Tourism activities banned in Kalinga

By Peter A. Balocnit

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Temporary suspension of all tourism activities and no-entry policy on tourists in the province are still in effect. 
    The provincial and this city’s tourism offices said organizing tourism activities is prohibited this pandemic.
In Balbalan, Tinglayan and Lubuagan, stakeholders were consulted and tarpaulin posters were put on tourism spots and strategic places to remind tourists of local control policy.
    Balbalan tourism officer Regine Faye Munda Cruz consulted with officials of tourism destination-barangays regarding the policy:
     “Bawal po muna ang papasok na turista at mamasyal sa mga tourism sites (pati local tourists). Bawalpo muna ang tourism activities saatingmga tourism sites (example caving, trekking, camping, swimming, picnics, etc.)
    In Lubuagan, tourism officer Ansherina Rose Odiem warned if travelers continue to disobey, local Covid-19 transmission could increase.
    She said the municipal tourism, culture and arts council is set to convene this June to deliberate strict guidelines and penalties to be imposed on violators.
    The question in Tinglayan during the joint municipal inter-agency task force - tourism council meeting was whether they are ready to open their tourism destinations and cultural activities but they agreed  to defer all tourism activities in the municipality.
    The Municipal Health Office of Tinglayan signed an agreement with Buscalan last March 2020 requiring establishment of an isolation center, that vaccination reach 70% of the population and solid waste management have to be sustained.
    These are yet to be done.

Mayor Sacrament Gumilab said income is important but added health is priority.

He said the goal is not to stop tourism but to delay its re-opening until the local government is assured the community can handle it even as the pandemic is raging. – PIA Kalinga