TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The city adds an international award to its long list of accolades as it bags the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Award.
This is the first time Tabuk is receiving the prestigious award which will be conferred at the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards in Vientiane, Laos PDR on January 26, 2024.
Tabuk joins three-time winner Baguio as the only local government units in the Philippines to receive the award.
The award is expected to boost the promotion of Tabuk internationally as certified ASEAN clean tourist cities will be listed on the ASEAN’s official website and promoted at the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum, festivals and associated events.
Tabuk secured the award after passing an assessment on several criteria including environmental management, cleanliness, waste management, awareness-building about environmental protection and cleanliness, green spaces, health safety and urban safety and security, and tourism infrastructure and facilities.
It will be recalled that the assessment was conducted last October by the Department of Tourism validation team and involved the evaluation of the following public facilities and tourist areas: green areas along the road going to Laya, PNP Headquarters, Dilag Sanitary Landfill, Dagupan Public Market and other commercial centers, multicab and van terminal, Bulanao Central School Public benches, Victory Liner and New Market sites, Kinwa Etnika, CARAA ground, Capitol Park and Provincial Tourism Office, Laoagan Inn Mini Museum and Resort, Agbannawag Health Facility and Laboratory, and Bantay Fruit Farms and Naneng Heritage Village. By Iryll Sicnao