Nasipit, Agusan del Norte

History

The recorded history of Nasipit can be traced back to as early as 1880s when it was declared as a pueblo by the Spanish colonizers. According to townsfolk, its name may have been derived from an incident where a native, immediately after being bitten by a crab, was asked the name of the place by an immigrant. Misunderstanding the question, the native answered na-si-pit meaning "bitten by a crab". Since then, the town became known as Nasipit.

Nasipit was officially separated from the municipality of Butuan on August 1, 1929. It became a municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 181 issued by Acting Governor General of the Philippines Eugene Allen Gilmore. A proposal to change its name to Aurora was initiated by former Governor Teofisto Guingona Sr., but due to the strong opposition from townsfolk, the name Nasipit was retained.

In 1949, the barrios of Carmen, Tagcatong, Cahayagan and San Agustin were separated from Nasipit and constituted into the new town of Carmen by virtue of Republic Act No. 380 which was approved on June 15, 1949.

Geography

Nasipit is located at 8°59′N 125°20′E.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 144.4 square kilometres (55.8 sq mi)  constituting 7000529000000000000♠5.29% of the 2,730.24-square-kilometre- (1,054.15 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Norte.

Nasipit occupies the north-western portion of the province. It is bounded in the east and south by Buenavista, west by Carmen, and north by the Butuan Bay. It is 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of Butuan and 175 kilometres (109 mi) north-east of Cagayan de Oro. The town is accessible by sea through the inter-island vessels docking in the Nasipit International Seaport, to destinations such as Manila, Cebu, Bohol, and Cagayan de Oro.

Barangays

Nasipit is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Of these, 5 are urban and 14 are rural. Of the 19 barangays, 9 are coastal: Cubi–Cubi, Ata–Atahon, Punta, Barangay 1 Apagan (Poblacion), Talisay (home to the Port of Nasipit), Santa Ana, Camagong, Amontay and Aclan.

Demographics

In the 2015 census, Nasipit had a population of 41,957. The population density was 290 inhabitants per square kilometre (750/sq mi).

In the 2016 electoral roll, it had 25,926 registered voters.

Economy

Nasipit was identified by the Caraga Regional Development Council (Caraga RDC) through Resolution Number 44 Series of 1996, as the Regional Agri-Industrial Growth Center (RAGC) of the Caraga Region. The municipality's identification as the RAGC and its inclusion in the Agusan Norte Special Economic Zone (ANSEZ) can be attributed to the establishment of the Nasipit Agusan del Norte Industrial Estate (NANIE). Covering a total of 296.9 hectares (734 acres) and located within barangays Camagong and Talisay, the proposed estate is envisaged to be an industrial nucleus or manufacturing center in the province where industrial plants, bonded warehouses, container yards and other industrial facilities will be located and made available to investors.

Attractions

Nasipit celebrates its annual fiesta every 29 September in honor to the town’s patron saint, St. Michael, the Archangel, which includes thanksgiving mass and parade before the day of fiesta activities.

Araw ng Nasipit (Day of Nasipit) - the day commemorating the townhood anniversary of Nasipit from 1929 after it was a barrio of Butuan

Located at the heart of the town, it was built by MSC or Dutch Priests during 60’s. Recently, the altar of the church was constructed on its new image.

Transportation

Nasipit can be accessed through the Mindanao Pan-Philippine Highway.

Air

PAL and Cebu Pacific have daily flights from Manila to Butuan and vice versa.

Sea

Through the Port of Nasipit, there are several major shipping lines serving the Manila and Cebu routes: 2GO Travel, Carlos A. Gothong Shipping Lines, Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation aka Sulpicio Lines, Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc., and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines. The Philippine Coast Guard — CG Detachment Nasipit is located at the Port of Nasipit near the Nasipit SeaPort Terminal.

Land

Nasipit can be reached by riding jeepney, van, multicabs and buses from Butuan in 45 minutes, and 4 hours to 5 hours by bus from Cagayan de Oro. The public mode of transportation in Nasipit is by tricycle similar in Butuan.