Carmen, Agusan del Norte

Carmen
Municipality
Municipality of Carmen
Municipal Hall
Municipal Hall
Flag of Carmen
Flag
Official seal of Carmen
Seal
Map of Agusan del Norte with Carmen highlighted
Map of Agusan del Norte with Carmen highlighted
Interactive map of Carmen
Carmen is located in Philippines
Carmen
Carmen
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°00′N 125°16′E / 9°N 125.26°E / 9; 125.26
CountryPhilippines
RegionCaraga
ProvinceAgusan del Norte
District 2nd district
FoundedJuly 1, 1949
Barangays8 (see Barangays)
Government
 [1]
 • TypeSangguniang Bayan
 • MayorJovitte C. Calo
 • Vice MayorRamon M. Calo
 • RepresentativeMa. Angelica Amante-Matba
 • Municipal Council
Members
  • Erma R. Estoque
  • Corazon T. Alpuerto
  • Gilda A. Samaco
  • Maria Riza P. Ledesma
  • Eva D. Palarca
  • Julius S. Tamayo
  • Abraham R. dela Cruz Jr.
  • Romel Jhun C. Ledesma
 • Electorate15,408 voters (2025)
Area
[2]
 • Total
311.02 km2 (120.09 sq mi)
Elevation
56 m (184 ft)
Highest elevation
330 m (1,080 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2024 census)[3]
 • Total
23,304
 • Density74.928/km2 (194.06/sq mi)
 • Households
5,874
Economy
 • Income class4th municipal income class
 • Poverty incidence
32.62
% (2021)[4]
 • Revenue₱ 167.2 million (2024)
 • Assets₱ 417.2 million (2024)
 • Expenditure₱ 77.98 million (2024)
 • Liabilities₱ 69.71 million (2024)
Service provider
 • ElectricityAgusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO)
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8603
PSGC
1600204000
IDD : area code +63 (0)85
Native languagesAgusan
Butuanon
Cebuano
Higaonon
Tagalog
Websitewww.carmenadn.gov.ph

Carmen, officially the Municipality of Carmen (Cebuano: Lungsod sa Carmen; Tagalog: Bayan ng Carmen), is a municipality in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 23,304 people.[5]

History

The first Christian settlers of Kabayawa village (now Carmen) was the family of Fulgencio Loque and Demetria Mamba from Jagna, Bohol in the early 1900s. The family encounters of the native Manobo and Higaonon tribes of Mankalasi clan was not that difficult as they were friendly. Day to day's trade was done through a barter system wherein goods and services were directly exchanged for other goods and services without using any money and through this “system”, parcels of lands were also being acquired.

In earlier times, parcels of land were marked by planting moringa trees at their corners to define boundaries. During the Spanish period, these markers were replaced with concrete boundary posts known as mohons.

News of the area’s abundance spread among the relatives of early settlers, prompting an influx of migrants from Luzon and various parts of the Visayas. The Loque and Mamba families settled in what is now the poblacion, while other families—including the Pacon, Quesaba, Honcolada, and Malimit—established communities in the surrounding eastern, western, and southern areas. Further west, the Rojales and Jamito families formed their own settlements, while the Ebarle, Jamero, Sajor, and Salas families settled in Tagcatong, and the Balmoceda family in Goso-on.

Carmen got its present name from the miraculous image of the Virgin of Mount Carmen, believed to have been instrumental in killing the leader of the bandits who used to inhabit the place.

According to local accounts, a Spanish soldier named Juan Cardoniga attempted to shoot an outlaw leader believed to possess a protective amulet. When his rifle failed to fire, he placed an image of the Virgin from his necklace into the barrel. After doing so, the rifle discharged successfully, and he was able to kill the outlaw chief.

It was Rev. Saturnino Urios, the famous Jesuit priest of Agusan, who suggested that the name Kabayawa be changed to Carmen in honor of the secret image.

Carmen was created into a municipality in 1949, when the barrios of Carmen, Tagcatong, Cahayagan and San Agustin were separated from the municipality of Nasipit and constituted into the newly created town, by virtue of Republic Act No. 380 which was approved on June 15, 1949.[6] This law was sponsored by Congressman Marcos M. Calo. The town came into being on July 1, 1949.

