One click to Kalinga: Province adopts student-built tourism app ‘ALAPUAP’

Tabuk City, Kalinga – What started as a student innovation has now become Kalinga’s official digital tourism guide, marking a significant step toward making the province’s tourism information more accessible, organized, and technology-driven.

More than three months after it was first presented to the Provincial Government of Kalinga, the student-developed tourism application “ALAPUAP” has officially been adopted by the province following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among key stakeholders.

On June 11, 2026, Governor James Edduba and Kalinga State University (KSU) President Dr. Joy Grace Doctor signed the agreement formalizing the partnership between the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) and the university, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The signing marks the culmination of the adoption process that began in March when DOST-Kalinga, headed by Provincial Director Jasmin Donaal, first presented the proposal to Governor Edduba.

The platform was later introduced to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its May session, where provincial legislators led by Vice Governor Dave Odiem subjected the proposal to review before endorsing its adoption.

During the deliberations attended by Guru Press Cordillera, Board Member Atty. Christopher Donaal commended the student developers while emphasizing the importance of following the legal and legislative processes required for the province's adoption of the application.

“We are proud that the app was developed by students from Kalinga. Proud kami kanyayo. But I want to explain that the proposal will still be carefully reviewed through a committee, including the MOA, before it is endorsed for approval and adoption. Masapol gamin magna latta ti due process ditoy SP,” Donaal said.

Board Member Camilo Lammawin likewise lauded KSU and the student developers for the innovation, noting that the platform would require continuous development and updating to ensure that tourism information remains accurate and relevant.

“We really appreciate KSU, especially these developers, and also the DOST. Based on your initial presentation, there is still a need for further development. On our part in tourism, information needs to be updated from time to time, and that responsibility will be shared by the province and the different municipal and city LGUs,” Lammawin said.

For his part, Vice Governor Odiem said innovations such as ALAPUAP demonstrate the capability of Kalinga's students to contribute meaningful solutions in an increasingly digital world. He likewise stressed the importance of undergoing the proper adoption process.

The signing of the agreement this week effectively completed the key requirements identified by the Provincial Board during its review of the proposal.

Under the MOA, KSU will provide technical development, maintenance, and support services, while the PLGU will oversee the platform’s adoption, deployment, and promotion across the province.

The agreement also allows the provincial government to engage the student developers through Contracts of Service (COS) to help ensure the system's continuous enhancement.

The possible engagement of the developers through a COS arrangement was earlier raised by Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Lorraine Ngao-i during the Provincial Board's deliberations.

With ALAPUAP now officially adopted, tourists and residents alike can look forward to easier access to tourism information, while Kalinga takes another step toward modernizing the promotion of its destinations through homegrown digital innovation.

“During a meeting with the governor, nagcommit naman po sila na upon graduation they (the developers) will be absorbed under his office. Sila narin po ang magtitrain dun sa mga taga capitol how to operate (the app), including tourism officers,” ” Ngao-i said.

ALAPUAP, coined from the words “Apu” or “Apo” (elders in Kalinga) and “application”, was developed by  KSU Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) students Mark Alvin M. Pugal, Joselyn A. Tayab, and Ranee Mae O. Awingan, under the guidance of their capstone project adviser Mathew Jun Pego Mariai.

Awingan told Guru Press Cordillera that ALAPUAP serves as a centralized digital platform where tourism offices across Kalinga can upload and manage information on destinations, festivals, accommodations, restaurants, and local cuisine.

The platform also allows visitors to register, explore attractions, and leave reviews.