (''Cabog'')   | 3356| 3090}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705004| Caragsacan           | 2992| 2729}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705005| Davildavilan         | 1036|  992}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705006| Dikapanikian         |  404|  387}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705007| Ibona                | 3624| 3185}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705009| Paltic               | 5075| 5029}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705010| [[Poblacion]]        | 1084| 1091}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705011| Tanawan              |  820|  656}}
{{PH brgy table lite|037705013| Umiray (''Malamig'') | 4380| 3963}}
{{PH brgy table lite|bottom|23554}}

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| location     = Dingalan, Aurora
| width        = auto
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| Jan high C = 26
| Jan low C  = 20
| Feb high C = 27
| Feb low C  = 20
| Mar high C = 29
| Mar low C  = 21
| Apr high C = 31
| Apr low C  = 22
| May high C = 31
| May low C  = 24
| Jun high C = 30
| Jun low C  = 24
| Jul high C = 30
| Jul low C  = 24
| Aug high C = 30
| Aug low C  = 24
| Sep high C = 29
| Sep low C  = 23
| Oct high C = 29
| Oct low C  = 23
| Nov high C = 28
| Nov low C  = 22
| Dec high C = 27
| Dec low C  = 21
| Jan precipitation mm = 21
| Feb precipitation mm = 18
| Mar precipitation mm = 16
| Apr precipitation mm = 18
| May precipitation mm = 65
| Jun precipitation mm = 102
| Jul precipitation mm = 112
| Aug precipitation mm = 95
| Sep precipitation mm = 91
| Oct precipitation mm = 99
| Nov precipitation mm = 58
| Dec precipitation mm = 49
| Jan rain days        = 6.8
| Feb rain days        = 5.2
| Mar rain days        = 6.1
| Apr rain days        = 7.1
| May rain days        = 16.1
| Jun rain days        = 20.2
| Jul rain days        = 22.6
| Aug rain days        = 21.6
| Sep rain days        = 20.9
| Oct rain days        = 16.0
| Nov rain days        = 9.0
| Dec rain days        = 9.3
| source 1 = Meteoblue <small>(modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)</small><ref name="met_norms">
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/modelclimate/dingalan_philippines_1714743
| title =  Dingalan, Aurora: Average Temperatures and Rainfall
| publisher = Meteoblue
| access-date = 27 December 2018}}</ref>
| date = 27 December 2018
}}

==Demographics==
{{Philippine Census
| align= left
| title= Population census of {{PH wikidata|name}}
| 1903 = 
| 1918 = 
| 1939 = 
| 1948 = 
| 1960 = {{PH census population|1960}}
| 1970 = {{PH census population|1970}}
| 1975 = {{PH census population|1975}}
| 1980 = {{PH census population|1980}}
| 1990 = {{PH census population|1990}}
| 1995 = {{PH census population|1995}}
| 2000 = {{PH census population|2000}}
| 2007 = {{PH census population|2007}}
| 2010 = {{PH census population|2010}}
| 2015 = {{PH census population|2015}}
| 2020 = {{PH census population|2020}}
| 2024 = {{PH census population|2024}}
| 2030 = 
| footnote= Source: [[Philippine Statistics Authority]]{{PH wikidata|population_reference}}{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}} 
}}

In the 2020 census, Dingalan had a population of 27,878.{{PH wikidata|population_reference}} The population density was {{convert|{{sigfig|27,878/304.55|2}}|PD/km2}}.

{{clear left}}

== Economy ==
{{PH poverty incidence}}

==Education==
The Dingalan Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=May 16, 2025 |website=Department of Education}}</ref>

===Primary and elementary schools===
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Abungan Elementary School
* Butas na Bato Elementary School
* Cabog Integrated School
* Caragsacan Elementary School
* Dikapanikian Elementary School
* Dingalan Central School
* Horseshoe Elementary School
* Ibona Elementary School
* Malamig Elementary School
* Matawe Elementary School
* Paltic Elementary School
* Singawan Elementary School
* Saint Patrick's Academy
* Tanawan Elementary School
* Umiray Elementary School
{{div col end}}

===Secondary schools===
* Dingalan National High School
* Ibona National High School
* Umiray National High School

===Higher Educational Institution===
* Dingalan Community College

===Transportation===
Dingalan can be reach via private vehicles or via bus up to Brgy. Umiray. Companies Dingalan Trans Express Inc. "formerly Danilo" (from Cabanatuan or PITX during peak seasons) and Baliwag Transit Inc. (from Cubao with daily trips via Maharlika Highway) are the 2 major bus companies that provide services going to Dingalan.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
File:9936Poblacion, Dingalan Aurora Proper 28.jpg|Town hall in Poblacion
File:8805Paltic, Dingalan Aurora Proper 39.jpg|Dingaan Feeder Port
File:Dingalanseajf.JPG|[[Dingalan Bay]] blue sea
File:Dingalanjf3332.JPG|Fisherfolk at Aplaya
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
*[http://www.aurora.ph/dingalan.html Dingalan] on Aurora.ph

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Dingalan
| North     = [[San Luis, Aurora|San&nbsp;Luis]]
| East      = ''[[Philippine&nbsp;Sea]]''
| South     = {{nowrap|[[General Nakar, Quezon]]}}
| Southwest = {{nowrap|[[Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan]]}}
| West      = {{nowrap|[[General Tinio, Nueva Ecija]]}}
| Northwest = {{nowrap|[[Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija]]}}
}}
{{Aurora}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Aurora (province)]]