Carmen, Agusan del Norte

Last updated
Carmen
Municipality of Carmen
Carmen Municipal Hall.jpg
Municipal Hall
Flag of Carmen, Agusan del Norte.png
Carmenseal2.jpg
Ph locator agusan del norte carmen.png
Map of Agusan del Norte with Carmen highlighted
Carmen, Agusan del Norte
Interactive map of Carmen
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Carmen
Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°00′N125°16′E / 9°N 125.26°E / 9; 125.26
Country Philippines
Region Caraga
Province Agusan del Norte
District 2nd district
Founded July 1, 1949
Barangays 8 (see Barangays)
Government
[1]
  Type Sangguniang Bayan
   Mayor Jovitte C. Calo
   Vice Mayor Ramon M. Calo
   Representative Ma. 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
   Electorate 15,408 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 class 4th municipal income class
   Poverty incidence
32.62
% (2021) [4]
   Revenue 181.6 million (2022)
   Assets 381.2 million (2022)
   Expenditure 119.7 million (2022)
   Liabilities 55.27 million (2022)
Service provider
  ElectricityAgusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO)
Time zone UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
8603
PSGC
IDD : area code +63(0)85
Native languages Agusan
Butuanon
Cebuano
Higaonon
Tagalog
Website www.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 2020 census, it has a population of 23,172 people. [5]

Contents

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 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 called mohons 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 from Luzon and other parts of Visayas. The Loques and Mambas settled in what is 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 Balmoceda 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.

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 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.

Geography

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the municipality has a land area of 311.02 square kilometres (120.09 sq mi) [7] constituting

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
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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 days22.719.120.019.925.927.627.626.125.126.824.323.2288.3
Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.) [8]

Barangays

Carmen is politically subdivided into 8 barangays. [9] Each barangay consists of puroks while some have sitios.

PSGC Barangay Population ±% p.a.
2024 [10] 2010 [11]
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 −0.75%
160204009 Poblacion (Carmen) 25.7% 5,988 5,507 0.57%
160204010 Rojales 10.9% 2,542 2,083 1.37%
160204011 San Agustin 5.1% 1,183 1,117 0.39%
160204012 Tagcatong 14.9% 3,462 3,382 0.16%
160204014 Vinapor 9.0% 2,107 2,027 0.27%
Total23,30419,7811.13%

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 [12] [13] [11] [14] [15]

In the 2020 census, Carmen had a population of 23,172. [16] 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 [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Government

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

List of former mayors

Tourism

Bolihon Beach Plaza Beach.jpg
Bolihon Beach
Punta Diwata Cave Punta Diwata Cave.jpg
Punta Diwata Cave
Punta Diwata Reef Punta Diwata Reef.jpg
Punta Diwata Reef

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

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. "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. "Carmen: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  9. "Municipal: Carmen, Agusan del Norte". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. Census of Population (2020). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  11. 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.
  12. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  13. Census of Population (2015). "Caraga". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  14. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Caraga". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
  15. "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  16. "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  17. "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  18. "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 29 November 2005.
  19. "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 23 March 2009.
  20. "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 3 August 2012.
  21. "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. 31 May 2016.
  22. "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. 10 July 2019.
  23. "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  24. "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

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