Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

Science City of Muñoz
—  City  —
Seal
Map of Nueva Ecija showing the location of Science City of Muñoz.
Science City of Muñoz Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 15°42′58″N 120°54′11″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Nueva Ecija
District	2nd District
Founded
Cityhood	June 9, 2000
Barangays	37
Government
• Mayor	Efren L. Alvarez
Area
• Total	163.05 km2 (63 sq mi)
Population (Dec 2009)
• Total	85,451
• Density	524.1/km2 (1,357.4/sq mi)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code	3119
Income class	5th class city; component
Website	sciencecityofmunoz.ph

Science City of Muñoz is a city in Central Luzon, Philippines, situated 147 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.

From its lowly origins as “Sitio Papaya”, it was rechristened as Muñoz in 1886 in honor of Spanish Governor Don Francisco Muñoz. It was in 1913, under Executive Order No. 72, wherein Muñoz was declared as a new and independent municipality.

With a bustling market center wherein rice trading was a major economic activity, it has metamorphosed into its present stature, unprecedented in the annals of the country as a Science City by virtue of Republic Act 8977 on December 9, 2000.

The overriding objective of transforming Muñoz into a center of science and technology, trade, commerce and agro-industry is now achievable as the city is now financially sound to implement and translate into reality its conceptualized framework of total development.

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.

Vision

“The Science City of Muñoz as an exemplar of good local governance, progressive and globally competitive, promoting the application of agricultural science, technologies, culture and the arts in an atmosphere of harmony and peace."

Mission

The Science City of Muñoz capitalizes on the presence of the various Research and development Centers and other related institutions to advance its mission, that is: to unite this institutions and establish a common direction in transforming the countryside into a huge learning laboratory for technology promotion, rural development, productivity and profitability, and educational and agro-tourism, and center for culture and the arts.

History

From Sitio to Barrio

In 1886, Papaya was changed into 'Muñoz' to honor Don Francisco Muñoz, the province’s alcalde mayor, and the community’s first appointed gobernadorcillo. Muñoz was annexed as a barrio of San Juan de Guimba municipality. Settlers trickled in from Bulacan and the Ilocos Region. In 1911, Factoria (now San Isidro town), the provincial capital, was totally flooded. Muñoz was then considered a possible new capital of the province.

At about the same time, the people of Barrios Muñoz and San Antonio, also in San Juan de Guimba town, and Palusapis in Sto. Domingo municipality, together with Sitios Kabisukulan, Rang-ayan, Mataas na Lupa, Siniguelas, Purok Agrikultura, and Pulong Maragul in Talavera town, were organizing themselves to be separated from their three respective municipalities to become a new independent municipality. They were prepared to construct a municipal hall and a school building for the emerging town.

From Barrio to Town

Upon recommendation of the Provincial Board of Nueva Ecija, then headed by Governor Isauro Gabaldon, and with approval of then Acting Governor General Newton Gilbert, the organized barrios and sitios were granted independence as a regular municipality on January 10, 1913 under the name of Muñoz. The seat of the fledgling municipal government was positioned in erstwhile Barrio Muñoz. Thus, the municipality of Muñoz was born, and steadily grew to become today an Agricultural Science City in-the-making

Muñoz owes a tremendous lot to its early leaders — Tranquilino Delos Santos, and other homesteaders Luis Ramos, Ambrosio Medina, Cayetano Caisip, Victorino Pornuevo, and Precy Hill Delos Santos. A municipal hall, a church building, and a small public market were erected in Lumang Bayan (now Poblacion North). A road linking the young Muñoz town with the national highway from Barangay Bacal, Talavera was also constructed.

Muñoz continued to attract more settlers. More barrios were established and were named after their peoples’ ideals and aspirations, landmarks, and personalities such as Rang-ayan (prosperity), Linglingay (recreation), Mangandingay (company), Magtanggol (defense), and Villa Isla (in a leader’s honor).

