Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Muñoz
Component city
Science City of Muñoz
From top, left to right: Science City of Muñoz Hall, Philippine Rice Research Institute Entrance, Philippine Carabao Center, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Shrine, Main Gate of the Central Luzon State University
Flag of Muñoz
Flag
Official seal of Muñoz
Seal
Map of Nueva Ecija with Muñoz highlighted
Map of Nueva Ecija with Muñoz highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Map
Muñoz is located in Philippines
Muñoz
Muñoz
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°42′55″N 120°54′14″E / 15.7153°N 120.9039°E / 15.7153; 120.9039
CountryPhilippines
RegionCentral Luzon
ProvinceNueva Ecija
District 2nd district
Founded1913
CityhoodDecember 9, 2000
Named forFrancisco Muñoz
Barangays37 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Panlungsod
 • MayorBaby Armi L. Alvarez
 • Vice MayorNestor L. Alvarez
 • RepresentativeJoseph Gilbert Violago
 • City Council
Members
 • Electorate56,258 voters (2022)
Area
[2]
 • Total
163.05 km2 (62.95 sq mi)
Elevation
95 m (312 ft)
Highest elevation
822 m (2,697 ft)
Lowest elevation
22 m (72 ft)
Population
 (2020 census)[3]
 • Total
84,308
 • Density520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Households
20,933
Economy
 • Income class4th city income class
 • Poverty incidence
10.55
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 644.6 million (2020), 284.4 million (2012), 310.6 million (2013), 359.8 million (2014), 412.8 million (2015), 467.7 million (2016), 509.8 million (2017), 542.9 million (2018), 586 million (2019), 762.9 million (2021), 951 million (2022)
 • Assets₱ 2,123 million (2020), 583.6 million (2012), 627.5 million (2013), 721.8 million (2014), 877.8 million (2015), 1,179 million (2016), 1,406 million (2017), 1,596 million (2018), 1,738 million (2019), 2,281 million (2021), 2,621 million (2022)
 • Expenditure₱ 573.8 million (2020), 209.8 million (2012), 233.9 million (2013), 260.3 million (2014), 288 million (2015), 279.8 million (2016), 331.3 million (2017), 367.6 million (2018), 424.7 million (2019), 562.6 million (2021), 685.4 million (2022)
 • Liabilities₱ 632.3 million (2020), 246.8 million (2012), 222.9 million (2013), 217.7 million (2014), 244.7 million (2015), 355.8 million (2016), 392 million (2017), 403.4 million (2018), 418 million (2019), 571.4 million (2021), 623 million (2022)
Service provider
 • ElectricityNueva Ecija 2 Area 1 Electric Cooperative (NEECO 2 A1)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
3119, 3120
PSGC
034917000
IDD : area code +63 (0)44
Native languagesIlocano
Tagalog
Websitewww.sciencecityofmunoz.ph

Muñoz, officially the Science City of Muñoz (Filipino: Lungsod Agham ng Muñoz,[5] Ilocano: Siudad ti Siensia ti Muñoz), is a component city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 84,308 people.[3]

From its lowly origins as “Sitio Papaya”, it was renamed as Muñoz in 1886 in honor of Spanish Governor Don Francisco Muñoz. It was in 1913, under Executive Order No. 72, when Muñoz was declared as a new and independent municipality. By the virtue of Republic Act 8977 signed on November 7, 2000, Muñoz formally elevated to a city and country's only city with "Science" in its formal name.

Etymology

The town got its name in honor of Don Francisco Muñoz, being the alcalde mayor and gobernadorcillo.

The Science City title was because of the presence of many state universities and colleges in the city, alongside many technological, vocational and industrial structures sprung up in the city.

