Sports tourism

TACLOBAN CITY –Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that they strongly support local government units that host sports competitions.

The DOT is pushing MICE-E or meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions, and events to further attract tourists to visit the region.

Included in this campaign is the holding of national sports competitions.

Recently, national surfing and skimboarding competitions were held in Borongan City and Tanauan, Leyte, respectively, drawing competitors and tourists alike.

“Sports competition is an event, and we at the DOT gets excited when there is an event but it should not only last for a week or so instead we need to make it sustainable,” Tiopes said.

“That is why we are encouraging organizers to have other income-generating activities not only for local entrepreneurs but even the athletes,” she added.

These income-generating activities may include sports clinics wherein athletes like surfers and skimboarders may teach individuals who wanted to learn surfing and skimboarding.
“Aside from hosting organizing provincial / regional / national / sports events, LGUs should also try to find ways to integrate a particular sports to tourism,” Tiopes added.

Tiopes cited Cebu province as the best template wherein they integrate “arnis” also called “eskrima” into their heritage and wellness tourism programs.

The tourism official added that for LGUs that are planning to organize events, they may ask assistance from their office so that they can assist them in product development and promotions.

“We will craft a guidelines on how they can avail of other event logistics support,” she added.

The tourism official added that next week they will be having a meeting with tourism stakeholders to prepare the initial calendar of major events for 2023 in the region which includes the national convention and general assembly of APO fraternity, the JCI 75th anniversary and national convention, Lion’s Club conference, and an international adventure race competition. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) as endorsed by the An Waray party-list group in Maasin City had their orientation Thursday (Jan. 4) before they could start doing community work.

A total of 121 Tupad beneficiaries will carry out clean-up activities, debris clearing, and de-clogging of canals for four hours per day with a maximum period of 10 days.

Each beneficiary will be given P350 per day.

The orientation was graced by Mayor Nacional Mercado, Melvin Pelona of the An Waray party-list, and personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

While Tupad beneficiaries from Maasin will start doing their community work, beneficiaries of the program in Borongan City had their payout on Wednesday (Jan 4).

“An Waray Party-list is committed to supporting these individuals and others in need, and will continue to work towards providing assistance and resources to those who require it,” the party-list said in a statement.

Tupad is a community-based safety net program of the Department of Labor and Employment that provides temporary employment to those who are underemployed, self-employed, or displaced marginalized workers.

It is designed to assist those whose earnings have been affected by the pandemic and other crises.
(ROEL T.AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Biliran’s provincial government has extended assistance to at least 20,029 residents through its seven satellite offices in the past five months, Governor Gerard Espina said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Espina said 17,393 got free medicines, 330 received medical financial aid and 97 are recipients of burial assistance.

The rest are beneficiaries of wheelchairs, assistance to individuals in crisis situations, financial aid for new graduates and reading glasses, among others.

“We are grateful for this opportunity to bring our services closer to people who are living far from Naval, the provincial capital,” Espina said.

Since August, satellite offices have been set up in the towns of Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan and Maripipi.

All satellite offices are outside the municipal government complex, but within the town center, Espina said.

The island town of Maripipi is the farthest from the provincial capitol and previously, its residents had to take a boat and a jeepney rides for hours and spend PHP1,000 to get to Naval town and back to the island to avail of services, Espina said.

Each office has three staff and a laptop where residents can virtually talk to the governor or department heads of the provincial government to air their concerns.

Biliran is the country’s fourth-smallest province, with a population of more than 171,000 in eight towns.(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)