Kalinga rises from third-class to second-class province

Tabuk City, Kalinga - As a result of its consistent economic performances and steady fiscal strength in the past three years, the province of Kalinga improved its classification from third-class to second-class province in the 2025 Automatic Reclassification of Local Government Units (LGUs).

This upgrade, under RA No. 11964 or the Automatic Income Classification of LGUs Act., was announced by the Department of Finance through its Department Order No. 074 Series of 2024.

The reclassification of Kalinga into a second-class province was based on its income ranges and on its average annual regular income for three fiscal years.

The average annual regular income of a 2nd-class province is at P900 million or more but less than P1.5 billion.

The classification of the province was accompanied by significant upgrades of its municipalities and lone city.

Tabuk was elevated from fifth-class to first-class city, while Balbalan from 3rd to 1st class municipality. Pasil was elevated from fifth-class municipality to fourth-class, while the municipalities of Tinglayan, Rizal, and Tanudan were elevated from fourth-class to third-class.

Meantime, Lubuagan and Pinukpuk remained fourth-class and first-class towns, respectively.

The average annual regular income of a first-class city is at P1.3 billion, first-class municipality is at P200 million, third class is at P35M to P45M, while fourth-class municipality is at P25M to P35M.

These classifications show the overall economic development of towns in the province.

With its new status as a second-class province, Kalinga has been given opportunities to greater resources and funding, with better capability to undertake transformative projects and better public services that would further advance the province.

The provincial government will likewise be more capable of  meeting its constituents' needs while pursuing sustainable economic growth.