'Kalinga's culture boosts tourism'

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Gov. James Edubba disclosed that the province's culture and traditions can help spur the local tourism industry and help provide sources of livelihood while ensuring the preservation and protection of the peoples' age-old traditions and the environment.
    Edubba said Kalinga is rich in culture, traditions, arts, and heritage being home to some 47 subtribes in the city and seven municipalities. He said the preservation and protection of cultures and traditions are important to ensure continuity through intergenerational transmission to younger generations.
    The governor said there is much to be done to ensure the province's culture and traditions will be well-preserved and protected and passed on to the upcoming generations, which he will start in his administration.
    "The provincial government will embark on a comprehensive plan to preserve and protect the province's rich culture, traditions, arts, and heritage as a start in the long journey in partnership with concerned government agencies and other interested partners," he said.
    "Kalinga cannot afford to eventually lose its identity without the rich culture and traditions of its people, which is why local officials will have to work double-time to recover lost time in achieving the overall objective of passing these on to future generations," Edubba added.
    The governor admitted that a lot needs to be done to ensure the preservation and protection of the province's culture and traditions, primarily due to the presence of subtribes, but such efforts will be much easier with the active participation of concerned stakeholders from the grassroots level who will be the primary sources of information and data in the said endeavor.