Kalinga bullish with multi-million projects, awards, good governance

By Henry Gupaal

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The dynamic and changing face of Kalinga has been very visible these days ever since Gov. Jocel C. Baac assumed the helm of the provincial government in July 2010.

With firm and purposeful determination and good managerial skill coupled with political will, Gov. Baac was able to turn apathy, discontent and complacency into active interest and drive for development and progress of the province.

Kalinga was a three time awardee of the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Good Governance from the DILG in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The award money was used for the four lanes concreting of the provincial roads.

In 2012, Kalinga has achieved another milestone in its history because Kalinga   graduated from the club of 20 poorest provinces in the country and now number 43 as per National Statistics Board rating.

True to his campaign platform that the resources of government must be used judiciously for the improvement of the community, Gov. Baac started with developing the basic infrastructures and other socio-economic services that affect the daily lives of the people.

Foremost among these was the completion of the capitol gym which was started by his predecessors; the renovation of the old capitol building; the construction of the new enterprise building; then the concreting of the provincial road from Bulanao to Balong into four lanes; then the lighting of the provincial road from the white Carabao to Davidson hotel with the attendant putting of the center island; concreting into four lane of the provincial road from the rotunda to Ballog residence in Bulanao with street lights and center island and lighting of the six lane boulevard.

The Provincial Government was also the implementing agency of the PAMANA project downloaded by the DILG amounting to 20 million pesos for concreting of the Allaguia-Asibanglan Provincial Road which was very much appreciated by Secretary Deles of OPAPP as one of the best implemented PAMANA projects in the country.

Aside from these, Kalinga was again a recipient of the World Bank PRDP funded farm-road projects composed of the Banneng-Gumbowoy FMR of Pangol, Tanudan with an amount of P118 million ; Bulanao-Amlao FMR concreting P180 Million;  Catabbogan Wagud farm to market road with P223 million. Banneng-Gumbowoy FMR and Bulanao-Amlao which were already bid out, while Catabbogan will be put on bid next year.

The improvement of the health facilities was another key area where the money of the government was put to good use with the construction of the new building at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital and at the Pinukpuk District Hospital.

All the other district hospitals of Lubuagan, Balbalan and Rizal were renovated. The construction of the Tanudan District hospital was also undertaken.

In agriculture, the province was twice awarded for being one of the top ten rice producing provinces in the country today.

Thanks to farmers of the province for their industry and dedication to food security and sufficiency. A new building for farmers’ academy was constructed from the award given to the province. (Henry Gupaal is executive secretary to the governor).