TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City in Eastern Samar is hosting the 2nd National Surfing Summit and Surf City Festival from Nov. 24 to 26.
The city has invited surfers and surfing enthusiasts to the landmark event with the theme "Surfing Horizons: Unveiling New Destinations, Igniting Tourism" and goal of bringing together surfing stakeholders from across the country to explore the potential of surfing as a tourism attraction and Olympic sport.
A National Surfing Summit will be held alongside the annual Surf City Borongan competition to create a synergistic platform that maximizes the efforts of all involved.
"Borongan City's local government unit is committed to supporting other municipalities and fostering unity among residents," Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said.
Athletes, coaches, local government units, and national agency officials will have the opportunity to discuss and observe the national competition as part of the summit program.
"We stand united, and through this summit, we aim to significantly impact the tourism industry in the region and create substantial opportunities for economic development," Agda said.
With the Surf City Borongan National Competition serving as a counterpart to the National Surfing Summit, Agna noted that the event will be a celebration of surf culture, uniting surfers and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds.
The festival will offer an engaging platform for locals and visitors to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant surf community of Borongan City, creating unforgettable experiences for all participants.
Rupert Ambil II, Borongan Surf City Festival chairman, who attended the first national surfing summit in La Union organized by Region 1, said that the Ilocos region is the model for several aspects of the surf industry, from business to local government intervention and pioneering surf events.
"Their success and support are keys in building the foundation for up-and-coming surf areas. Borongan City and our neighboring towns have immense tourism potential for surfing, and we hope that this summit can serve as another catalyst for growth."
A coordination meeting for the 2nd National Surfing Summit was held recently with the Department of Tourism-8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Karen Tiopes, Jeff Ortega, DOT-1 chief, Director Herbie Aguas of DOT-5, and Mark Edward Velasco of the United Philippine Surfing Association.
Aguas pledged their full support to the 2nd National Surfing Summit. They will host the third summit in the Bicol region, showcasing their commitment to the growth and promotion of surfing in the Philippines.
Ortega said that together with the LGUs and other stakeholders, three regions have joined forces to continue the discussion and pave the way forward for surfing in our country.
"We are thrilled to witness Borongan City's hosting of this summit, as it is a testament to the city's immense tourism potential and the collaborative efforts of all involved.”