THE geographically-isolated Province of Dinagat Islands is now set to have its own State College, after Republic Act 12299, a law establishing the same was signed into law last September 15, 2025.
Former Dinagat Islands Representative Cong. Alan 1 B. Ecleo expressed gratitude to Dinagatnons who strongly supported the Bill he authored and passed during the 19th Congress.
“Since our first term, it has always been the goal of Team Uno to bring public tertiary education to Dinagat Islands with our very own State College,” said Ecleo. “Despite the challenges, we fulfilled this promise by successfully passing HB 10405 in the House of Representatives, and in the Senate, with the help of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.”
Ecleo stressed that the law passed despite efforts to undermine it and mislead the public, including misinformation about its status during the most recent campaign period.
“We hope that those in power now will be able to set aside politics and immediately implement the law without hesitation,” said Ecleo.
The passage of RA 12287 and 12299 makes Ecleo the Representative with the most laws passed in the history of Dinagat Islands.
Ecleo also authored another Bill which was recently signed into law, Republic Act No. 12287, which institutionalized the declaration of a “State of Imminent Disaster” to allow the government to implement anticipatory actions before a calamity strikes.
The law aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response by allowing the government to take proactive measures in anticipation of potential disasters, rather than waiting for an actual event to occur.
