Fishing Capital of the Philippines. That’s what they call Navotas. It is a fitting title. Navotas teems with life and industry centered around the sea. Today we explore this unique city.
Navotas is a city in Metro Manila. It occupies a narrow strip of land. This land sits along Manila Bay’s eastern shores. Navotas is north of Manila. It is west of Malabon City. Obando, Bulacan is south of it.
Navotas is an important fishing community. About 70% of its population works in fishing. They work in related industries too. This includes fish trading and fish net mending. Some work in fish production.
Navotas is part of Metro Manila’s CAMANAVA subregion. This includes Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela. Flooding can be a problem. This is especially true during the rainy season and high tide. The government is working to fix this. Pollution and overpopulation are other concerns. But Navotas is famous for fish sauce and shrimp paste. Locals call them patis and bagoong.
Navotas celebrates its foundation day every January 16. It became a city on June 24, 2007. This happened after a plebiscite.
Navotas was once part of Malabon. Legend says a long delta stretched along the seashore. It ran from north to south. The sea ate away at the land. This was between Tondo and Malabon. An opening formed. Water flowed through it. People called the place “butas”. This means breached or pierced through in Tagalog. The channel became the Navotas River. Later, the place became “Nabotas”, then “Navotas”.
It was once known as hacienda de Navotas. Dominican friars owned it. The Pascual family bought it later. This was during the American regime. They developed it into a residential estate.
San Jose de Navotas was the locality’s name. It was named after Saint Joseph. He is the patron saint. A “Superior Decreto” established a new parish. This happened on June 11, 1859. Friar Matias Navoa supervised it. The people were divided into two groups. These were the naturales and the mestizos. Mariano Estrellas was gobernadorcillo of the naturales. Mariano Israel was of the mestizos. Today, recognition is given to the gobernadorcillos for the mestizos. Records are incomplete. A school in honor of San Jose was built. It was known as “San Jose Academy.”
The town merged with Malabon in 1904. Bernardo Dagala was elected municipal president. He was a native of Navotas.
Navotas is a coastal town. It sits in Metro Manila’s northwest part. It is a narrow strip of land. Its shoreline is about 4.5 km long. Navotas shares a border with Obando, Bulacan. This is along Sukol Creek. The Binuangan River runs along the eastern border.
Navotas is a marine industrial estate. This allows local fishermen to earn a living. They sell their catch in public markets. They can sell to private companies too. These companies engage in seafood production. They also work in related businesses.
Navotas boasts the Agora Market. Here, the freshest seafood is sold.
Navotas faced many challenges. Yet it thrives as a vital fishing hub. Its people are resilient. They depend on the sea. They contribute to the Philippines. Navotas is more than just a fishing capital. It is a testament to community. It is a testament to hard work. It is a testament to history.