Pinukpuk playing grounds to get gravel upgrade ahead of Kalinga Provincial Meet

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Provincial Engineering Office is seeking additional gravel from a declared quarry site in Pinukpuk to improve the playing grounds ahead of the second phase of the Kalinga Provincial Meet on December 6 to 9, 2026.

During the Provincial Sports Council meeting on November 12, Assistant Provincial Engineer Anna Andrada Bilowan said additional gravel was needed for ground leveling and topping to ensure that the playing surfaces would be ready for the competition.

Bilowan identified Barangay Catabbugan in Pinukpuk as the declared quarry site where the materials could be sourced, while Junction was also considered as a possible source.

She proposed coordinating with the quarry operator or owner to facilitate the hauling of gravel, with the necessary receipts and tax requirements processed through the Office of the Provincial Treasurer (OPT-Kalinga).

“My proposal is that, since we do not have another source and would otherwise need to purchase the materials, we coordinate with the quarry operator or owner to see if we can haul the gravel from there and have the necessary receipts issued for it,” she said.

Bilowan said the Provincial Engineering Office could provide a grader and, if needed, a backhoe and loader to support the ground improvement. A dump truck would also be required to transport the materials.

“We need a grader, but we also suggested to Mayor Jimmy that we do additional ground topping. If we are going to add gravel, we need at least one backhoe and a dump truck,” she said.

The proposal was discussed with OPT representative Imelda Abegania, Local Revenue Collection Officer III, to ensure that the required documentation and tax procedures would be properly observed.

Bilowan also reported that equipment deployed in the area was expected to be pulled out on November 13, while succeeding preparations would focus on leveling and adding gravel to the playing grounds.

The second phase of the Kalinga Provincial Meet will be hosted by Pinukpuk, with more than 3,000 athletes from the province’s seven municipalities expected to participate. Delegations are scheduled to arrive on December 5, ahead of the opening of the competition the following day.