Dipaculao, Aurora, Philippines

About Dipaculao, Aurora

Location and Access

Dipaculao is a coastal municipality in the province of Aurora, within Region III – Central Luzon of the Republic of the Philippines. It lies along the Pacific coast north of the provincial capital of Baler and is reached primarily by land via the Baler–Casiguran Road (also known as the Dicadi coastal highway). Buses, vans, and jeepneys that ply the Baler–Casiguran route serve Dipaculao and its coastal barangays.

The municipality does not have a major commercial seaport or airport of its own. The nearest regular air access is through the Dr. Juan C. Angara Airport in San Luis, which serves Baler and nearby municipalities including Dipaculao. For sea transport and larger fishing boats, residents and traders commonly use facilities in the neighboring municipalities of Baler and Casiguran. Overland connections link Dipaculao southward to Baler and westward toward Nueva Ecija via the road network that crosses the Sierra Madre.

Location of Municipality Hall

The municipal government center, including the Municipal Hall of Dipaculao, is located along Doña Aurora Street in Barangay North Poblacion. North Poblacion and the adjacent South Poblacion form the town center, where key public offices, the main public market, and most commercial establishments are concentrated.

Economy of Dipaculao

The economy of Dipaculao is largely rural and based on natural-resource activities. Agriculture is a primary livelihood, with coconut farming and copra production playing an important role in household incomes. Rice, corn, root crops, and other staple and garden crops are cultivated in the lowland and gently sloping areas of barangays such as Bayabas, Borlongan, Calaocan, Laboy, and Mijares.

Fishing and other coastal livelihoods are important in seaside barangays such as Dibutunan, Dinadiawan, Ditale, Lipit, and Lobbot, where residents engage in small-scale fishing and related activities. Tourism is an increasingly visible contributor to local income, supported by attractions such as Ampere Beach, rock formations along the shoreline, and the long stretch of white-sand coast in Dinadiawan. Small beach resorts, homestays, and roadside establishments along the Baler–Dipaculao–Casiguran corridor cater to visitors.

Retail trade and basic services are provided by sari-sari stores, small groceries, market stalls, motor repair shops, and other micro and small enterprises concentrated in the poblacion area and larger barangays. Many residents continue to engage in a mix of farming, fishing, and seasonal work to supplement family income.

Natural Resources and Rivers

Dipaculao stretches between the Pacific coast and the forested slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Its natural resources include coastal beaches, rocky headlands, river valleys, and upland forest areas. The municipality is home to the Dinadiawan River Protected Landscape, a nationally declared protected area that safeguards a river system, forest habitats, and associated biodiversity in and around Barangay Dinadiawan. This landscape supports watershed functions, irrigation, and eco-tourism activities.

Rivers such as the Ditale and Dibatuan drain portions of Dipaculao’s territory, providing fresh water for households, irrigation, and local fisheries in barangays like Ditale, Diarabasin, and Ipil. Smaller creeks and streams flow from the uplands toward coastal barangays, contributing to fertile alluvial soils in farming areas and supporting coconut groves and mixed-crop farms.

Coastal zones, particularly in Dibutunan, Lipit, Lobbot, and Sapangkawayan, offer marine resources and scenic landscapes that are used for both livelihood and recreation. Inland areas retain patches of secondary forest and tree-covered slopes which help protect watersheds and reduce erosion.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Electric power in Dipaculao is drawn from the Luzon grid and distributed through the Aurora Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AURELCO), which serves the central municipalities of the province. All barangays of Dipaculao are energized, although some remote sitios may experience occasional service interruptions, especially during strong typhoons or heavy monsoon rains.

Water supply systems in the municipality are a combination of formal and community-managed facilities. A local water district works with a private water-service provider to expand piped water to parts of the poblacion and selected barangays. Many households, particularly in outlying areas such as Dimabuno, Gupa, Mucdol, and Toytoyan, still rely mainly on deep wells, hand pumps, springs, and gravity-fed systems.

