First in Kalinga: Balbalan LGU builds own swimming pool for student-athletes

Balbalan, Kalinga – It is the first time that an LGU in Kalinga invested much in the construction of a swimming pool to train its student-athletes better in swimming.

Young swimmers in Balbalan will no longer practice in rivers and creeks or go to Tabuk City for training once their own swimming pool opens. The groundbreaking ceremony signaled the start of the construction at the Western Kalinga National High School in Buaya, Balbalan on February 28, 2025. 

With this project funded with P4 million, the town gets to be the first LGU to establish its own swimming pool.

Mayor Almar Malannag who insisted the construction of the project relayed that they decided to put the pool in Buaya since the children in Cal-owan area always haul the largest gold medals for Balbalan during Provincial Meet. He added that some of the athletes did not only make it to the CARAA Meet, but also to the Palarong Pambansa.

“Napan iti panunut tayo diay idi nakitak nga kaadwan nga gold mi nu provincial meet agapu iti swimmers iti Cal-owan side, individual event. Isuda kaadwan. Adda pay naki-CARAA nga nagapu idiay Cal-owan ken Palaro, swimmers dagita. Isu nga idi napanunut tayo, pinondoan tayo iti P2.5 million, kitaek kurang ninayunan tayo iti P1.5 million isu naging P4 million,” he narrated.

The mayor is a staunch advocate of youth development emphasized that the government should invest in the youth as the next leaders leading the future generations to further progress. He said they are the ones to continue and expand the legacies of the forefathers of Balbalan.

“Isu ngay iti kitam, nu anya masapul iti u-ubbing, isu iti aramidem,” he stressed.

The swimming pool is expected to be finished by May or June this year provided there are no interruptions during its construction.