Buscalan, Tinglayan secures spot in finals of 2023 Search for Cordillera's Best Tourism Village

Tinglayan, Kalinga – Buscalan has become one of the well-known and most visited places in Kalinga with the presence of the oldest 'mambabatok' in the area, even frequented by foreigners just to be inked by her.

This year, the community is vying for another title – the Best Tourism Village in the Cordillera, if given the chance.

After thorough site validations and deliberations by the Department of Tourism, Cordillera, Buscalan was selected as one of the 12 shortlisted communities in the Cordillera for the final round, increasing the ‘likelihood’ that it will receive the aforementioned title.

As relayed by Larae Lactao of the Municipal Tourism Office of Tinglayan, prior to the site validation at the area, intensive preparations were also made by their office to ensure the village would take a spot in the competition.

The validation team from the regional tourist department, she relayed will come back this Sunday for another round of validation.

Apart from Buscalan, three other tourism villages in Kalinga made it to the top 12 - Tawang and Balbalasang in Balbalan, and Bagumbayan in Tabuk City.

The search, which is now in its second edition, offers over P2 million in cash prizes, with the first place winner getting P1 million, the second with P500,000, and the third with P200,000. Three other entries, meantime, shall get P100,000 each as consolation winners.

The criteria of the search include sustainable management, cultural preservation, socio-economic development, and environmental care. Each criterion is equivalent to 25 percent.

As to its goal, it aims to promote community-based tourism and empower local communities for their well-being.

The search also acknowledges the vital role of tourism villages in sustainable, responsible, and equitable rural tourism development.

To recall, Kalinga's Naneng Heritage Village secured third place, while Pasil Slow Food Community and Balbalasang Proper "Pasual" received runner-up recognition in the same search last year.

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