Muñoz was not spared from the pains of the Second World War. Being the last stronghold of the Japanese Imperial Army while scampering to the Cordilleras, the Allied liberation in Muñoz by the country by joint United States and Philippine Commonwealth forces offensive razed the town to the ground in a matter of days.

Economy

There are many new establishments in Munoz in the past few years. Notable are Friendship Supermarket, Inc (FSi), and the Villa-Mendoza Training Institute, both are now major landmarks on the city.

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.

Tourism

Muñoz is home to the prestigious Central Luzon State University (CLSU) the chosen/declared agro-tourism center for Luzon. The university is now fast becoming a prime tourist destination/an object of “lakbay-aral” groups.

Land Utilization

LAND UTILIZATION	NO. OF HECTARES
Agricultural	9,819
Residential	2,847
Commercial & Industrial	784
Institutional	740
Forest Hills and Pasture	1,215
Roads	246
Water Bodies	516
Open Spaces	138
TOTAL	16,305

Research and Development

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), which was formerly the Maligaya Rice Research and Training Center (MRRTC),is found in Muñoz, as well as the Central Office of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). The main offices of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) and the National Freshwater Fishery Technology Center, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-NFFTC) are also based in Muñoz.

Center of Excellence and Major Knowledge Node in Food Security Research and Development

Mango grove in Muñoz

• Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)
• Central Luzon State University (CLSU)
• Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)
• PHILMECH - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization formerly known as
• Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE)
• Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
• National Freshwater and Fisheries Training and Research Center (NFFTRC)
• National Irrigation Administration - Casecnan Multi-purpose Irrigation and Power Project (NIA-CMIPP)
• National Irrigation Administration – Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-UPRIIS)
• Department of Environmental & Natural Resources (DENR)
• Department of Science & Technology – Provincial Science & Technology Center – (DOST –NE )
• Regional Science & Training Center (RSTC)
• Philippine-Sino Center for Agriculture Technology (PhilsCAT)
• National Small Ruminant Center (NSRC)
• Soil and Water Resources Management Center(SWRMC)
• Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC)
• Ramon Magsaysay Center for Agricultural Resources and Environmental Studies (RMCARES)
• Fruits and Vegetables Seeds Center (FVSC)
• Philippine-Israel Center for Agricultural Technology (PICAT)

Barangays

Muñoz is politically subdivided into 37 barangays:

Bagong Sikat Balante Bantug Bical Cabisuculan Calabalabaan Calisitan Catalanacan Curva Franza Gabaldon Labney Licaong

Linglingay Mangandingay Magtanggol Maligaya Mapangpang Maragol Matingkis Naglabrahan Palusapis Pandalla Poblacion East Poblacion North

Poblacion South Poblacion West Rang-ayan Rizal San Andres San Antonio San Felipe Sapang Cawayan Villa Isla Villa Nati Villa Santos Villa Cuizon

Schools

• Elementary and Pre-elementary Schools:

• 37 Public Elementary Schools and 37 Daycare Centers
• Accelerated Christian International Schools
• Guiding Star Learning Center
• Adonai Integrated Montessori School
• United Methodist Learning Center
• ACLEAD
• JDS Montessori
• Kelston Montessori
• Hellen Keller Montessori
• Little Lamb Montessori

• Secondary:

• Muñoz National High School
• Muñoz National High School Annex
• CLSU Science High School
• Agricultural Science and Technology High School
• Palusapis Outreach School
• San Sebastian School
• Science City Montessori
• Adonai Integrated Montessori School

• Tertiary:

• Central Luzon State University
• CLSU Computer Training Center

The Millennium Development Goals or MDG

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empowerment Women Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality

Goal 5: Improved Women’s Reproductive Health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

External links

• Pasyalan Nueva Ecija
• Science City Of Muñoz Official Website
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• Inquirer.net, Carabao may be key to biofuel, says scientist