‘Kalinga continues to progress, a reason to celebrate’- Gov. Tubban

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Despite the troubles brought about by the pandemic, Governor Ferdinand Tubban highlighted that there is still reason to celebrate the 27th Kalinga Day this February 14, 2022 since the province has not been left behind in terms of progress and community development.

Kalinga Day which is usually celebrated with grand activities, cultural presentations, street dances, parades, pageants and has been held with simple celebrations since 2020.

Tubban, during his message to the people of Kalinga, expressed mixed emotions as he recalled the jovial and festive celebrations of the past and the restrictions and troubles that Covid-19 virus done. Nevertheless, he said he is delighted with the resilience and unity of the leaders in Kalinga as well as the positive attitude of the communities towards a brighter tomorrow.

The governor added his optimism that one day Kalinga shall attain herd immunity and that the marvelous and jubilant celebrations in remembering the works of the forebearers of Kalinga and its journey to becoming a mature province shall once again be experienced.

Development of Kalinga through Tubban's Shared Governance

The governor also relayed the development of the province, through his administration’s SHARED governance, delivering the needed services to the public.

The provincial government, he said, was able to improve its Disaster Risk Resiliency program with the procurement of P9.1M rescue and heavy equipment, and P40.2 million construction of public infrastructures and community facilities.

Here are other progress in the province underscored by Governor Tubban:

“Since Kalinga is an agricultural basket, we have put focus on increased production, better road networks of farm to market roads, post-harvest facilities, equipment, training, assistance, and grants to our farmers and fisherfolk.

In 2021 alone, more than 8,000 farmers were provided assistance amounting to over 37 million pesos. Now, we have the Banana consolidation and Trading Center worth P4.7 million and constructed the Agriculture Extension and Research, and Farm Mechanization Building worth P6 million.

Additionally, in terms of production, Rice production alone surpassed the 2020 yield compared to 2021. This 2022, I believe that with the programs and projects of the government provided to farmers, the amount of production will increase further.

For public health, Kalinga now has a Dialysis Center. There are ongoing constructions for Diagnostic CT Scan of the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH). For our Covid-19 response there were allocations for isolation buildings. There is also an ongoing construction of a molecular laboratory. All these total to more than P32 million. All district hospitals had been provided with ambulances.

We are now working on improving the Kalinga Children’s Hospital and the rehabilitation of the KPH main building. These are to be provided P15 million.

Added to that, we have a plan to push through for the completion of the Kalinga Children’s Ward and Wellness Center, completion of Tanudan Municipal Hospital, and upgrading/improvement/rehabilitation of Kalinga District Hospital in Lubuagan. These shall total to around P290 million. We likewise plan to include constructions of infirmaries in Tinglayan and Pasil to assure speedy response to health concerns of our people in the area. These projects shall be allotted P60 million. There are also other projects for Rizal, Balbalan, and Pinukpuk being discussed.

For the workers…

Our displaced and affected workers were given aid through the TUPAD program with over 3,000 beneficiaries. Our students were likewise provided educational assistance through scholarships and Special Employment program for Students benefitting thousands.

Talking about our road network development…

Kalinga has added its network of roads with road opening and road widening as well as upgrading and improvement… some of these are the Bulanao-Laya-Balong Provincial road, Junction-Cagaluan Provincial Road, Ngibat-Tulgao Road, Magnao-Guillayon Provincial Road. Apart from that we have the Cogawe-Cudal-Allubaggan-Dupligan Provincial Road, and Apatan-Ballayangon-Wagud-Aciga Road. Dalnacan-Mangali via Talcotoc Provincial Road. All these total to more than P226 million.

We also plan to upgrade and improve the Cabaritan-Dugpa-Bayao, to complete the 8-lane Bulanao-Laya-Balong provincial road; and upgrade and improved the Pantikian provincial Road in Balbalan. These shall be allotted with more than P536 million funding.”

Tubban calls for renewed unity and cooperation

These, according to Tubban are just among the major accomplishments under his administration to prove that ‘we are now a full-grown province.’

The governor then called for the people of Kalinga to join hands in ‘showing to the world that there is a province called Kalinga, a province with many tribes but ONE and ONE HEART.’

“Let us walk with the same faith and make Kalinga Province rise and shine better…. Let us sing the same song as those who exclaimed “Kalinga Province from you we sprang… Kalinga Province for golden grains… Kalinga province we crown you with laurels more sublime…”

Let us pray the same prayers as those who shed tears asking God to grant us realities of our founders’ dreams... and the glory of our labor,” concluded the governor.

LISTEN TO STATION 1 RADIO: https://zeno.fm/station-onefm/

OTHER NEWS

12 Outstanding yKalingas awarded on 27th Kalinga Founding Anniversary

Follow Guru Press Cordillera on Facebook for more News and Information