Navotas, municipality in the northern Philippines, on the island of Luzon, in Rizal province. Part of the Manila metropolitan area and the National Capital Region, Navotas is located 10 km (6 mi) north of Manila's downtown on Manila Bay and Dagatdagatan Lagoon. Navotas is bordered by Manila to the south, by Malabon and Caloocan to the east, and by Manila Bay to the west. Navotas is an important commercial fishing center for Manila and is known for its production of bagoong (a fish paste) and for its fish-preparation plants. Numerous fish ponds have been constructed next to Manila Bay. With Malabon and Caloocan, Navotas is part of an industrial district in the northern part of greater Manila that produces chemicals, plastics, cigarettes, and other goods. Like many of Manila's suburbs, Navotas' population has grown rapidly, by 49 percent between 1980 and 1990. This compares to 34 percent growth in the entire National Capital Region during the 1980s and 26 percent for the nation. Population (1999) 245,423.
