Tinglayan, Kalinga – This municipality inaugurates its Buscalan Tourist Information Center worth P80,000 on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, as they look forward to providing easier and more systematized tourist registration process, and transactions.
The village of Buscalan is known as the home of the oldest “mambabatok”, Apo Whang-od, and one of the most visited tourist destinations in the region.
Prior to the pandemic, the people of Buscalan had been experiencing problems in assisting tourists visiting the area since there was not any organized system to cater to their needs.
“Idiay Buscalan ngamin, magulo ti agpa-tattoo sunga idiay mi nga inkabil diyay tapnu idiay da nga ag-register ken idiay da a mangala ti number da nga agpa-tattoo,” Municipal Tourism Officer Jhonny Tiggangay said in an interview.
The significance of the registration of visitors in the center, he cited, is for tourism personnel to easily trace lost belongings of tourists. The system would also facilitate the reporting of the exact number of tourists entering Buscalan to the Department of Tourism, and for them to know the purpose of individuals visiting the area. In case of missing persons, the registration could provide the needed information for the Philippine National Police on their search.
“Ti problema ket idiay reporting iti ahensiya ti tourism, han mi a mabilang nu manu a tourist ti napan tapos nu mamingsan ket adda da ngay dagituy birbiruken ti police karkaru dagituy foreigners ket idiay da ngay nga agbase diay record,” Tiggangay said.
The center, the tourism officer said, is expected to provide its services after the pandemic as the municipality is still close for tourism activities.
Construction of the tourism building started in February 2020 and was completed on March 20, 2021.
“Nadistorbo ti construction ti building gapu iti pandemic ta diay pondo na ket naiyuray gapu met lang garud ta medyo inun-una tayu dagiti masapul a pondo-an idi kasagsagan ti lockdown,” Tiggangay informed.
‘Chumchumog’ for the new building
During the inauguration, a traditional rite known as Chumchumog was also executed by elders in Buscalan community.
‘Chumchumog’ is being performed through the slaughtering of a pig wherein the butchered animal will then be dragged in every corner of the building and its blood will be smeared in several areas of the building.
This, according to Tiggangay, is a traditional practice which is being done to ensure that the building will last long and its occupants will be ensured of their safety.
‘Aramiden kanu diyay tapnu diay balay ket natibker, haan a mabagyo, han a nalaka a madadael, ken ti tao nga agyan idiay ket safe da,” he said.
Buscalan is still closed for tourism activities
During the interview, Tiggangay informed that Executive Order No. 08 of Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, which mandates the temporary suspension of tourism activities in Tinglayan, is still in effect.
“Han pay lang a mabalin a sumrek ti tourist inggana nga haan pay nagme-meeting ti Municipal Inter-Agency Task Force nu anya ti desisyon ta kitaen pay lang nu mabalin a mai-open,” he said.
In connection, the Provincial Tourism likewise announced that documentaries or research of legitimate groups/individuals can only be accommodated, but are mandated to secure a free prior and informed consent from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples pursuant to National Advisory No. 2021-08-001.
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