Del Carmen backs P2-B Palmyra township, but puts sustainability first

CEBU CITY — Del Carmen, Siargao is opening its doors to a P2-billion township project, but Mayor Alfredo Coro II said investors must first commit to protecting the island’s environment, culture, and long-term development goals.

Coro said the municipality’s support for the proposed Palmyra residential township was anchored on a clear condition: development must complement, rather than compromise, Del Carmen’s nature-positive vision.

“We know where we want to go,” Coro said during a press conference in Cebu City on July 24, 2026.

He said the local government made its development priorities clear to Palmyra’s proponents before any agreement was reached, including the need to preserve local values and comply with environmental policies.

Coro credited the project’s developers for agreeing to work within those parameters, saying Palmyra demonstrates that major investments can be pursued without sacrificing environmental stewardship.

Development anchored on conservation

For Coro, Del Carmen’s environmental programs are not simply conservation efforts but also part of the municipality’s strategy to attract responsible investments.

He pointed to the rehabilitation of Del Carmen’s mangrove forests, which transformed areas previously affected by illegal cutting and destructive fishing into a globally recognized conservation destination.

The mangrove ecosystem was designated a Wetland of International Importance in 2024 following years of rehabilitation and protection. The forests also provided an important natural buffer for communities during Super Typhoon Odette.

Coro said Del Carmen wants to become a progressive island community while remaining grounded in its ecosystems and culture.

He said Palmyra’s commitment to follow that direction sets it apart from developments that prioritize construction without considering the character of their host communities.

“This project reflects not only where Del Carmen and Siargao are headed, but where we hope the Philippines is headed,” he said, adding that Siargao has been identified as one of the country’s five green economic models.

Palmyra to preserve most of property

Palmyra Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs Atty. Israelito Torreon said the project is intended to demonstrate the company’s approach to responsible development in a major tourism destination.

Project architect Emilie Pepito Powers said the initial development footprint will cover only 1.79 hectares of the seven-hectare property, leaving a substantial portion of the site preserved.

The master plan includes a destination resort, three-story residential buildings instead of high-rise condominiums, and a lifestyle commercial center designed to fit into the surrounding landscape.

The project will incorporate several environmental systems, including its own septage treatment facility, reverse osmosis technology for irrigation and vegetation, rainwater harvesting with a storage capacity of up to 37 cubic meters, and a materials recovery facility.

A food village will also form part of the development, along with about 250 residential units.

These include 164 studio units measuring 35 square meters, excluding balconies; one-bedroom units of about 60 square meters; and two-bedroom units ranging from 80 to 90 square meters.

The project’s proponents said the combination of water-saving measures and sustainable infrastructure is intended to reduce its environmental footprint.

Four-year development timeline

Palmyra Chairperson Lynie Bereso said the township represents an estimated P2-billion investment that will be rolled out over four years.

The development will combine residential, commercial, tourism, and recreational components. The commercial portion is expected to be constructed over two years, while the entire township is targeted for completion within four years.

Initial land development is already underway, including site preparation and construction of the road network. Work on the commercial component is expected to start next month.

From poverty to an emerging tourism economy

Coro recalled that Siargao’s economy looked very different when he became mayor in 2010.

Fishing and farming were the primary sources of livelihood, but recurring typhoons often disrupted incomes and left many families struggling.

He said these conditions pushed local leaders to look for an alternative economic strategy, eventually turning to ecotourism while maintaining the island’s environmental assets.

Siargao subsequently gained global attention, particularly through Cloud 9, and experienced a significant tourism surge from 2017 to 2019.

The growth was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and later by the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette.

But Coro said the island began recovering strongly from 2022, supported by continued investments in infrastructure, governance and long-term planning.

Among the improvements are the completion of the island’s paved circumferential road, wider fiber-optic connectivity, improvements to power infrastructure and continuing investments in water supply systems.

Del Carmen’s location also gives it a strategic advantage as it hosts Siargao Airport and sits near the center of the island.

Building environmental capacity

As tourism and investment expand, Coro said Del Carmen is also strengthening its capacity to manage the environmental pressures that come with growth.

The municipality operates a waste-to-fuel facility that has been cited as an innovative approach to solid waste management. It also has a septage treatment facility serving businesses throughout Siargao through a public-private partnership.

Other programs focus on recycling waste tires, converting glass into construction materials and implementing the European Union-supported Circular Futures initiative, which promotes a broader waste-management approach based on the “10Rs” framework.

Coro said these programs are intended to ensure that increased tourism and investment remain compatible with the protection of Siargao’s natural resources.

Airport upgrades, jobs eyed

Coro also said government agencies are preparing improvements to Siargao Airport, including an expansion of the passenger terminal’s capacity from about 200 to 700 passengers.

Other planned upgrades include night-flight capability, improved landside facilities and stronger refueling operations. Authorities are also studying possible runway improvements while avoiding damage to Del Carmen’s mangrove areas.

The mayor expects visitor arrivals to continue increasing through 2026 and in the coming years, supported by infrastructure improvements, the return of international surfing competitions and tourism spillover from Cebu.

The Palmyra development is likewise expected to create significant employment opportunities during construction and operations.

Powers said about 500 local workers will be prioritized during the construction phase, with preference given to residents of Del Carmen.

Coro said the local government had already conducted consultations with communities that could be affected by the project and would continue engaging residents as construction progresses.

“We did the process by the book,” Coro said.

“We want investments that benefit everyone, where communities understand their role and where development remains inclusive, sustainable, and true to the values of Del Carmen and Siargao,” he added.