On Tuesday, the Vatican announced the creation of the Diocese of Prosperidad in the Agusan region, with Pope Francis appointing Bishop Ruben Labajo as its first leader. Labajo, 58, has been serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu before this new role.
The new diocese encompasses the province of Agusan del Sur, which was previously part of the Diocese of Butuan. The 57-year-old Diocese of Butuan will now only cover Agusan del Norte. This division followed a petition by Bishop Cosme Damian Almedilla of Butuan in 2023, who viewed it as a “strategic move” to enhance both the spiritual growth of the faithful and administrative efficiency.
Almedilla also highlighted Agusan del Sur as a “missionary frontier,” citing its remote and mountainous communities. Around one-third of the province’s population consists of indigenous peoples, making the region a significant focus for missionary work.
Prosperidad will become the 87th diocese in the Philippines and will be a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. Labajo, who was ordained as a priest in Cebu in 1994, was appointed as auxiliary bishop in June 2022 and was ordained as a bishop in August of the same year.
The new diocese represents a key step in the Catholic Church’s efforts to reach and serve the diverse communities of the Agusan region.
