Ozamiz | |
|---|---|
| City of Ozamiz | |
 Flag  Seal | |
Nicknames:
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| Motto: Fortis in Fide (Latin) 'Strength in Faith' | |
 Map of Misamis Occidental with Ozamiz highlighted | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
.svg)  Ozamiz Location within thePhilippines | |
| Coordinates:8°09′N123°51′E / 8.15°N 123.85°E /8.15; 123.85 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Northern Mindanao |
| Province | Misamis Occidental |
| District | 2nd district |
| Founded | 1756 |
| Cityhood | July 16, 1948[1] |
| Named after | José Ozámiz |
| Barangays | 51 (seeBarangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Panlungsod |
| • Mayor | Atty. Sam Norman G. Fuentes (Asenso Pinoy Party) |
| • Vice Mayor | Simplicia “Bebie” O. Neri (Asenso Pinoy Party) |
| • Representative | Sancho Fernando “Ando” F. Oaminal (Lakas) |
| • City Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 99,937 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 169.95 km2 (65.62 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 216 m (709 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 1,923 m (6,309 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2024 census)[4] | |
• Total | 143,620 |
| • Density | 845.07/km2 (2,188.7/sq mi) |
| • Households | 32,933 |
| Demonym | Ozamiznon |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 2nd city income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 20.96 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 1,251 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 2,143 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 1,011 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 443.5 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Misamis Occidental 2 Electric Cooperative (MOELCI 2) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 7200 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)88 |
| Native languages | Subanon Cebuano Tagalog |
| Feast date | July 16; December 8 |
| Catholic diocese | Archdiocese of Ozamis |
| Patron saint | |
| Website | ozamizcity |
Ozamiz, officially theCity of Ozamiz (Cebuano:Dakbayan sa Ozamiz;Filipino:Lungsod ng Ozamiz), is acomponent city in theprovince ofMisamis Occidental,Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 143,620 people making it the most populous city in Misamis Occidental.[6]
Although occasionally spelled asOzamis in official sources like COMELEC,[7] it is spelled as Ozamiz[8] in Republic Act No. 321, also known as the Ozamiz City Charter Act. In 2005, City Resolution 251-05 was passed to reiterate that it is officially spelled Ozamiz, not Ozamis.
The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a name believed to have been derived from theSubanon wordkuyamis, a variety of coconut that was a staple food of theSubanon people. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest that the name Misamis came from the Spanish wordMisa (Catholic Mass).
Misamis was originally settled by the Subanon people, and were heavily targeted by marauding pirates coming fromLanao. The Spanish government created aflotilla to counter the pirates, with SpanishJesuit missionary José Ducos assigned as its commander. After several victories, theFuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo was constructed at the mouth ofPanguil Bay sometime in 1756 as a form of protection from future attacks.
The town of Misamis grew in size due to the presence of the stone fort. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of theDistrict of Misamis when Mindanao was originally divided into five districts, until during the 1870s when the seat of government was transferred toCagayan de Oro.
Duringthe American occupation, the territory was reduced. In 1920,Governor-GeneralFrancis Burton Harrison issuedExecutive Order (EO) No. 61; thebarrios, which were once part of the former municipality ofLoculan, were separated and organized into the new municipalities ofClarin andTudela.[9]
In 1929, Governor-GeneralDwight F. Davis issuedEO No. 220[10] that organized the municipality of Regidor (nowTangub; also included the present-day territory ofBonifacio), which took effect in 1930 asthe province of Occidental Misamis was established following the split ofMisamis.[11]
In October 1942,Wendell Fertig established the command headquarters of the growing guerrilla resistance to the Japanese occupation of Mindanao in the Spanish fort in the town. His headquarters was abandoned on June 26, 1943 due to a large Japanese attack.[12] During the Japanese occupation of Misamis inWorld War II, the fort was garrisoned by a Japanese contingent until the end of the war, who dug foxholes near or under the walls. This undermining of the walls later led to the destruction of the southwest bastion in the1955 Lanao earthquake.[1]
After the war, Misamis became a chartered city by virtue of Republic Act 321 on July 16, 1948. This also renamed Misamis to Ozamiz, after the heroJosé Ozámiz who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its first governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, as well as being a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate.
