₱29.9M Kalinga Commercial Complex breaks ground; Gov. Edduba says its for local businesses to thrive

Tabuk City, Kalinga – With the groundbreaking of the Kalinga Commercial Complex on December 22, 2025, at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital compound, more livelihood opportunities for local entrepreneurs and a further boost to the local economy are expected.

The Provincial Government of Kalinga Information Office (PIO) said the construction of the commercial complex, which will cover an area of 15 meters by 60 meters, will cost ₱29,994,398.55 and will be implemented in several phases.

The project will be a three-storey building with a total floor area of 2,700 square meters. Commercial spaces for local businesses will be located on the first floor, while the second floor will be designated for rental office spaces. The third floor will be allotted for function halls to be used for trainings, seminars, and other events.

According to the Kalinga PIO, rental payments from the commercial spaces will be used to fund future developments of the complex.

In an interview on December 23, Kalinga Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan expressed hope that the area would accommodate medical and health services provided by doctors, particularly those not currently available at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital, to give patients easier access to care and reduce the need to travel to Tuguegarao.

Governor James Edduba, in a separate interview, said the venture would help the provincial government generate income from the project, which can be used to finance other development initiatives.

“Daytoy ket makatulong met lang kadagiti kakailyan tapno ma-boost ti local economy

by providing avenues for more local businesses to thrive. Actually, daytoy ket intended koma for a hydropower project. Ngem gapu ta saan a nagproceed diay hydro project, parte ti pondo ket na-allocate para ditoy Kalinga Commercial Complex ken dadduma pay,” Edduba said.

The governor added that he drew inspiration from Quezon City’s economic model, which introduced the development of self-sustaining facilities.

“The first floor will serve as a Pasalubong Center, where products from our local processors and producers will be displayed,” he added.

The Kalinga PIO said the first phase of the project is expected to be completed within 400 days, with succeeding phases to follow until the complex is fully constructed.