LGU VISION AND MISSION

VISION

“Leading agricultural and ECO-TOURISM HAVEN empowered by

economically VIBRANT citizenry living in a RESILIENT and sustained
ECOLOGICAL propelled by developmental – oriented CORPS of local
government MANAGERS”

MISSION

“To ensure availability of competitive farm and products, quality

tourism related services as well as sustainability of municipality’s
environment, support systems to include improved infrastructure and
social services delivery by 2028”

THE CORE VALUE OF THE COMMUNITY

 Home to a common good-development oriented people

 Workplace to industrious, highly competitive workforce
 Community of God-Loving fellow men caring residents
 Habitat to highly zealous observant of sound environmental
practices
 Municipality of pro-active leaders, effective and efficient service
providers
 Land of empowered
 1. BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The first Christi

Loque and Demetria Mamba from
Jagna, Bohol... in the early 1900s.
The family encounters of the
natives... Manobo/Higaonon tribes
of Mankalasi clan were not that
difficult as the natives 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 early days, parcel of land corners were planted with a Moringa tree to mark and
determines its boundaries... which was later replaced with concrete pin or “mojon” when the
Spanish authorities assume control of the village.
The news of abundance then spread among the siblings and extended families of
the new settlers, resulting in an influx of newcomers. The Loque's and Mamba's settled in
the now Poblacion... while the extended families in the adjoining areas to the east, west and
south of Poblacion like; the Pacon, the Quesaba, the Honcolada, the Malimit, and others.
Farther west the Rojales and the Jamito. While the Ebarle, the Jamero, the Sajor and the
Salas in Tagcatong and the Taglucop and Balmocena in Goso-on.

1.1 Historic Tale

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.
A Spanish Soldier named Juan Cardoniga was
supposed to have fired his rifle at the leader of the
outlaws who possessed an amulet of some
source. Since his rifle did not work, Cardoniga got
the image of the virgin from his necklace and
place it inside the hole of the barrel after which he
succeeded in firing the rifle and in killing the
outlaw chief.
It was Rev. Saturnino Urios, the famous Jesuit
priest of Agusan,who suggested that the
name “KABAYAWA” be changed to “CARMEN”.
Figure11 Municipal Hall Building
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 Junly 1, 1949.[5] This law was sponsored by
Congressman Marcos M. Calo. The town came into being on July 1, 1949.

Carmen although peaceful now, was not always so. What happened to Pearl Harbor during
World War II was eventually known in Agusan specifically the barangay of Carmen then,
through the radio stations where the war fever was eventually felt. Japanese, entered
Carmen via Nasipit in the nighttime in local jargons (surrender na Carmen) to signify their
entry. Like the usual reaction of the frightened people, Carmenanon fled and ran for their
lives. Some of them fled to the mountains, in the inland part of the locale, and some to the
neighboring towns. According to the local old folks who are still alive and had experienced
the trouble cause by the war, people were very careful not to create smoke every time they
cook since they might be mistaken by the Japanese as guerillas especially those in the
mountains. The Japanese would bomb places where they can see smoke coming out. The
same case also happened to those who would hang their washed clothes in an open field or
those that were visible to the Japanese pilot. When the Japanese bombarded the
Poblacion, Carmenanon fled to Kahugan Cave in Barangay Rojales, area in Carmen which
used to be the hiding place of the residents during the Japanese occupation. The people of
Carmen played important roles in the defense of the province and many veterans of the war
who are still alive could give proof to this. These events highlight the qualities of
Carmenanon being strong, committed to survival, and interdependent as a community.

1.2. Municipal Seal

These characteristics not only helped Carmen endure the atrocities of

war, but also see it through political, social, and economic ups and
downs today. Its Municipal Seal commemorate its strong agricultural
heritage, in order to preserve the legacy of the original settlers in the
region. It depicts five mainstay agricultural activities at the core of the
seal in which local families for generations have invested their hearts
and souls. The top image represents eco-tourism the Punta Diwata
Cave. The upper left portion is the harvesting of mangoes, its
processing into mango by products and lower left represent fishing in Figure1.2 Municipal
which the place is abundant of tamban. The upper right depicts Seal
beautiful beaches and the lower right tilling of lowlands for the planting of corns and other
root crops and vegetables. All five of these backbone occupations remain important to the
town’s livelihood and rural identity. Surrounding the great core circle are eight stars – one
representing each barangay in the town. Their strength lies in their connectivity to one
another, and in their closeness to the traditions of the past.

1.3. General Information

Land Area : 21,444-has. or 214.44 square kilometers

Currency : Philippine Peso (Php)
Political Administrative : One of the 11 municipalities of the 2nd District of ADN
Barangays :8
Puroks: : 76
Location : Located at 125°15’E 08°60’N
Language : Binisaya (Bisaya)
Topography : Mixture of flat and hilly terrain.
Climate : Type IV with 2 seasons – the dry and the rainy seasons
Average Temperature : 26.6 to 27.4OC
Population (2023) : 24,741 (Based on PSA 2020 having a growth rate of 2.26%))
Population Density : 1.15
Sex Ratio : 1.05
Annual Growth Rate : 2.26%
Labor Force : 29% of the total population
Age Dependency Ratio : 42%
Number of households : 6,336
Business/Industry : 895
Lending :3
Pawnshops :4
Major Agri. Products : coconut, mango. corn, banana, vegetables, root crops
Communications : Carmen Cable TV, SMART, Sun Cellular, Globe, Bayantel,
PLDT, Dito
Poverty Incidence : 32% (2015 Listahanan Survey)
Total Income (2023) : P160, 043,939.00
Agricultural Area : 6,809 hectares
Major Livestock &Poultry : Poultry, swine, carabao, cattle, goat
Preschools :2
Elementary Schools : 12
Secondary School :5
Literacy Rate : 98%
Health Stations : 8 (1 Municipal, 7 barangays)
Day Care Centers : 17
Senior Citizen Affairs Office : 1
PWD Affairs Office :1

1.4. Roll of Honor

The list of leaders that governed Carmen is provided in the Table below:

Table 1.4 Roll of Honor

TERM OF OFFICE NAME TITLE OF POSITION
1949 - 1951 Hon. Nicanor Honculada Municipal Mayor
1952 - 1955 Hon.Arturo de Guzman Municipal Mayor
1956 - 1960 HON. JOSE MALIMIT Municipal Mayor

1960 - 1963 HON. ESTEBAN DEGAMO Municipal Mayor

1964 - 1967 HON. JOSE MALIMIT Municipal Mayor

1968 - 1969 HON. TRANQUILINO O. CALO, JR. Municipal Mayor

1969 - 1971 HON. ERNESTO CAMPOS, JR. Municipal Mayor

1972 - 1985 HON. TRANQUILINO O. CALO, JR. Municipal Mayor

 1986 - 1987 HON. DIONESIO Q. PACON OIC Municipal Mayor

1987 HON. JOAQUIN APARECIO OIC Municipal Mayor

1987 - 1988 (Jan.) HON. ARNULFO BATTAD OIC Municipal Mayor

1989 - 1993 HON. TRANQUILINO O. CALO, JR. Municipal Mayor

1993 - 1995 HON. ELISIO M. LUNETA Municipal Mayor

1996 - 2004 HON. RAMON M. CALO Municipal Mayor

2004 - 2007 HON. JOVITE C. CALO Municipal Mayor

2007 - 2018 HON. RAMON M. CALO Municipal Mayor

2018 - 2021 HON. JOVITE C. CALO Municipal Mayor

2021 - present HON. RAMON M. CALO Municipal Mayor