In 1988, Mayor Tranquilino O. Calo Jr. was charged with murder for the assassination of former Nasipit mayor Mariano Corvera Sr. by Pablo Macapas, an alleged bodyguard of Calo, in a courtroom within the Capitol Building of Butuan on March 10, 1988.[7][8] The assassination occurred upon the adjournment of a hearing on Macapas' attempted murder of Corvera in 1985, with Calo serving as Macapas' counsel.[7][8] Charged alongside Mayor Calo was Macapas, Calo's driver Bellarmino Allocod, and two others, with eyewitnesses later testifying that Calo was the person who handed Macapas a handgun prior to the latter reentering the courtroom and shooting Corvera.[8] While Macapas was never caught, Mayor Calo and Allocod were later found guilty of murder by an RTC in March 1990, but pending his appeal before the Supreme Court, Calo died of myocardial infarction in February 1993, while the court later reversed Allocod's conviction by 1996 due to the prosecution's failure to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.[8]

Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 311.02 square kilometres (120.09 sq mi) [9] constituting 11.39% of the 2,730.24-square-kilometre- (1,054.15 sq mi) total area of Agusan del Norte.

Carmen is strategically located in the Western Agusan Corridor. It is bounded on the north by Butuan Bay, south by Buenavista, east by Nasipit and west by Misamis Oriental. Its rolling hills are planted with different kinds of orchard, where some 500 hectares (1,200 acres) are devoted solely to mango plantations. About half of these are fully developed and are already producing sweet mango fruits which are being sold in volume in Cebu and Manila and to neighboring municipalities and Butuan City.

Climate

Climate data for Carmen, Agusan del Norte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 28
(82)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 29
(84)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 277
(10.9)		 211
(8.3)		 155
(6.1)		 109
(4.3)		 166
(6.5)		 191
(7.5)		 154
(6.1)		 138
(5.4)		 127
(5.0)		 173
(6.8)		 241
(9.5)		 231
(9.1)		 2,173
(85.5)
Average rainy days 22.7 19.1 20.0 19.9 25.9 27.6 27.6 26.1 25.1 26.8 24.3 23.2 288.3
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.)[10]

Barangays

Carmen is politically subdivided into 8 barangays.[11] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

Political map of Carmen
PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2024[12] 2010[13]
160204001 Cahayagan 10.3% 2,395 2,380 ▴ 0.04%
160204002 Gosoon 7.7% 1,806 1,772 ▴ 0.13%
160204004 Manoligao 5.8% 1,356 1,513 ▾ −0.76%
160204009 Poblacion (Carmen) 25.7% 5,988 5,507 ▴ 0.59%
160204010 Rojales 10.9% 2,542 2,083 ▴ 1.40%
160204011 San Agustin 5.1% 1,183 1,117 ▴ 0.40%
160204012 Tagcatong 14.9% 3,462 3,382 ▴ 0.16%
160204014 Vinapor 9.0% 2,107 2,027 ▴ 0.27%
Total 23,304 19,781 ▴ 1.15%

Demographics

Population census of Carmen
YearPop.±% p.a.
1960 9,593—    
1970 12,851+2.96%
1975 13,882+1.56%
1980 14,595+1.01%
1990 15,503+0.61%
1995 15,967+0.55%
2000 17,307+1.74%
2007 18,116+0.63%
2010 19,781+3.25%
2015 20,839+1.00%
2020 23,172+2.26%
2024 23,304+0.14%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][13][16][17]

In the 2024 census, Carmen had a population of 23,304.[18] The population density was 75 inhabitants per square kilometre (190/sq mi).

Economy

Poverty incidence of Carmen

10
20
30
40
50
60
2000
56.98
2003
48.64
2006
37.10
2009
40.62
2012
37.66
2015
36.35
2018
27.17
2021
32.62

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

Government

Elected government officials of Carmen for the term of 2025-2028:

  • Mayor: Ramon "Monching RMC" M. Calo
  • Vice Mayor: Jovitte C. Calo
  • Sangguniang Bayan:
    • Jesus Tranquilino R. Calo
    • Alfonso L. Elan Jr.
    • Richard O. Palang-at
    • Gilda A. Samaco
    • Romel Jhun C. Ledesma
    • Vivian S. Autor
    • Carmina Rasha G. Calo
    • Junjun R. Estoque
  • SB Secretary:
    • Sharmaine P. Pacon

