As of 2025, Del Carmen continues to be led by Mayor Alfredo “JR” Coro II, a name synonymous with transformative governance in the Caraga region. Having first taken office in 2007, Mayor Coro has long championed participatory leadership, climate-conscious planning, and inclusive development. Under his leadership, Del Carmen rose from a quiet coastal municipality to a globally recognized model for community-led conservation and disaster resilience.
In 2022, he transitioned briefly to the private sector and advocacy roles, but following strong clamor from the community, he returned to public service. His re-election in the 2022 national and local elections reaffirmed the community's trust in his visionary leadership. In 2025, his administration is focused on balancing bold new infrastructure projects with the preservation of Del Carmen’s fragile ecosystems.
Vice Mayor duties are held by Hon. Myrna Romarate, a long-time public servant and advocate for women’s empowerment and youth development in the region.
A Vision Rooted in Mangroves, Rising with the People
Del Carmen’s leadership in 2025 remains centered on its pioneering “Siargao It Up!” governance model—a locally driven development framework that integrates environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction, education and youth development, inclusive economic growth, as well as digital innovation and good governance.
Mayor Coro’s oft-quoted mantra—“You cannot manage what you do not understand; and you cannot understand what you do not measure”—has inspired a data-first approach in planning and policymaking, while still listening to the pulse of the people.
This means fisherfolk, mothers, teachers, barangay youth, and IP communities are all part of the town’s regular consultations and planning cycles. Programs are not imposed from above—they emerge from below, crafted in conversation with those who live the realities.
Key Projects and Progress in 2025
Del Carmen’s heart beats in harmony with the mangrove forests that protect it—and the projects unfolding this year reflect a deep commitment to sustainability, innovation, and human development:
1. Blue Carbon Leadership and Mangrove Expansion
Del Carmen is home to one of the largest contiguous mangrove forests in the Philippines, with over 4,800 hectares spanning 27 barangays. In 2025, the LGU has launched Project BlueGuardians 2.0, a community-led monitoring and expansion program in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and the Global Blue Carbon Coalition.
The program uses drone mapping, citizen science, and new carbon accounting systems to quantify Del Carmen’s contribution to climate mitigation—and to open doors for carbon credit certification that directly benefits local communities.
2. Siargao Climate Learning Center
A new hub for climate education and research has broken ground in Barangay Katipunan. The Siargao Climate Learning Center will serve local farmers and fisherfolk through training and adaptation workshops; senior high and college students with immersive learning modules; and national and international NGOs and researchers as a base for fieldwork. This center is part of a larger effort to make Del Carmen the climate resilience capital of island municipalities in the Philippines.
3. Eco-Tourism and Community Homestay Programs
Del Carmen’s eco-tourism shift goes beyond island-hopping tours to Sugba Lagoon. In 2025, the municipality is expanding its Community Homestay Network, empowering residents in Barangays San Fernando, Caub, and Mahayahay to welcome travelers into their homes with training in sustainable tourism management, financial literacy, and cultural heritage interpretation.
Tourists now experience Del Carmen not as spectators, but as participants—sharing meals, joining community rituals, and planting mangrove seedlings.
4. Del Carmen Smart Barangay Initiative
Leveraging national support and NGO partnerships, Del Carmen is piloting Smart Barangay Centers in four coastal communities. These centers feature solar-powered internet hubs, e-health consultations via the Department of Health (DOH) and local Rural Health Units (RHUs), and livelihood database kiosks for local monitoring. This initiative bridges the digital divide and ensures that even the farthest barangay can connect, learn, and thrive.
5. Youth Rise: Education and Mental Health Programs
In response to the long-term impact of the pandemic and typhoons like Odette, Del Carmen has launched Youth Rise, a program that offers peer-led mental health support groups, scholarships for climate and marine sciences, and creative expression grants for film, visual arts, and music. By investing in youth not just as students but as future leaders and storytellers, Del Carmen is shaping a resilient generation.
Challenges That Sharpen the Vision
Despite its achievements, Del Carmen is not immune to challenges. Climate change continues to threaten its coastal ecosystems. Budget constraints limit the full rollout of digital and health infrastructure. Tourism, while a blessing, needs careful management to prevent overdevelopment.
Yet the town faces these with open eyes and full hearts. There is humility in their progress—a sense that true development isn’t about how fast you build, but how wisely, and with whom.
The Heartbeat of Del Carmen
At sunrise, when the tide kisses the mangroves and children paddle across estuaries to school, Del Carmen is not just surviving—it is thriving with soul.
What sets this municipality apart is not just its leadership, or even its natural wealth—it is the way people walk in step with nature and one another. The mayor may hold the vision, but the people carry it forward, hand in hand.
In the words of a local fisherman, “Ang amon kalibutan diri, indi lang amo. Para ni sa mga bata pa nga magdaku. Ginatipan namon ini kay para sa ila ni.”
(“Our world here—it’s not just for us. It’s for the children growing up. We care for it because it’s theirs too.”)
Del Carmen, Siargao, in 2025 is not just a place—it is a story. A story of leadership rooted in values. Of a town small in size but vast in dreams. Of people unafraid to walk slowly, deliberately, toward a future they are crafting together.
In a world racing to grow, Del Carmen teaches us to grow wisely. And maybe—just maybe—that’s the kind of leadership our world needs most.
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