Navotas, National Capital Region, Philippines

🇵🇭 Navotas, officially the City of Navotas, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It was formerly part of the Province of Rizal in southern Luzon. It comprises what is known as the CAMANAVA area along with the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela.

It is known as the Commercial Fishing Hub of the Philippines, for the city has the third largest fish port in Asia and the largest in Southeast Asia. Although it was established on February 16, 1859, Navotas celebrates its foundation day every January 16, the day in 1906 when it finally separated from Malabon. Navotas became a highly urbanized city on June 24, 2007.

History The movement for the separation of barrios San Jose, Navotas, and Bangkulasi from Tambobong (now Malabon), then a town in the province of Tondo (later Manila), began on December 20, 1827. Led by the principales of such barrios, such separation was petitioned before the Spanish colonial government when the locals experienced difficulties in doing business transactions and accessing Tambobong's poblacion across what is now the Navotas River for religious events.

On February 16, 1859, the petition was finally granted, separating barrios San Jose, Navotas, and Bangkulasi from Tambobong to form a new distinct town. The town initially composed of four barrios (villages): San Jose, Tangos, Bangkulasi, and Tanza. Later on June 11, the Real Audiencia enacted a Superior Decreto, which established the San Jose de Navotas Parish with a church and parochial school.

On August 6, 1898, Navotas joined the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

American invasion era On June 11, 1901, Navotas was eventually incorporated into the newly created province of Rizal with the enactment of Act No. 137.

On October 12, 1903, the town was returned to Malabon by virtue of Act No. 942. On January 16, 1906, Navotas regained its independent municipality status with the enactment of Act No. 1442 which separated it from Malabon.

Philippine independence On November 7, 1975, Navotas was transferred from the province of Rizal to the newly formed National Capital Region or Metro Manila, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824.

Cityhood On June 24, 2007, Navotas became a highly urbanized city by virtue of Republic Act No. 9387 dated March 10, 2007, after a plebiscite was conducted.

Geography: Topography Navotas is a coastal town in the north-west part of Metro Manila. It is a narrow strip of land with an aggregated shoreline of approximately 4.5 km (2.8 mi). It is bordered on the north by Obando, Bulacan along Sukol Creek which separates it from Balt; on the south by the city of Manila; on the east by the cities of Malabon and Caloocan and bodies of water such as Binuangan River, the Daang Cawayan River, the Dampalit River, the Batasan River, the Navotas River, the Bangculasi Channel, the Malabon Channel and the Estero de Maypajo; and on the west by Manila Bay.

Navotas East Navotas East is bounded by Barangay Sipac-Almacen to the north, Barangay Tañong of Malabon (via Estrella Bridge over Navotas River) to the east, Barangay Navotas West to the west, and Brgy. Bagumbayan North to the south. Their patron saint is San Ildefonso.

San Jose The name of Barangay San Jose was derived from the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Jose de Navotas, the first place of worship in the town.

San Roque Barangay San Roque is bounded by Tangos South to the north-west and north, Tangos North and Tanza, Navotas (via Badeo 5) to the north-east, Brgy. Hulong Duhat, Malabon and Brgy. Flores, Malabon in Malabon to the east (via Navotas River, Badeo 4), Manila Bay to the west and Brgy. Daanghari to the south. Its name is derived from San Roque de Navotas Parish, the first place of worship in the town.

It is famous for its annual fiesta, every last Saturday and Sunday of the month of January. Every fiesta the whole barangay (including Brgy's Tangos North and Tangos South) is filled with stalls and stores. Also every fiesta of San Roque, A. Dela Cruz St. is full of stalls which sell kalamay, from Batangas.

Sipac-Almacen Barangay Sipac-Almacen is famous for the location of the Navotas City Hall and some points of interest like Navotas National High School, the main high school of Navotas, Navotas Playground, Jollibee, McDonald's and others.

Fishing and Aquaculture Navotas has been dubbed as the Fishing Capital of the Philippines. The city is home to the Navotas Fish Port Complex, which is considered as the Philippines's premier fish center.

Shipbuilding and repair In the ship repair sector, the Navotas complex is expected to accommodate 96 vessels for repair.

Education Navotas has 15 public elementary schools and 6 public secondary schools including Navotas National High School and Kaunlaran High School. The Navotas Polytechnic College located at the North Bay Boulevard South in Kaunlaran Village is owned and operated by the city.

Sport Navotas was home to the Navotas Uni-Pak Sardines, a founding member of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League during its inaugural season and played for three seasons until the 2019–20 season.

Transport: Bicycle, pedicabs, and tricycles Bicycle pedestrian cabs are a popular transport in the whole city, as being composed of small and short streets, it is popular used in the whole city. It also attracts tourists because of its complex design that is different from the pedicabs of other cities.

Tricycles are also used in the city as substitute of bicycle pedicabs.

Transport: Bus Navotas is also a hotspot of buses. C-4 Road between Tanong, Malabon and Navotas West is the most popular bus stopover.

Commuter boats Commuting in boats is popular in the city. Because of its geographic location characteristics by Manila Bay, it is widely used. The pier of commuting boats are located in San Roque, Navotas that connects to Tanza, Navotas, which is separated by water.

Jeepney Jeepneys are Navotas's distinctive local style of shared taxi.