BAGUIO CITY — Tabuk City, the capital of the province of Kalinga, is the recipient of 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 on 26 January 2024.

The city was able to gain such a prestigious 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, urban safety and security, and tourism infrastructure and facilities.

Before Tabuk City, Baguio City was a three-time recipient of the award.

To date, the two cities, both located in the Cordillera Region, are the only local government units in the Philippines that have been given the award.

The tourism industry of Tabuk City and the whole of Kalinga is expected to boom because of the recognition. Tabuk City will be a certified ASEAN clean tourist city listed on the ASEAN's official website and promoted at the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum, festivals, and associated events.