Karissa Fetalvero
2026-2027 Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader
Legislative Member, Sison Province
Philippines
Karissa Fetalvero is a legislator and practicing nurse in Sison, bridging frontline medical realities with systemic policy for rural communities. During her nine-year tenure as Sison’s first female mayor, she reduced municipal poverty from 36.8 percent to 25 percent and achieved the region's first declaration of an insurgency-free province. Her administration was recognized for excellence in governance. Motivated by her clinical background, Karissa works to ensure that constituents in the most isolated areas are no longer invisible to the state. Her leadership has shown the efficacy of democratizing healthcare and modeling how dialogue can peacefully resolve conflict.
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