TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through its Integrated Livelihood Program, has provided 22 surf lesson boards and other surfing equipment to four surf schools in Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, marking the first livelihood project of its kind in Eastern Visayas.
The beneficiary surf schools are ABCD Surf Camp, Calicoan Local Surfers, Backyard Surf Co., and Samrayan Surf Boards.
The initiative was made possible through the partnership of DOLE, the municipality of Guiuan, the Municipal Tourism Office, and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
Municipal Councilor Kinna Kwan expressed gratitude to DOLE Regional Director Dax Villaruel, Provincial Director Salve Yepez, and Mayor Annaliza Gonzales for their collective effort in realizing the project.
“This project not only provides livelihood opportunities for our local surfers but also helps position Guiuan as one of the premier surfing destinations in the country,” said Councilor Kwan.
The surfboards, custom-made by Fluidsurf, are expected to improve the training capacity of local surf schools and support Guiuan’s growing surf tourism industry, which serves as a vital contributor to the local economy of Calicoan Island.
Local officials emphasized that DOLE’s support will help strengthen community-based tourism, empower local surfers, and promote sustainable livelihoods tied to Guiuan’s natural coastal attractions.
The turnover of surf equipment coincided with the ongoing Calicoan Odyssey Waves 2025, the Eastern Samar leg of the national surfing competition sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) and recognized by both the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
A total of 152 surfers from 12 provinces are participating in the event, which runs until October 19, 2025. Eastern Samar, as the host province, leads with 79 participants, followed by Surigao del Norte (30) and La Union (20). Other provinces represented include Ilocos Sur, Surigao del Sur, Samar, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Leyte, Northern Samar, Palawan, and Southern Leyte.
The competition is presented by the municipality of Guiuan in partnership with the provincial government of Eastern Samar led by Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, and the Department of Tourism Region 8.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
