18/09/2026
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Tourist alert: Tinglayan asks visitors to avoid Whang-od’s village and 6 others because of tribal war spillover
Frank Cimatu | September 17, 2026
The municipal government of Tinglayan in Kalinga has advised tourists and tour operators to temporarily avoid seven villages, including the popular tourist destination of Buscalan, as authorities and tribal elders work to resolve a conflict between the Butbut and Tulgao tribes.
The advisory, issued Wednesday, Sept. 16, by the Office of Mayor Charles Abay, covers Tulgao East, Tulgao West, Loccong, Ngibat, Proper Butbut, Bugnay, and Buscalan.
The municipal government said the temporary restriction is a preventive safety measure while efforts to restore peace and harmony between the two tribes continue.
“We value every visitor who comes to Tinglayan. Your safety is our priority,” the advisory said, urging visitors to cooperate and wait for further announcements.
Of particular concern to tourists is Buscalan, a remote mountain village in Tinglayan that has become one of Kalinga's best-known cultural tourism destinations.
Buscalan is home to the Butbut community and is internationally associated with batok, the traditional hand-tapped tattooing practice of the Kalinga.
The village became a major tourist draw through the work of Apo Whang-od Oggay, a renowned mambabatok who helped preserve and popularize the traditional art.
The Department of Tourism describes Buscalan as a village that embodies the Cordillera's more than 1,000-year-old tattooing tradition.
The village's remote location has also been part of the Buscalan experience. Visitors traditionally have to travel into Tinglayan and undertake a trek to reach the village, where tourism has developed around tattooing, homestays and the community's cultural heritage.
Academic research has documented the growth of local and international tourism in Buscalan, particularly because of interest in the Butbut's traditional tattoos.
The current advisory means tourists planning to visit Buscalan are being asked to defer their trips until further notice. Tour operators have likewise been urged to observe the temporary restriction and put visitor safety first.
The municipal government said it is coordinating with the concerned tribes, government agencies and security authorities toward a peaceful and lasting resolution.
Meanwhile, members of the Kalinga Provincial Peace and Order Council, chaired by Gov. James Edduba, met Wednesday with representatives from schools and other stakeholders to discuss immediate measures to protect residents, particularly students and employees affected by the conflict.
Authorities and community leaders continue to work with the affected villages as efforts to restore peace and normalcy in Tinglayan proceed.