List of former mayors

  • Honculada, Nicanor O. - 1949–1951
  • De Guzman, Arturo - 1952–1955
  • Malimit, Jose - 1956–1960, 1964-1967
  • Degamo, Esteban - 1960–1963
  • Calo, Tranquilino Jr. - 1968–1969, 1972–1985, 1988-1993
  • Campos, Ernesto - 1969–1971
  • Pacon, Dionesio - 1986–1987
  • Aparecio, Joaquin - 1987
  • Battad, Arnulfo - 1987 - 1988 (until January only)
  • Luneta, Eliseo - 1993–1995
  • Calo, Ramon - 1996–2004, 2007–present
  • Calo, Jovitte - 2004–2007

Tourism

Bolihon Beach
Punta Diwata Cave
Punta Diwata Reef
  • Carmen Municipal Hall: new municipal hall officially opened on July 1, 2011.
  • Plaza Beach Resort: beach covered with white sands in its coast located at Sitio Bulihon, Barangay Tagcatong.
  • Mount Carmel View Park: park commonly called by Carmenanons as "Marcos Park", located at San Isidro, Barangay Tagcatong. From here, one can view the entire Carmen and nearby municipalities, and the island province of Camiguin.
  • Punta Diwata Cave: one of the popular destinations in Carmen consisting of 43 caves, located in Barangay Vinapor.
  • Balite Beach Resort: located in Barangay Vinapor.
  • Vinapor Blue Waters: located near the Cliffs of Barangay Vinapor, this resort features carved stones formed into a dinosaurs, a reason for it to be commonly called "Jurassic Park".
  • Veranda I and II Resorts: a beach resort, hotel and convention venue located at Barangays Tagcatong and Rojales. It has air-conditioned rooms and suites, air conditioned cabañas and other facilities like cottages fronting beachfront, seafood and Chinese restaurants, mini-bar, convention hall and swimming pool.
  • Scuba diving sites: Carmen is known for its adventurous dive sites along the Punta Diwata Reefs and Balete Wall. It has six dive sites. Reef life includes soft and hard corals plus abundant reef and pelagic fishes. Profile ranges from sloping wall to cliffs with depths from 40 ft. to over a hundred, with generally sandy floors. Prime sites are located in barangays Vinapor, Tagcatong & Poblacion.
  • Cabatuan Beach
  • Kibanlag Falls

Transportation

In February 2017, the new integrated bus terminal was opened with buses for travel to and from Butuan and Cagayan de Oro.

Trisikad is also an option when traveling within the area of Carmen and also from the town proper to Nasipit.

Education

Elementary

  • Antonio Quiamjot Elementary School
  • Cahayagan Elementary School
  • Carmen Central Elementary School
  • Cervantina Elementary School
  • Doña Josefa Elementary School
  • Elpidio Salas Elementary School
  • Gosoon Elementary School
  • Manoligao Elementary School
  • Rojales Elementary School
  • San Agustin Elementary School
  • San Isidro Elementary School
  • Tagcatong Central Elementary School

Secondary

  • Carmen National High School
  • Cahayagan National High School
  • Manoligao National High School
  • Our Lady of Carmen Academy of Caraga, Incorporated
  • Vinapor National High School

References

  1. ↑  Municipality of Carmen | (DILG)
  2. ↑ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  3. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Republic Act No. 380 - Act Creating the Municipality of Carmen in the Province of Agusan". PhilippineLaw.info. 15 June 1949. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 Roan I. Libarios vs. Judge Rosarito F. Dabalos, The LawPhil Project (July 11, 1991).
  8. 1 2 3 4 People of the Philippines vs. Pablo Macapas et al., Supreme Court E-Library (April 26, 1996) ("The original information, which was filed on 29 August 1988, had to be withdrawn after City Fiscal Macario Balansag, who filed it, was gunned down on his way to his office.").
  9. ↑ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Carmen: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "Municipal: Carmen, Agusan del Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Census of Population (2020). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  13. 1 2 Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Caraga" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  15. ↑ Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  17. ↑ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  21. ↑ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  22. ↑ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  25. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  26. ↑ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

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