MUNICIPAL PROFILE OF DIMIAO

—(Province of Bohol, Philippines)—

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Dimiao is one of the oldest towns of Bohol. It is said that before it became an independent town, it was a significant part of a bigger county/town called Loboc. When it was part of Loboc the Seat of Government was located in Dimiao, where people would go to seek government authorities and permits.

Dimiao was officially declared an independent town on January 22, 1769 or 250 years ago and annually, January 22 is being celebrated as its Foundation Day.

II. GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES

Dimiao Has thirty-five (35) barangays comprising a total land area of approximately 135.75 square kilometers. It is nestled along the southeast part of Bohol, 36.7 kilometers from the capital City of Tagbilaran, and 27 kilometers away from the satellite growth center of Jagna.

The town is bounded on the North by the municipality of Bilar; on the South by the Mindanao Sea; on the East by the Municipality of Valencia; and, by the Municipality of Lila on the west. 

Three-fourths of the town’s topography is moderately undulating and rolling land, sloping 

in many directions and with mountainous and hilly areas concentrated in the interior barangays located in the northwest boundary of Dimiao and its adjacent town Bilar.

The town’s climate is generally warm and dry along the coast and cold and humid in the interior barangays. 

Dimiao is rich in natural resources, in land, and the sea. We have croplands, mainly producing rice and corn. Other crops serve as alternatives after harvest seasons like monggo, and tomatoes. Eggplants, beans, and other root crops.

Besides cropland, we have natural wealth and attractions like the Pahangog Twin Falls and Caverns, Water Springs, Dimiao share of the Chocolate Hills, our little version of the rice terraces, the Badiang Peak, and others.

While in the seas we have white sand beaches, mangrove plantations, coral reefs, and other aqua-marine biological species.

III. POPULATION AND LANGUAGE

The Municipality of Dimiao has a total population of Sixteen Thousand and Thirty-Six (16,036) from the Three Thousand One Hundred Sixty-Six (3,166) households, based on the 2016 PSA Data Survey. The sparse population of the town is due to the fact that Boholanos are migrant people, seeking better opportunities in other towns and cities. 

Cebuano dialect with a distinct Dimiaonon accent, is the major language spoken in the locality. However, Tagalog and English though not commonly used, are clearly understood by its residents.

IV. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The nearest Savings Bank is located about five (5) kilometers from the town of Dimiao. However, this is not a problem for the Dimiaonons since accessibility to the neighboring towns or to Tagbilaran City where different Banks are located is not difficult. Other small-lending institutions are found in Dimiao.

V. TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

Being a coastal town, Dimiao is easily accessible by means of land transportation. The average number of public utility vehicles, like buses, vans, jeepneys, and the like, plying different routes passing the municipality is approximately 15 units per hour.

The main access for people coming from different parts of the country is the Tagbilaran City airport and seaport. It is about 37 kilometers away from Dimiao proper and approximately 45 minutes travel time using a public utility vehicle passing along the beautiful and white sandy Mindanao Sea, and about 27 kilometers away from Dimiao.

Mobile Phone Tower and Repeater Antennas are located in the locality, SMART in the upper Poblacion area, and GLOBE in the lower Poblacion area at the back of the Parish Church Convent, making available mobile phone communication signal where you can get in touch with any part of the world. Globelines, Inc., has also installed telephone aerial connection lines in the municipality with the LGU contact numbers 0917-8948028 (Globe Lines mobile) and 0925-5027466 (sun cellular mobile)

VI. WATER AND POWER

16 barangays are being served by the Municipal Waterworks Service System coming from two major sources of springwater, the Cambuta Spring in Barangay Catugasan and the Pahangog Spring in Barangay Guingoyuran. A third source, Malijao Spring is being considered for development, planning, and project designing is now in the process. If this third source could be tapped, it is approximated that there shall be enough water supply for the whole 35 barangays in the municipality for the next ten years.

The other barangays have their water system from the barangay-based water system utilizing small spring sources and channeling the water through a water reservoir or in-take tank and then to a level 3 connection in the household levels.

However, there are still a number of communal water sources deep and shallow wells, and communal faucets for serving cluster households in the barangay. 

On the other hand, the electric power supply is being served by the BOHECO I (Bohol Electric Cooperative, Inc). All the 35 barangays of the municipality are all energized with electric supply, though a number of barangays are being served through the Barangay Electric Consumers Ass,n.

VII. TRADE AND INVESTMENT

In the year 2020, the municipality has a projected income of Php 96,322,654.74 (broken down to IRA 87,887,539.00, Local target General Income of 8,435,115.74 and the 20% Development Fund of 17,577,507.80) and is classified as a Fourth Class Municipality. Dimiao is pre-dominantly an agricultural area, the principal industry of the people at present are farming, fishing, mat-weaving, rope-making tuba gathering, and livestock raising. The handicraft industry, food processing, and woodworking, although still at its micro level, have great potential in the local market. A “Skills Training Program” sponsored by the Dimiao LGU in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is part of the MSWDO Program in the locality.

VIII. PERSONNEL

The Local Government of Dimiao has 12 elective Personnel, 30 Permanent including 9 Department Heads and 21 Rank & File, 113 Job Orders hiring.

he Local Government of Dimiao has 12 elective Personnel, 30 Permanent including 9 Department Heads and 21 Rank & File, 113 Job Orders hiring.

The LGU is headed by the Local Chief Executive (Municipal Mayor) heading the executive operations of the LGU through the different departments with their respective Heads of Offices while the Municipal Vice-Mayor is the Presiding Officer of the Sangguinang Bayan with eight (8) regular elective Municipal Council Members (SB Kagawad), one (1) Federated President of the Association of Barangay Captains (Punong Barangay), and one (1) SK Federated President. 

The different Department Offices are: 

  1. Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MDPC)
  2. Office of the Municipal Engineer 
  3. Office of the Municipal Budget Officer
  4. Office of the Municipal Treasurer
  5. Office of the Municipal Accountant 
  6. Municipal Health Office 
  7. Municipal Social Welfare Office 
  8. Municipal Agricultural Office 
  9. Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar 
  10. Human Resource Management Office  
  11. Office of the Municipal Assessor 

National Offices in the Municipality:

  1. COMELEC
  2. BIR
  3. DAR 
  4. Municipal Circuit Trial Court 
  5. DILG
  6. PNP
  7. DepEd

IX. ACADEMIC (EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS)

The Local Government of Dimiao has 3 Secondary Schools, 1 private (St. Nicholas Academy), a Catholic Parish School located in the town proper, 2 public high schools (Dimiao National High School located in Puangyuta Dimiao, Bohol and Canhayupon National High School located in Canhayupon Dimiao, Bohol. There are also around 15 Elementary Schools scattered all over the barangays of the town, with 32 Day Care Centers catering to pre-schoolers and St. Nicholas Learning Center, a TESDA-affiliated Vocational Skills Training Center.