TINGLAYAN, Kalinga Mayor Sacramento Gumilab issued an executive order on February 3, 2020 ‘temporarily suspending all tourism activities in the municipality for health safety reasons.
In his executive order, Gumilab includes the creation of a Municipal Novel Corona Virus Task Force to meet health world emergency.
2019-nCov is a serious and urgent concern’ since it has already affected a number of countries including the Philippines, the order stated.
“Based on the General Welfare Clause of the Local Government Code, the local government units are in-charge of the promotion of health and safety of the people within their jurisdiction.” Gumilab said in his order.
The created Task Force is chaired by the mayor with Municipal Health Officer Dr. Aite Caren Liw-agan as the vice chairman. Among the task force functions include the conduct of barangay-wide information campaign on nCoV, conduct of barangay clean-up campaign, establishment of surveillance mechanism, oversee monitoring and control measures, ensure that standard treatment protocol in dealing with the disease are in place, among others.
The mayor also have deputized it municipal police force, barangay officials and the tanods, to establish check points specially in Barangay Buscalan banning all tourism activities in the area.
Tinglayan is the top tourist destination in Kalinga province being visited by thousands of tourists annually. It is the hometown of the country’s living oldest living hand-tapped tattoo artist Whang-od and the legendary sleeping beauty.