Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines

About Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte

Mutia is a landlocked and rural municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte in the Zamboanga Peninsula region of Mindanao. Classified as a fifth-class municipality, Mutia is composed of upland and agricultural communities spread across its barangays, including Poblacion, Alvenda, Buenasuerte, New Casul, New Siquijor and others. Its location in the interior portion of the province gives it a quiet and distinctly agricultural character.

Location and Access

Mutia lies inland, bordered by the municipalities of Sibutad, Piñan, and Polanco. It does not have direct coastal access and relies primarily on road transportation through its barangays to reach the major provincial highways connecting it to Dipolog City and other economic centers.

The nearest airport is Dipolog Airport located in Dipolog City. Passengers traveling to Mutia typically use buses, vans or jeepneys from Dipolog or nearby municipalities, then transfer to motorcycles (habal-habal) or local transport to reach the interior barangays. As an upland municipality, Mutia does not have seaports; coastal access is through nearby coastal towns such as Sibutad or Dapitan.

Location of Municipality Hall

The municipal hall of Mutia is located in Barangay Poblacion, the central administrative barangay of the municipality. This barangay serves as the hub of local government services, commerce and public facilities.

Economy of Mutia

The economy of Mutia is anchored on agriculture. Farmers grow coconut, corn, rice, bananas and root crops in barangays such as Alvenda, Newland, Tubac and Unidos. Small livestock raising is also common in the upland zones.

Local commerce is concentrated around Poblacion, where sari-sari stores, small eateries, trading posts and agricultural supply shops provide essential goods to the community. Mutia also celebrates its annual municipal fiesta, which draws visitors from surrounding towns and contributes modestly to the local economy through trade, cultural events and community gatherings.

Natural Resources and Rivers

Mutia’s primary natural resources include its fertile agricultural lands, forested hills and freshwater springs. These provide irrigation and domestic water to its barangays. Several small streams run through the municipality, supporting local farming and household needs. No major river systems are prominently documented by name, but the presence of watercourses and springs is essential for sustaining agriculture in barangays such as Diland, Diolen and Tinglan.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Electric power in Mutia is provided by the Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (ZANECO), which supplies the majority of the province. Electricity coverage reaches most barangays, although some remote sitios may have limited or intermittent service.

Water sources include community-managed spring systems, deep wells, hand pumps and rainwater collection methods. The town does not have a full-scale water district, so barangays largely maintain their own water supply systems. Mobile communication signals are generally available in the poblacion and surrounding areas but may weaken in remote upland barangays.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Mutia does not host major banks within its territory. Residents usually travel to Dipolog City or neighboring towns such as Polanco or Piñan for banking and financial services.

Local commerce is limited but functional, with sari-sari stores, small trading shops and a public market area in Barangay Poblacion. Basic healthcare is provided by the municipal health office and barangay health stations. For hospital-level services, residents commonly go to Dipolog City or Dapitan City.

Education in Mutia

Most barangays in Mutia host their own public elementary schools, ensuring accessible primary education for children across the municipality. Secondary education is provided through public high schools located within selected barangays, serving students from both the poblacion and outlying rural communities.

Mutia does not currently have a college or university within its barangays. Students seeking tertiary education usually enroll in schools located in Dipolog City or other nearby cities.

Local Transportation

Local transportation within Mutia consists mainly of motorcycles (habal-habal), which are essential for navigating the municipality’s interior roads and hilly terrain. In the poblacion, tricycles and small multicabs may also be available for short-distance travel.

There are no taxicabs in Mutia. Jeepneys, vans and buses operate along the provincial roads outside the municipality, connecting Mutia to Dipolog, Piñan, Polanco and other towns. Residents from remote barangays typically travel by motorcycle to reach these main transport routes.

January 7, 2026

1️⃣ Andas for Traslación 2026 now ready, with upgrades

The Andas carrying the Black Nazarene for January 9 Traslación features new steering wheel and reinforced underchassis to handle massive devotee crowds safely.

2️⃣ Over 3,500 affected by Mayon volcano unrest

NDRRMC reports 3,515 people from 964 families evacuated in Albay due to recent magmatic eruptions, ashfall, and pyroclastic flows; all in permanent danger zone.

3️⃣ Magnitude 6.4 quake hits off southern Philippines

USGS detects 6.4 quake off Davao Oriental coast—no tsunami threat reported, but locals feel shaking; no immediate damage confirmed.