On April 1, 1955, Ozamiz was struck by the1955 Lanao earthquake, at 2:17 am. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused the destruction of the city's parish church and southwest bastion of the Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo. Major cracks were also present in the city's roads. PresidentRamon Magsaysay declared a state of calamity in Ozamiz, as well as in the provinces of Misamis Occidental,Misamis Oriental,Lanao, andSurigao.[13]
On February 25, 2000, threeSuper Five Transport buses aboard the M/V Our Lady of Mediatrix ferryexploded while the ferry was traveling fromKolambugan,Lanao del Norte to thePort of Ozamiz. The reason for the explosion was the use of large incendiary bombs, resulting in 44 deaths and more than 100 passengers wounded.[14][15]
On July 30, 2017, theCriminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Ozamiz City Policeraided the house of incumbent Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. where guns were allegedly stored, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including Mayor Parojinog, his wife Susan, and two of his siblings. The raid also ended with the mayor's children, incumbent Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and Reynaldo Parojinog Jr., being arrested. This incident was part of theWar on Drugs campaign during PresidentRodrigo Duterte's administration.[16][17][18]
Ozamiz is located on the east coast ofMisamis Occidental. It is nearby theZamboanga del Sur andZamboanga del Norte provinces to the west, andLanao del Norte is across thePanguil Bay.
It is bordered byTangub to the south andClarin to the north. Ozamiz is 52 kilometers (32 mi) fromMaria Cristina Falls, the main source of hydroelectric power inMindanao.
| Climate data for Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental | |||||||||||||
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| 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) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) | 30 (86) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 69 (2.7) | 58 (2.3) | 67 (2.6) | 60 (2.4) | 109 (4.3) | 114 (4.5) | 83 (3.3) | 78 (3.1) | 76 (3.0) | 92 (3.6) | 86 (3.4) | 63 (2.5) | 955 (37.7) |
| Average rainy days | 12.8 | 11.6 | 14.8 | 17.4 | 24.8 | 23.5 | 20.7 | 18.5 | 17.4 | 22.5 | 21.6 | 15.6 | 221.2 |
| Source: Meteoblue(modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[19] | |||||||||||||
Poverty incidence of Ozamiz
10 20 30 40 2000 22.90 2003 37.06 2006 30.60 2009 29.77 2012 20.93 2015 17.79 2018 21.12 2021 20.96 Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] |
Ozamiz is agricultural in terms of natural resources, but the city has become the center for commerce, health, transportation, and education, considering its strategic location. Its location makes for a good harbor, as its local port is the principal outlet of mineral deposits and agricultural and forest products of the provinces ofMisamis Occidental,Zamboanga del Norte,Zamboanga del Sur,Maguindanao del Norte,Maguindanao del Sur, parts ofLanao del Norte, andLanao del Sur.
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| Source:Philippine Statistics Authority[28][29][30][31][32] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 2024 census, Ozamiz had a population of 143,620 people,[33] with a density of 850 inhabitants per square kilometer or 2,200 inhabitants per square mile.
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Local officials are elected every 3 years. The city local government is composed of themayor, vice mayor, tencouncilors, oneSangguniang Kabataan (SK) representative, one indigenous people (IPMR) representative, and anAssociation of Barangay Captains (ABC) representative.
As of 2025, these are the current elected officials:
Ozamiz is politically subdivided into 51barangays. [34] Each barangay consists ofpuroks while some havesitios.