History

Prior to cityhood

The present-day city was formerly a barrio known as Papaya. In 1886, the name was changed to Muñoz in honor of Don Francisco Muñoz, the first appointed gobernadorcillo.[6]

The barrio was once a forested area. During the American occupation, in 1907, part of it was selected for the establishment of a government agricultural school—the present-day Central Luzon State University (CLSU).[7]

Residents of barrios Muñoz and San Anton in San Juan de Guimba, and of Palusapis in Santo Domingo, later petitioned for them, along with the sitios in Talavera—Kabisukulan, Rangayan, Rizal, Mataas-na-lupa, Siniguelas, Pukoc, Agricultura, and Pulong-maragol—to be organized into a separate municipality. On October 18, 1912, Newton W. Gilbert, the island's acting Governor General, issued Executive Order No. 72 which created Muñoz as the twenty-fourth municipality of Nueva Ecija, with Barrio Muñoz designated as the seat of government;[8] the order took effect on January 1, 1913.[6][9] As mandated, a municipal hall and a school building was constructed.[8]

In the aftermath of a typhoon that hit Luzon on October 9–11, 1936, and caused floods, affecting the central and southwestern part with the province the hardest hit, 20 bodies were found at the agricultural school.[10]

In late September 1948, a ten-hour battle, one of the bloodiest between the Philippine Constabulary and the Hukbalahap, occurred near the municipality where 83 people were killed.[11]

The municipality was affected by the 1990 Luzon earthquake; with 75 people died in the collapse of the library of the CLSU.[12]

In September 1993, through the initiatives of the leadership of the municipality and the CLSU,[7] the agricultural town became the fifth in the country to be classified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a science community.[6][13][14] This is due to the presence of various centers of excellence and research and development agencies;[13] at the time of the cityhood, there were sixteen, most notably the CLSU, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Carabao Center, as well as the provincial offices of the DOST and the Agricultural Training Institute.[6][7]

Cityhood

Mayor Efren Alvarez (who would be the first city mayor; served 1992–2001)[15] later sought the conversion of the municipality into what would be the country's first "Science City."[16] A master plan was then developed for the development into such agricultural entity.[7] The Nueva Ecija Provincial Board endorsed the cityhood through a resolution. However, the province's second district representative Eleuterio Violago said that the requirements for cityhood were yet to be complied.[16]

Nevertheless, in 1998, the cityhood bill was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Simeon Garcia (Violago's successor), being supported by provincial governor Tomas Joson III;[7] and was co-introduced by Josefina Joson, also from the province.[6] It was later sponsored in the Senate by senators Sergio Osmeña III and Vicente Sotto III. According to senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the chamber's local government chairperson, the bid was different as it was about the creation of a city of such kind, being passed by the House prior to adoption by the Senate of a ruling that was supposed to make the plan be rejected.[6]

On November 7, 2000, President Joseph Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8977,[13] converting the town into a science city, which is also the world's second after Tsukuba, Japan.[6] On December 9, the conversion was ratified in a plebiscite with about 12,468 voters favoring the bid, against 602 who voted against; hence becoming the province's fourth component city,[14] officially bearing the name Science City of Muñoz[13][14]—the only local government unit in the country holding such designation to date.[17]


Contemporary

Muñoz is among those areas in the province's northwest whose rice fields are being reached by the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project of the National Irrigation Administration; the project became operational in 2001.[18]

At the early morning of September 26, 2012, a traffic collision occurred on Maharlika Highway in Barangay Bantug, killing the drivers of a Victory Liner bus and a fuel tanker, five bus passengers, and a couple on a motorcycle.[19]

In November 2012, mayor Alvarez and vice mayor Ester Lazaro had a dispute over the mayorship[20] as the latter was designated as acting mayor.[15] In February 2013, the Supreme Court unseated Alvarez after affirming his 2009 conviction by the Sandiganbayan for graft.[15]

On August 22, 2023, Muñoz and Batac signed a sisterhood agreement.[17]

Geography

Muñoz is situated 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Cabanatuan, 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Palayan, and 146 kilometres (91 mi) north of the capital Manila. Due to its rich topography and tropical climate, it is now home to agricultural research and technology centers, committed to the production of information and technological breakthroughs to promote rural development, productivity, and food security.

