Nasipit, officially the Municipality of Nasipit (; ), is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 44,822 people.
The Port of Nasipit is the major seaport or base port in Agusan del Norte. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) assigned PMO Nasipit as an International Base port.
Perched on a promontory overlooking the picturesque Nasipit Bay is the progressive industrial town of Nasipit. From the open sea, approaching the town one would readily notice that pall of heavy smoke emanating from giant smoke-stacks, evidence of industrial activity within the sprawling compound of the Nasipit Lumber Company and the Philippine Wallboard Corporation.
The shoreline of Nasipit assumes a claw-like from which âÂÂNasip-itâ was derived. Until 1929, Nasipit was a barrio of Butuan. The then Governor Guingona proposed to change the name Nasipit to âÂÂAuroraâÂÂ. Due to the strong opposition of the early inhabitants, however, the word Na-si-pit was retained.
Little is documented about the early history of the town. According to local tradition, three women were once abducted by Moro raiders who periodically attacked the area to loot and plunder. These incursions caused widespread fear among the inhabitants, who would retreat to the forested hills for safety. Over time, these elevated areas were settled and eventually developed into what is now the poblacion. In response to the threat of raids, early settlers constructed a watchtower on the site now occupied by the Catholic church, serving as a lookout point to warn residents of approaching attackers.
The earliest settlers of this town were immigrants from Cebu, Leyte and the different parts of the archipelago threaded their way into this town to settle permanently.
The administration of the late Mayor Catalino Atupan marked the beginning of industrial development in what was then a relatively quiet town. During his nine-year tenure, he focused on improving tax collection and promoted the establishment of factories, capitalizing on the townâÂÂs strategic location and favorable shipping facilities. By the end of his term in 1946, the Nasipit Lumber Company Incorporated, operated by Fernandez Hermanos, had commenced operations, signaling the start of NasipitâÂÂs economic growth and industrialization.
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 then 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 which was approved on June 15, 1949.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of constituting of the of 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 Butuan Bay. It is west of Butuan and 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.
Nasipit is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.
Of these, five are urban and 14 are rural. Of the 19 barangays, nine are coastal: CubiâÂÂCubi, AtaâÂÂAtahon, Punta, Barangay 1 Apagan (Poblacion), Talisay (home to the Port of Nasipit), Santa Ana, Camagong, Amontay and Aclan.
In the 2020 census, Nasipit had a population of 44,822. The population density was .
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 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.
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 the 1960s. Recently, the altar of the church was constructed on its new image.
The PLDT provides fixed line services. Wireless mobile communications services are provided by Smart Communications and Globe Telecommunications.
Nasipit can be accessed through the Mindanao Pan-Philippine Highway.
PAL and Cebu Pacific have daily flights from Manila to Butuan and vice versa.
Through the Port of Nasipit, there are several major shipping lines serving the Manila and Cebu routes: 2GO Travel, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines. The Philippine Coast Guard â CG Detachment Nasipit is located at the Port of Nasipit near the Nasipit SeaPort Terminal.
Nasipit can be reached by 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.