| Name | Population (2024)[35] | PSGC |
|---|---|---|
| 50th District (Poblacion) | 581 | 104210051 |
| Aguada (Poblacion) | 7,113 | 104210001 |
| Bacolod | 1,783 | 104210003 |
| Bagakay | 5,110 | 104210004 |
| Balintawak | 684 | 104210005 |
| Bañadero | 7,692 | 104210002 |
| Baybay San Roque | 3,398 | 104210043 |
| Baybay Santa Cruz | 1,589 | 104210006 |
| Baybay Triunfo | 2,520 | 104210007 |
| Bongbong | 3,097 | 104210008 |
| Calabayan | 4,029 | 104210009 |
| Capucao C. | 649 | 104210010 |
| Capucao P. | 1,183 | 104210011 |
| Carangan | 5,160 | 104210012 |
| Carmen | 6,135 | 104210037 |
| Catadman-Manabay | 5,887 | 104210013 |
| Cavinte | 686 | 104210014 |
| Cogon | 1,733 | 104210015 |
| Dalapang | 770 | 104210016 |
| Diguan | 1,530 | 104210017 |
| Dimaluna | 3,242 | 104210018 |
| Doña Consuelo | 4,371 | 104210052 |
| Embargo | 1,079 | 104210019 |
| Gala | 959 | 104210020 |
| Gango | 6,648 | 104210021 |
| Gotokan Daku | 508 | 104210022 |
| Gotokan Diot | 610 | 104210023 |
| Guimad | 615 | 104210024 |
| Guingona | 586 | 104210025 |
| Kinuman Norte | 1,705 | 104210026 |
| Kinuman Sur | 1,332 | 104210027 |
| Labinay | 1,211 | 104210028 |
| Labo | 4,023 | 104210029 |
| Lam-an | 2,620 | 104210030 |
| Liposong | 1,207 | 104210031 |
| Litapan | 1,012 | 104210032 |
| Malaubang | 9,421 | 104210033 |
| Manaka | 817 | 104210034 |
| Maningcol | 7,027 | 104210035 |
| Mentering | 377 | 104210036 |
| Molicay | 4,149 | 104210038 |
| Pantaon | 1,215 | 104210040 |
| Pulot | 4,116 | 104210041 |
| San Antonio | 4,392 | 104210042 |
| Sangay Daku | 909 | 104210044 |
| Sangay Diot | 529 | 104210045 |
| Sinuza | 1,373 | 104210046 |
| Stimson Abordo (Montol) | 2,315 | 104210039 |
| Tabid | 4,208 | 104210047 |
| Tinago | 9,662 | 104210048 |
| Trigos | 893 | 104210049 |
The city celebrates theSinulog Festival, dedicated to theSanto Niño de Cebu, every 4th Sunday of January, wherein a pilgrim image of the Santo Niño will arrive fromCebu City and will visit Ozamiz and other cities and towns in the province for a week.
Ozamiz's Charter Day anniversary, the feast ofNuestra Señora dela Inmaculada Concepcion y del Triunfo dela Cruz de Migpangi, and thePerangat Ozamiz Festival (formerly known as theSubayan Keg Subanen Festival) are celebrated on July 16. The Perangat Festival is a celebration dedicated to theSubanon people, the original inhabitants of the province. The festival includes day-long street dancing, as well as a ritual showdown that features the various rituals practiced by the Subanon people, such as weddings and healing rituals. "Perangat" means "to prosper" in theSubanen language.
On December 8, the Feast ofOur Lady of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated. Firework displays are held, either near the Cotta Fort or at the City Hall.
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Fuerte de la Concepcion y del Triunfo, locally known as the Cotta Fort, is a fort built in 1756 by Father José Ducos to serve as a Spanish outpost in the area. On the outside wall of the fort is an outdoor shrine dedicated to theNuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepción y del Triunfo de la Cruz de Migpangi, locally known as theBirhen sa Cotta (lit. 'Virgin of the Fort'). Thebas relief of the Virgin is believed to be miraculous and is a pilgrimage destination. In 2002, the fort was renovated and restored to its original design.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built from the ruins of a church destroyed in the 1955 earthquake. The cathedral is one of the earliest designs of National Artist for ArchitectureLeandro Locsin. His simple style of squares, circles, and half circles are evident throughout the external and internal designs of the church. Alterations to the façade of the cathedral were performed later. The cathedral is home to the wooden image of theBirhen sa Cotta.