Barangays

Science City of Muñoz is politically subdivided into 37 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.


PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2020[3] 2010[21]
03-49-17-001 Bagong Sikat 2.4% 2,031 2,033 ▾ −0.01%
03-49-17-002 Balante 2.2% 1,865 2,039 ▾ −0.89%
03-49-17-003 Bantug 13.2% 11,104 10,345 ▴ 0.71%
03-49-17-004 Bical 3.4% 2,868 2,793 ▴ 0.27%
03-49-17-005 Cabisuculan 1.5% 1,259 1,264 ▾ −0.04%
03-49-17-006 Calabalabaan 1.4% 1,170 1,080 ▴ 0.80%
03-49-17-007 Calisitan 1.2% 1,009 968 ▴ 0.42%
03-49-17-008 Catalanacan 4.5% 3,783 3,200 ▴ 1.69%
03-49-17-009 Curva 1.5% 1,305 1,201 ▴ 0.83%
03-49-17-010 Franza 3.3% 2,822 2,650 ▴ 0.63%
03-49-17-011 Gabaldon 2.7% 2,309 2,118 ▴ 0.87%
03-49-17-012 Labney 1.3% 1,064 940 ▴ 1.25%
03-49-17-013 Licaong 1.8% 1,521 1,613 ▾ −0.59%
03-49-17-014 Linglingay 3.7% 3,151 2,985 ▴ 0.54%
03-49-17-015 Mangandingay 2.2% 1,819 1,688 ▴ 0.75%
03-49-17-016 Magtanggol 2.9% 2,452 2,205 ▴ 1.07%
03-49-17-017 Maligaya 5.5% 4,656 4,643 ▴ 0.03%
03-49-17-018 Mapangpang 0.7% 627 575 ▴ 0.87%
03-49-17-019 Maragol 2.9% 2,458 2,935 ▾ −1.76%
03-49-17-020 Matingkis 1.3% 1,093 972 ▴ 1.18%
03-49-17-021 Naglabrahan 0.7% 584 586 ▾ −0.03%
03-49-17-022 Palusapis 3.5% 2,987 2,777 ▴ 0.73%
03-49-17-023 Pandalla 1.2% 990 963 ▴ 0.28%
03-49-17-024 Poblacion East 2.4% 2,006 2,080 ▾ −0.36%
03-49-17-025 Poblacion North 3.2% 2,707 2,758 ▾ −0.19%
03-49-17-026 Poblacion South 2.1% 1,790 2,350 ▾ −2.68%
03-49-17-027 Poblacion West 3.9% 3,247 4,085 ▾ −2.27%
03-49-17-028 Rang-ayan 2.7% 2,311 2,139 ▴ 0.78%
03-49-17-029 Rizal 2.1% 1,751 1,640 ▴ 0.66%
03-49-17-030 San Andres 2.1% 1,798 1,667 ▴ 0.76%
03-49-17-031 San Antonio 2.7% 2,305 2,166 ▴ 0.62%
03-49-17-032 San Felipe 2.4% 2,020 1,973 ▴ 0.24%
03-49-17-033 Sapang Cawayan 1.9% 1,570 1,483 ▴ 0.57%
03-49-17-034 Villa Isla 3.2% 2,686 2,811 ▾ −0.45%
03-49-17-035 Villa Nati 2.8% 2,377 1,301 ▴ 6.21%
03-49-17-036 Villa Santos 1.2% 986 959 ▴ 0.28%
03-49-17-037 Villa Cuizon 2.2% 1,827 1,498 ▴ 2.00%
Total 84,308 81,483 ▴ 0.34%

Dispute

The National Government has an ongoing move to transfer the Talavera barangays of Matingkis (Talavera), Bakal 1, Bakal 2 and Bakal 3 to become part of Science City of Munoz for the reason that the said barangays are geographically and strategically within the said city. This was favored by most of the residents of the said barangays but opposed by the Municipal Government of Talavera.

