Surigao town’s ‘arm-to-spoon’ program among 2026 Galing Pook awardees

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The coastal municipality of Del Carmen on Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, earned national acclaim after its flagship food security and climate-adaptation program, “Farm-to-Spoon,” was named one of the 10 outstanding local governance programs at the 2026 Galing Pook Awards.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the awards on municipal leaders in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Del Carmen emerged as a recipient of the award after a rigorous screening process involving a nationwide pool of 208 program submissions from 148 local government units. The entries were narrowed down to 19 national finalists.

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In a statement following the awarding ceremony, Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II said the program empowers local farmers and fisherfolk, strengthens food security, supports community livelihoods and promotes sustainable development for a greener and more resilient future.

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READ: 2026 Galing Pook Awards: Marcos names 10 outstanding governance programs

The local government said the recognition reflected the community’s shared commitment to building a stronger, more sustainable future for all Del Carmen residents.

Officially named FARM TO SPOON, short for Fishery and Agriculture Resiliency Management Through Outstanding Sustainable Policies and Participatory Oversight and Ownership, the initiative was lauded by the Galing Pook Foundation for tackling chronic food insecurity and child malnutrition on an island regularly exposed to extreme weather events.

The program links local smallholder farmers and artisanal fisherfolk directly to institutional buyers, public school feeding programs and community kitchens. By bypassing intermediary traders, it aims to ensure fair farm-gate prices for producers while delivering affordable, nutrient-rich local food to households and targeted feeding sites to combat child stunting.

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Del Carmen also introduced community-based savings groups alongside climate-resilient farming techniques, enabling vulnerable coastal and farming families to maintain financial safety nets during lean fishing seasons or storm disruptions.

Galing Pook evaluators underscored the program’s community ownership, multisectoral partnerships with national agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and tangible reductions in municipal food vulnerability. /das