Telecommunications and internet services have improved over time, with mobile phone coverage now present in the town center and along most of the coastal highway. Internet connectivity is available through mobile data and small providers, though signal strength can vary in more distant and mountainous barangays.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Basic financial services in Dipaculao are available through rural banks, money-transfer outlets, and cooperatives located mainly in the poblacion area and some larger barangays like Lipit. For a wider range of commercial banking options, residents and businesses frequently transact in Baler, the provincial capital, where national and regional banks maintain branches and ATMs.

Local commerce revolves around the public market, small neighborhood stores, farm-supply shops, and stalls that trade agricultural products, fish, and daily necessities. Coastal barangays with beach tourism, especially Dinadiawan and Dibutunan, host resorts, eateries, and lodging houses that cater to visitors and domestic tourists traveling along the Baler–Casiguran route.

Health services are anchored by a rural health unit and municipal health office located in the town center, supported by barangay health stations in larger communities such as Diarabasin, Mijares, and Puangi. These facilities provide primary health care, maternal and child services, and basic outpatient consultations. For hospital-level treatment, diagnostics, and specialized medical care, many residents travel to Baler or other nearby urban centers.

Education in Dipaculao

Public education in Dipaculao is managed by the Dipaculao Schools District Office under the Department of Education. Most barangays have at least one primary or elementary school, enabling children in both coastal and inland communities to access basic education close to home. Elementary schools operate in barangays such as Bayabas, Borlongan, Diamanen, Dianed, Dibutunan, Dinadiawan, Laboy, Lipit, Mijares, Mucdol, Puangi, Sapangkawayan, and Toytoyan, as well as in the central school located in the poblacion.

Secondary education is provided by several public high schools distributed across the municipality. These include Borlongan National High School in Barangay Borlongan, Dinadiawan National High School in Barangay Dinadiawan, Diarabasin National High School serving Barangay Diarabasin and nearby areas, Mijares National High School in Barangay Mijares, and Puangi National High School in Barangay Puangi. Dipaculao National High School and Father John Karash Memorial High School serve students from the poblacion and adjacent barangays.

For tertiary education, students may enroll in the Dipaculao College of Science and Technology within the municipality or pursue degree programs in Baler and other cities in Central Luzon. This combination of local elementary, secondary, and higher-education institutions allows many youth to complete basic schooling in their home communities before moving on to specialized or university-level studies elsewhere.

Local Transportation

Local transportation in Dipaculao reflects typical patterns in coastal and rural municipalities of Aurora. Within the town center and nearby barangays, motorized tricycles are the most common everyday means of transport for passengers and small cargo. Pedicabs and motorcycles (habal-habal) operate on shorter routes, particularly in flatter sections of barangays such as South Poblacion, North Poblacion, and adjacent communities.

Along the Baler–Casiguran Road, jeepneys, buses, and vans connect Dipaculao with the provincial capital of Baler to the south and with the northern municipalities of Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag. These same routes link distant coastal barangays like Dinadiawan, Ditale, Lobbot, and Salay to the town center for trade, schooling, health services, and government transactions. There are no regular taxicab services; instead, residents rely on tricycles, jeepneys, buses, and private vehicles for their daily mobility.

January 7, 2026

1️⃣ Andas for Traslación 2026 now ready, with upgrades

The Andas carrying the Black Nazarene for January 9 Traslación features new steering wheel and reinforced underchassis to handle massive devotee crowds safely.

2️⃣ Over 3,500 affected by Mayon volcano unrest

NDRRMC reports 3,515 people from 964 families evacuated in Albay due to recent magmatic eruptions, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows; all in permanent danger zone.

3️⃣ Magnitude 6.4 quake hits off southern Philippines

USGS detects 6.4 quake off Davao Oriental coast—no tsunami threat reported, but locals feel shaking; no immediate damage confirmed.