Loreto is a municipality in the province of Dinagat Islands, Philippines. As of the 2007 census, it had a population of 9,030.
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 back to Surigao del Norte.[1] On March 30, 2011, 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. [2]
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In the northern side of the mainland of Surigao del Norte lies Dinagat Island which was dubbed by General Douglas MacArthur as one of the "three sentinel islands guarding the Central Philippines from the enemies in the Pacific". Loreto is one of the seven municipalities established in this island. It is endowed with rich mineral resources like aluminous laterite ore, chromite, gold, niceliferous laterite, sand and gravel, guano, rock phosphate, limestone, and siliceous sand. It is also considered as an excellent fishing ground.'
Loreto is politically subdivided into 10 barangays. In 1956, the sitio of Roxas was converted into a barrio.[3]
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