Barangay Cortes

Barangay Cortes forms part of Basilisa, a municipality in Dinagat Islands, and is classified as a small barangay.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Cortes had a population of 1,465. This made it the 10th largest of 27 barangays in Basilisa by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Cortes accounted for approximately 3.97% of the total population of Basilisa, which stood at 36,911 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,382 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,465 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +6.0%, consistent with a growing settlement. Barangay Cortes is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Basilisa is a municipality comprising 27 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Cortes, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Dinagat Islands, which contains 100 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Cortes ranks 34th by 2020 population. Dinagat Islands is classified as a 4th by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Cortes is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.