Kalinga Pasalubong Center to ban ambulant vendors, mobile food stalls to protect tenants

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Provincial Government of Kalinga will strictly prohibit ambulant vendors and mobile food stalls within the vicinity of the Kalinga Pasalubong Center in Malalao, Tabuk City, to protect legitimate tenants and ensure an organized business environment at the tourism facility.

The measure was among the agreements reached during a meeting of the Economic Sectoral Committee of the Provincial Development Council on October 30, 2026, following concerns raised by tenants and other issues affecting the center’s operations.

Based on information released by the Kalinga Provincial Information Office (PIO) through the Province of Kalinga Facebook page, the prohibition seeks to address concerns over vendors operating without local permits and competing with businesses renting spaces inside the center.

The committee also agreed to construct a perimeter fence to secure the property and address concerns involving illegal settlers. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Office of the Provincial Assessor clarified during the meeting that the land is classified as forest land and has no registered tax declaration issued to any individual.

The provincial government is also preparing to assume formal management of the facility through its planned turnover to the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU). A follow-up meeting was scheduled for November 4 to ratify and advance the agreed measures.

A market platform for Kalinga MSMEs

The planned changes come as the provincial government seeks to strengthen the center’s role as a major outlet for locally produced goods and a stopover for tourists and motorists entering the province.

The Kalinga Pasalubong Center was inaugurated on February 9, 2024, and formally opened to the public on June 25 of the same year. Located near the provincial welcome arch at Talaca, Barangay Malalao, it was established to showcase and market Kalinga-made products, including woven goods, processed food, beverages, handicrafts, fashion accessories, and furniture.

The facility provides local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a shared marketplace where they can display and sell their products to travelers and tourists. At its opening, the Philippine News Agency reported that around 1,300 micro-enterprises in the province stood to benefit from the center.

The Philippine Information Agency reported in October 2024 that the center generated ₱898,275 in sales during its first two months of operations, based on DTI-Kalinga records. At that time, products from 31 members of the Chamber of Tabuk City-Kalinga Producers Incorporated and 10 non-members were being displayed at the facility.

The center’s location near the Kalinga-Isabela boundary also gives local producers access to travelers entering and leaving the province, providing them with an additional market for their goods.

Aside from regulating vendors and improving security, the provincial government plans to upgrade the facility to make it a more attractive destination for visitors and a stronger marketing platform for local entrepreneurs.