Del Carmen earns outstanding local governance recognition at Galing Pook Awards
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — In a historic feat for island governance, the coastal municipality of Del Carmen in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, was recently recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs at the 2026 Galing Pook Awards.
Held on October 21 at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace, Del Carmen was the first local government unit in the Caraga region to earn this prestigious national recognition for its winning flagship initiative, the Farm-to-Spoon program that addresses food security, ecological balance, and livelihood sustainability in an island ecosystem vulnerable to extreme weather events.
By connecting smallholder farmers and local coastal fisherfolk directly to the island’s growing tourism market, the program creates a circular local economy. It reduces reliance on mainland shipments, guarantees fair pricing for producers, and ensures that vulnerable households retain access to affordable, nutritious food even during disaster recovery periods.
The Galing Pook Award follows the program’s inclusion in the top 10 outstanding entries at the national Walang Gutom Awards, reinforcing Del Carmen’s standing as a benchmark for local food security solutions.
Del Carmen’s triumph reflects years of community-led stewardship, driven by groundbreaking initiatives in environmental protection, climate resilience, and participatory governance. Home to over 4,000 hectares of continuous mangrove forest, one of the largest contiguous reserves in the Philippines, the municipality transformed former illegal loggers into dedicated eco-tour guides, boat operators, and sanctuary wardens.
Building on this adaptive mindset in the wake of Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, Del Carmen prioritized disaster preparedness by establishing decentralized food networks and community-managed agricultural hubs to protect residents from future supply chain disruptions.
Underpinning all these efforts is a governance model rooted in direct civic empowerment, which has earned the municipality widespread acclaim, including the 2026 Freedom Flame Award for public sector innovation.
Del Carmen’s winning strategy is rooted on core initiative, farm- to- spoon supply chains, mangrove and marine sanctuary conservation, sustainable eco- tourism, and zero- hunger interventions.
Receiving the award at Malacañang Palace, Mayor Alfredo M. Coro II dedicated the honor to the people of Del Carmen. He underscored that this achievement serves as a blueprint for coastal and island communities across the Philippines, demonstrating that geographical isolation and vulnerability to climate shocks are not barriers to exceptional governance.
“The program on Farm-to-Spoon is about people whose community farms strengthen resilience and food security. They are empowered with social protection through community savings groups that fund dreams, sustain ecosystems, and where they collaborate for policies. Our goal is to ensure that every farmer and fisherfolk, every family who depends on them, has a present and a future to look forward to, on their own terms and based on their aspirations,” Mayor Coro said.
He added that Siargao Island continues to balance rapid tourism growth with environmental conservation. Del Carmen proves that putting community welfare, local ecology, and food resilience at the heart of local policy can create a lasting, award-winning impact.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte has established itself as a standout performer in local governance, earning national recognition for its innovative community programs across three separate years.
The town first captured the award in 2018 with its “Siargao It Up!” initiative, which integrated mangrove management with social tourism. Del Carmen continued its winning streak in 2023 by securing the Seal of Health Governance, and most recently, with its “Farm-to-Spoon” program, an enterprise dedicated to bolstering food security and extending social protection to local farmers and fisherfolk. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte)