Navotas is one of the cities in the CAMANAVA sub region of Metro Manila, other cities being Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela. Navotas City is practically an island as it is a stretch of narrow land on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and bounded by Bulacan on the north, by the coast of Manila Bay on the west, by the City of Manila on the south and on the east by the Malabon Channel. The rivers Binuangan, Dampalit and the Daong Kawayan also flow on its eastern side. Two thirds of the 10.77 square kilometer area is under sea level making this city prone to floods during high tides and during the rainy season. The local government has made several measures to address this concern and presently, Mayor Tobias Reynald Tiangco has made an innovative solution by launching the “Kilos Kontra Baha” project that has stopped the floods in this city.

Navotas City is dubbed as the Fishing Trading Capital of the Philippines because of its location and its prime fish trading, considered to be one of the largest fish trading centers in Asia. Fish traders from the surrounding regions flock to the fishing port of Navotas City, The Navotas Fish Port. The proximity to the Manila and Laguna Bay and the Daang Kawayan, Dampalit and the Binuangan rivers that flows on its eastern shore have contributed to the fishing industry of this city. Seventy percent of the population draws their livelihood from fishing and other fishing related industries like fish net making and mending and trading while also famous for its fish sauce (patis) and fish paste (bagoong). Navotas fishing port and the fish market complex managed by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) distributes fish in the major markets in Metro Manila.

Just like any other place in the Philippines, Navotas too has a legend on how the name came about. According to folklore, the narrow stretch of land extends continuously from north to south linking the area to Tondo. Overtime, a gap was created as the land was slowly swallowed by the sea. Water flow on the opening that was made and the gap developed into the Navotas River. People then call the place “nabutas” which means pierced through. Through the years, nabutas was changed to Navotas. Another legend states that the name came from San Jose de Navotas, the patron saint of the town.
Unlike other highly urbanized cities, Navotas City does not have large and modern shopping malls. However, this city does have a most unique open air public market. The Agora Market is divided into the dry and wet section. The wet section houses the meat, fish and poultry stalls and the dry section have stalls for furniture, garments, groceries and similar products.
The Kubo sa Karagatan is a must-see tourist attraction. These nipa huts that are used by fishermen as guardhouses for their baklad (fish trap) are constructed six kilometers from the shoreline. Another tourist attraction is the Linggo ng Mangingisda that is the city’s celebration for being the fishing capital of the country. Various activities connected with the fishing industry are done every 2nd week of March.