Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines

About Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte

Location and Access

Rizal is a coastal municipality on the eastern side of the province of Zamboanga del Norte, along the shores of the Bohol Sea. It is part of the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) and lies between other municipalities and cities of the province, with overland connections to nearby coastal and inland towns.

Most visitors reach Rizal by land via the national and provincial road network that links the municipality to Dipolog City and other towns of Zamboanga del Norte. Buses, public utility vans, and jeepneys serve routes between Rizal and the provincial capital, with local transport terminals located near the town center in the poblacion area.

For air travel, the nearest airport is Dipolog Airport in Barangay Minaog within Dipolog City, which provides regular flights to and from major cities in the Philippines. For sea travel, travelers commonly use the seaport facilities of Dapitan City, including the port area in Barangay Taguilon, and then proceed by land to Rizal.

Location of Municipality Hall

The municipal government center of Rizal is located in the poblacion area of the town. The municipal hall stands within Barangay East Poblacion, which together with Barangay West Poblacion forms the main urban and administrative core of the municipality.

Economy of Rizal

The economy of Rizal is predominantly rural and agriculture-based. Many households cultivate coconut, corn, rice, bananas, and other root crops, with farming activities spread across interior barangays such as North Mapang, Nilabo, Mabunao, and Birayan. Backyard livestock raising and small-scale trading complement farm incomes.

Coastal barangays, including Napilan, Nasipang, South Mapang, and Balubohan, benefit from near-shore fishing and related activities. Fish, shellfish, and other marine products are sold in the local public market and in neighboring towns.

Small retail stores, public market stalls, and service-oriented microenterprises are concentrated in East Poblacion and West Poblacion, where residents from other barangays come to buy supplies and transact with government offices. Like most municipalities, Rizal observes a yearly town fiesta and numerous barangay fiestas, which draw visitors, stimulate local spending, and showcase agricultural and cultural products.

Natural Resources and Rivers

Rizal’s natural environment combines coastal and upland landscapes. Along the Bohol Sea, several barangays have fishing grounds and coastal resources that support small-scale fisheries and sea-based livelihoods. Inland, the municipality has gently rolling terrain and hilly areas planted with coconut, corn, and other crops, as well as patches of secondary forest and brush land used for gathering fuelwood and other minor forest products.

Small rivers, streams, and creeks flow from the uplands toward the sea and are used locally for domestic needs and for irrigating limited areas of lowland farms. These waterways are generally local in character and are not widely referenced by formal names in national sources, but they remain important for household water use and agricultural activities within the barangays.

Power, Water, and Utilities

Rizal is served by the electric distribution system of the Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative (ZANECO), which supplies grid power to the municipality. Most populated barangays, particularly those near the town center such as East Poblacion, West Poblacion, San Roque, and Rizalina, have household electricity connections, while some more remote sitios may still rely on extended distribution lines or shared connections.

Water supply in Rizal consists of a mix of level II and level III systems, communal faucets, and individual wells. Residents in the poblacion area benefit from more organized water systems administered by the municipal or barangay government, while many households in outer barangays draw water from deep wells, springs, and small community-managed water sources. Bottled water and refilling stations in the town center supplement these traditional sources.

Telecommunications and basic internet services are provided mainly through mobile network operators. Signal strength is generally stronger in and around the town center and may weaken in some interior or coastal sitios.

Banking, Commerce, and Health Services

Commercial activity in Rizal is focused in the town center, particularly around East Poblacion and West Poblacion, where the public market, municipal offices, and small establishments are located. Sari-sari stores, small groceries, bakeries, and agricultural supply shops operate in the poblacion and in a number of barangays like Nangcaan, La Esperanza, and Mabuhay, providing day-to-day needs.

Formal banking services within Rizal are limited. Residents and businesses often travel to Dipolog City or Dapitan City for full-service banks, larger commercial centers, and major financial transactions, while a few cooperatives or microfinance institutions may maintain offices or loan outlets in the municipality.

Health services are anchored on the municipal health office and rural health unit located in the poblacion area, supported by barangay health stations in several barangays. These facilities provide primary health care, immunization programs, and maternal and child health services. For higher-level medical care and hospitalization, patients are usually referred to hospitals and medical centers in Dipolog City and Dapitan City.

Education in Rizal

Rizal is served by a network of public elementary schools distributed across its barangays so that most children can attend classes within or near their own communities. Schools are present in key barangays such as East Poblacion, West Poblacion, Balubohan, Mabunao, and Sipaon, helping to minimize travel time for younger learners.

For secondary education, the municipality hosts public and private high schools, including Rizal National High School and diocesan schools such as Colegio de San Francisco Javier, which offer junior and senior high school programs. These institutions are located in the poblacion area and serve students from all barangays of Rizal as well as some neighboring communities.

There are no universities within Rizal itself, so students seeking tertiary education typically enroll in institutions located in Dipolog City, Dapitan City, and other urban centers of Zamboanga del Norte, where both state universities and private colleges maintain campuses and training centers.

Local Transportation

Within the municipality, the most common forms of local transport are tricycles, motorcycles (habal-habal), and other small vehicles that carry passengers between the poblacion and the surrounding barangays. These modes are widely used in coastal and interior areas alike, providing flexible access to farms, schools, and markets.

Jeepneys, public utility vans, and buses operate along the main roads connecting Rizal to other municipalities of Zamboanga del Norte, including routes to Dipolog City and Dapitan City. Pedicabs and non-motorized vehicles may be seen in some parts of the town center for short-distance trips. There are no regular taxicab services based in Rizal; for such services, residents generally rely on the larger nearby cities.

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.