Dapitan, chartered city and port, western Mindanao, Philippines, situated on Dapitan Bay of the Sulu Sea, formally incorporated in 1963. One of the principal cities located on the Zamboanga Peninsula, it lies 8 miles (12 km) northwest of Dipolog, the largest settlement of the region. Pop. (2015) 82,418; (2020) 85,202.
José Rizal, the Filipino patriot whose writings inspired the nationalist movement, was exiled there from 1892 to 1896. The dwelling in which he stayed survives. Dapitan’s main economic activities are fishing (round scad, sardines, bonito, and anchovy) and agriculture. Copra is the most important commercial agricultural product. The area’s picturesque location and lush vegetation have been promoted by city planners in an effort to make Dapitan a center for ecotourism.