Also there is a proposed separation of Villa Pinili (Bantug West) and San Juan (CLSU) which will include PNR (CLSU), and Sawmill (CLSU) from Barangay Bantug into two independent separate barangay. [citation needed]

Climate

Climate data for Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29
(84) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		33
(91) 		33
(91) 		31
(88) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		30
(86) 		29
(84) 		30
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19
(66) 		19
(66) 		20
(68) 		22
(72) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		21
(70) 		20
(68) 		22
(71)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 4
(0.2) 		6
(0.2) 		7
(0.3) 		12
(0.5) 		61
(2.4) 		89
(3.5) 		96
(3.8) 		99
(3.9) 		81
(3.2) 		88
(3.5) 		37
(1.5) 		13
(0.5) 		593
(23.5)
Average rainy days 2.5 3.0 4.1 6.3 15.8 19.4 22.5 21.6 20.1 17.5 9.6 4.0 146.4
Source: Meteoblue[22]

Demographics

Population census of Muñoz
YearPop.±% p.a.
1918 11,333—    
1939 21,814+3.17%
1948 21,748−0.03%
1960 27,622+2.01%
1970 35,723+2.60%
1975 38,619+1.58%
1980 43,211+2.27%
1990 50,356+1.54%
1995 60,162+3.39%
2000 65,586+1.87%
2007 71,669+1.23%
2010 75,462+1.89%
2015 81,483+1.47%
2020 84,308+0.67%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[23][21][24][25]

Religion

Churches:

  • The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Shrine
  • San Sebastian parish Church
  • Christ the Worker Parish Church
  • Iglesia ni Cristo
  • Christian Churches
  • IIJMS Temples
  • United Pentecostal Church
  • The Apostolic Faith Church (Mission of Portland Oregon Inc.)
  • Jesus Christ the Living God Fellowship (Conservative Baptist)
  • Munoz Christian Church (FIFCOP)
  • Lakas Angkan Ministry
  • Muñoz Church of Christ

Economy

Poverty incidence of Muñoz

5
10
15
20
25
30
2006
26.00
2009
21.37
2012
15.10
2015
14.11
2018
5.52
2021
10.55

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

Philippine Carabao Center facade, National Headquarters and Gene Pool
Mango grove in Muñoz

There are many new establishments in Munoz in the past few years. Notable are Jollibee Munoz, Mang Inasal Munoz, 7/11, BDO, Land Bank, Novo, Lucky 99, Friendship Supermarket, Inc (FSi), and the Villa-Mendoza Training Institute, are now major landmarks on the city.

In terms of commercial and shopping sector, Robinsons, Savemore and Puregold has also initially identified locations in the city for future construction. Fast-food chain operator Jollibee already established their store in the city.

With a bustling market center with rice trading as a major economic activity, it has transformed into its present status as a Science City by virtue of Republic Act 8977 on December 9, 2000. Being a science city, Muñoz was acknowledged as one of the members of League of Cities of the Philippines and became a pilot city of achieving the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.

Research and development centers
  • The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) (formerly the Maligaya Rice Research and Training Center (MRRTC)) is found in Muñoz
  • Central Office and National Genepool of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).
  • National Freshwater and Fisheries Training and Research Center (NFFTRC)
  • The main offices of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) now known as Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech)
  • Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-NFFTC) are also based in Muñoz.

Government

Elected officials

Members of the Muñoz City Council
(2022–2025)[34]
Position Name
District Representative
(2nd Legislative District of the Province of Nueva Ecija) 		Joseph Gilbert Violago
Chief Executive of the City Muñoz Mayor Baby Armi L. Alvarez
Presiding Officer of the City Council of Muñoz Vice Mayor Nestor L. Alvarez
Members of the City Council Jose A. Ruiz Jr.
Romeo A. Ruiz
Jerry S. Fulgencio
Allan S. Pingol
Henry G. Agaloos
Rommel Abon
Altreb S. Castañeda
Herminio F. Salcedo
Vincent DV. Alvarez
Edmond Balmeo

Transportation

As with most towns in Central Luzon, inter-city transport is through the Pan-Philippine Highway (also known as Maharlika Highway/ Asian Highway 26), the country's principal transport backbone. The principal mode of transport is through Jeepneys with fixed routes, or through tricycles, whom you need to tell where to go.

