[4][5] The first Filipino district officer and police force to administer the Philippine Turtle Islands assumed their duties in Taganak on 22 October 1947.

[7][8] The 1930 international treaty dealing with the transfer of administration of the Turtle Islands including Taganak contained the following provision:[4] In the event of (the administration) of the Island of Taganak...being transferred, the United States Government will give favorable consideration to the question of the compensation to be paid to the (British North Borneo Company) in respect of the capital expenditure incurred by the company in connection with the lighthouse situated on the island, and that the United States Government will provide for the future maintenance of the lighthouse.At the time of the transfer of the island the Philippine government rejected the UK request that the Philippines pay for the cost of the lighthouse and that they provide for its maintenance in the future.

[7] The Manila government asserted that the lighthouse had been severely damaged in the war, that it had not been in operation since its destruction, and that the Philippines did not need its service.

[7] The government was willing to lease the site for the lighthouse to North Borneo for one peso per annum, as long as the British needed and used the facility.

He also inspected the deposits of turtle eggs whose collection and sale had since been undertaken by the Philippine Government, and looked into the island’s main industry — copra.

[11] On 8 November 1962 the then-Mayor of Taganak, Timbayan Anam, fled 18 miles (29 km) to Sandakan on a kumpit with his family and five policemen, including the chief of police, following an apparent attack by 20 men.

[19] The Protected Area Management Board approved a resolution for the construction of a Php 28 million Hotel to be built on Taganak Island.

[19] The Abu Sayyaf criminal terrorist group who specialise in kidnap for ransom was active in the vicinity of the island.