The Immaculate Conception Pipe Organ, found in the choir loft of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, is the only existing pipe organ in Mindanao, and one of only a few anywhere in the Philippines. It was FatherSean Lavery, an Irish-Columbian priest in charge of music at the cathedral, who first thought of the idea of an organ at Immaculate Conception. Funds were raised through donations and a musical extravaganza, organized by the parish, to buy the pipe organ. Father Lavery requested the aid of a German priest, Father Herman Schablitzki S.V.D., in designing the organ. Father Schatblitzki visited Ozamiz to take measurements to give to the organ builders back in Germany. Father Schablitzki himself, assisted by one carpenter and one electrician, assembled the organ in six weeks, and it was completed on May 31, 1967. It was inaugurated on July 16, 1967, the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and theBirhen sa Cotta.[36]
Bukagan Hill is located in Barangay Malaubang. There are four great bells at the top of Bukagan Hill, named "St. Peter", "St. Marien", "St. Joseph", and "St. Michael". They were originally purchased by Bishop-PrelatePatrick Cronin, D.D. for the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. However, the bells weigh 7 tons and were found to be too heavy and too large for the cathedral's belfry. Given the recent costs of installing an organ at the cathedral, it was commonly thought that the installation of the bells would prove too expensive but, through the efforts of then Mayor Fernando T. Bernad andJesus Y. Varela, the bells were finally given a place at Bukagan Hill, and were officially inaugurated on July 16, 1948.[37]
Timfanel Garden Ornamental Plant Farm, formerly known as Naomi's Botanical Garden and Tourist's Inn, sits on a 12-hectare property. The garden features a variety local and imported tropical flowers, plants, and fruit trees. The hotel has fully air-conditioned private rooms, and is home to a variety of amenities, including function halls, a tennis court, a ceramics shop, and swimming pools.
Mt. Malindang Golf and Country Club is a pre-war army facility converted into a golf course located in Barangay Bagakay, at the foot of Mount Malindang.
Ozamiz Airport, also known asLabo Airport, was reopened July 5, 2007, 9 years afterPhilippine Airlines (PAL) stopped their originalFokker 50 andSunriser plane operation at the airport. The inability of the airport to accommodate jet planes due to its short runway led to its closure.Air Philippines (a subsidiary airline of PAL) was the first airline that usedNinoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, using aB737-200, the first jet plane to land at the airport.PAL Express, another PAL subsidiary, then made direct flights toMactan–Cebu International Airport again using theirBombardier Q400.
PAL's competitor,Cebu Pacific Air, later started serving Ozamiz with their first flight to Cebu on November 10, 2008, using their brand-newATR72-500. Due to high passenger and cargo demand, Cebu Pacific launched its Manila route with theirAirbus A319, while PAL took over Air Philippine's service to Manila using their Airbus A319s on June 16, 2009.
When Air Philippines rebranded asAirphil Express (now PAL Express), it relaunched its Ozamiz to Manila service on August 18, 2011, using theirAirbus A320. It then forced Cebu Pacific to change its aircraft that had previously served Ozamiz Airport, replacing all of their ATR72-500s with Airbus A319s and Airbus A320s. Despite fierce competition between PAL and Cebu Pacific, PAL ended their operations in Ozamiz on March 25, 2012, leaving their affiliate PAL Express to compete with Cebu Pacific. Since then, the competition between PAL Express and Cebu Pacific became a duopoly serving the airport.
Ozamiz Airport will undergo aP300 million expansion and development project. The project will consist of the installation of runway lights, the extension of runway from its current of length 1.9 km to 2.1 km, and the construction of a new passenger terminal building.[38][39]
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ThePort of Ozamiz serves the city with routes connecting Ozamiz toCebu City,Manila, andIligan.
Local shipping lines like Daima have trips from Ozamiz to Mukas,Kolambugan,Lanao del Norte routes throughroll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries that transport passengers, vehicles, and goods across Panguil Bay. However, following the opening of thePanguil Bay Bridge in 2024, ferry operations have been greatly reduced, with limited or occasional trips remaining primarily for cargo and vehicle transport as most travelers now use the bridge.
Most transportation within the city is done by trisikad/pedicab and motorized tricycle. For interprovincial transportation,Rural Transit,Super Five,UV Express, and public utility jeepneys like Lotradisco are predominantly used.
Ozamiz City currently has seven hospitals and healthcare facilities:
There are two universities in Ozamiz:La Salle University andMisamis University. Most students coming from Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental come to Ozamiz to pursue their college education. Additional schools and institutions include:
The secondary schools of Ozamiz are:[40]
Places adjacent to Ozamiz | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
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