Buses from Cagayan Valley to Manila and vice versa stops here.

From Manila, you can ride a public bus going to San Jose City, Nueva Ecija or take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and take La Paz Exit. And continue until reaching the city. You can also ride a public bus plying Cagayan Valley which exits at TPLEX (Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway) Pura Exit; they continue to traverse through N114 (Pangasinan–Nueva Ecija Road) up to Baloc, Santo Domingo; and they turn left going to AH26 until you reach Muñoz.

Land use

Land use Hectares
Agricultural 9,819
Residential 2,847
Commercial and industrial 784
Institutional 740
Forest hills and pasture 1,215
Roads 246
Water bodies 516
Open spaces 138
Total 16,305

Education

  • Central Luzon State University - a state university located on a 658-hectare campus in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It serves as the lead agency of the Muñoz Science Community and hosts the Regional Research and Development Center in Central Luzon. CLSU is recognized for its significant contributions to agricultural research in Southeast Asia, particularly in areas such as aquatic culture (notably in the sex reversal of tilapia), ruminant studies, crop science, orchard management, and water management.[35][36]

Notable personalities

References

  1. ^  Science City of Muñoz | (DILG)
  2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Census of Population (2020). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "SK ng Lungsod Agham ng Muñoz" [SK (Youth Council) of the Science City of Muñoz] (in Filipino). Science City of Muñoz Government. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Roque, Anselmo (November 14, 2000). "RP's first science city born in Ecija". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Manila. p. A12. Retrieved January 10, 2025 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ a b c d e Roque, Anselmo (September 2, 2003). "Science City of Muñoz: expanding the frontiers in agri-development; seeking new partners". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati. p. D4. Retrieved January 18, 2025 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ a b Executive orders and proclamations (1912). Manila: Bureau of Printing. 1913. p. 185–188. Retrieved January 15, 2025 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Revised Administrative Code of the Philippine Islands 1934. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1934. p. 100. Retrieved January 10, 2025 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Known storm dead 193 as 654 missing". The Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. Associated Press. October 13, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved January 10, 2025 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "83 Killed in Battle". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. September 25, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved January 15, 2025 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Citations:
  13. ^ a b c d Adalid, Nathalie Grace (November 3, 2024). "This week's milestones: Nov. 3 to Nov. 9". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c de Villa, Kathleen (December 3, 2017). "This Week's Milestones: Dec. 3–9". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Punay, Edu (February 9, 2013). "SC upholds conviction for graft of Ecija mayor". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Giray, Celso (August 17, 1996). "'Science City' dream". Manila Standard. Manila. p. 8. Retrieved January 9, 2025 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ a b Adriano, Leilanie (August 22, 2023). "Nueva Ecija's Muñoz, Ilocos Norte's Batac forge sister ties". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  18. ^ Citations:
  19. ^ Roque, Anselmo; Galang, Armand (September 27, 2012). "Nueva Ecija bus, motorcycle, tanker crash: 9 killed, 8 hurt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Galang, Armand (February 27, 2013). "Nueva Ecija city has no mayor as court issues warrant". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  21. ^ a b Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  22. ^ "Muñoz: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  23. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  24. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  25. ^ "Province of Nueva Ecija". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  26. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  27. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
  28. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
  29. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
  30. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
  31. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
  32. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  33. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  34. ^ "Science City Of Muñoz - Nueva Ecija | Eleksyon 2022 | GMA News Online". GMA Integrated News. May 13, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  35. ^ Fitzsimmons, Kevin. "Tilapia Aquaculture in the Philippines". The University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  36. ^ "Update On Tilapia Sex Reversal". Agriculture Business Week. Archived from the original on July 28, 2010.
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