TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The province backed out of the hosting of this year’s Miss Earth long gown competition following the heavy impact inflicted by Tropical Storm Paeng and other previous weather disturbances to the destinations that are supposed to be visited by the contestants.
Gov. James Edduba disclosed that the decision to back out of the hosting of the 2022 Miss Earth long gown competition was a collective one made by the members of the provincial government’s management committee after assessing the damages sustained by the destinations that will be visited by the participants.
He disclosed that it will be unfair to the organizers and the contestants if the province will push through with the hosting of the log gown competition because the Awichon Village in Lubuagan which showcases the traditional way of life of the Kalinga people and other tourist destinations that had been lined up to be visited by the participants suffered enormous damage after the wrath of Tropical Storm Paeng and previous weather disturbances that visited the Northern Luzon area over the past several weeks.
“We already sent notice to the organizers informing them of our decision to back out of our hosting of the long gown competition because we no longer can showcase anything to the organizers and the contestants due to the damages sustained by our key tourist destinations. We are elated that the organizers understand our predicament at this point,” Edduba stressed.
The governor claimed that there are ongoing efforts to restore the damages inflicted in the tourist destinations but the works cannot meet the date when the organizers and Miss Earth contestants will be in the province which is by November 18, 2022.
According to him, the province signified to the organizers of its willingness to pursue the hosting of any activity of the Miss Earth in the coming years once the heavily damaged tourist destinations will be restored so that the rich culture, history, heritage and ecotourism sites will be given a chance to be aggressively promoted worldwide.
Earlier, the province accepted the offer of the Miss Earth organizers for the province and the city to host the long gown competition slated for November 18-20, 2022.
Gov. James Edduba and Sed G. Miranda, representative and account executive of Carousel Productions, Inc., recently sealed the agreement for Kalinga’s hosting of the long gown competition of Miss Earth where Kalinga will serve as one of the provinces that will host the various events lined up for this year’s international beauty pageant emphasizing on the importance of preserving and protecting Mother Earth.
Some 20 to 25 Miss Earth beauties coming from the different parts of the world were supposed to visit the province for 3 days to be acquainted with Kalinga’s rich culture and traditions, including the numerous ecotourism destinations, which will be beneficial in providing added international exposure to the said must-see destinations.
Carousel Productions, Inc. conceptualized, organized and launched Miss Earth in 2001 as an international environmental event that channels the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool in promoting environmental awareness and ecotourism.