With over 25,000 athletes, guests

TACLOBAN CITY — Baybay City is on the final stretch of preparations for the 2026 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet, with thousands of athletes and delegates expected to converge at the Binaybayon Sports Complex from March 1 to 7.

Mayor Jose Carlos Cari said the city is ready to host an estimated 25,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and visitors for the weeklong regional sporting event, one of the biggest annual competitions in Eastern Visayas that serves as a qualifier for national meets.

At the center of the preparations is the New Binaybayon Sports Complex, part of the 10.5-hectare Binaybayon Complex envisioned as Baybay’s premier venue for sports and major gatherings. The main stadium features an Olympic-size rubberized track oval encircling a full-sized football field, grandstand bleachers, and an Olympic-size swimming pool, all set to serve as primary competition venues.

Beside the stadium stands the 7,589-square-meter Binaybayon Convention Center, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and other major activities.

Cari said public schools across the city are being readied as temporary billeting quarters for delegations, while volunteers are undergoing training to assist in registration, logistics, and crowd management. He added that finishing touches are being completed on the track oval and a building designated for gymnastics events, with contractors assuring completion before the opening day.

To ensure the safety of delegates and visitors, the Baybay City Police Office has laid out security measures, with augmentation forces from the Leyte Provincial Police Office set to be deployed to cover sports venues, billeting areas, and other key sites.

LtCol. Dexter Edillo said police will work alongside city government personnel, barangay officials, and tanods to secure not only the playing venues and billeting facilities but also other areas where visitors are expected to gather.

Local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and transport operators, are likewise preparing for the influx of guests.

City officials said hosting the EVRAA Meet is expected to spur tourism and economic activity while leaving a lasting legacy through upgraded sports facilities that will benefit local athletes in the years to come.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 8 (DOLE-RO8) recently conducted a series of activities under its Adjustment Measures Program (AMP) to help micro establishments navigate economic challenges and protect employment.
The capacity building program was held for the first and second batches of AMP beneficiaries, benefiting 40 micro enterprises affected by economic disruptions and workplace adjustments. This was followed by a preparatory training writeshop for the third batch, assisting 36 micro businesses in developing proposals and intervention plans to sustain operations and preserve jobs.

DOLE-RO8 said these initiatives aim to strengthen the resilience and productivity of small businesses while safeguarding workers’ employment through targeted support and skills development.

Among the officials present were Assistant Regional Director Atty. Joan Noya-Nidua; Med-Arbiter and AMP Regional Focal Person Atty. Cecilio I. Baleña; Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Secretary Reynaldo Soliveres; and Technical Support Services Division Chief Virgilio A. Doroja Jr.

Through the AMP, DOLE provides micro and small enterprises with financial and technical assistance for training, productivity improvement, and sustainable business practices, helping companies adapt to economic disruptions while enhancing workforce competitiveness.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — In a move to strengthen beach safety in Samar, the Department of Tourism (DOT) distributed 27 safety kits to trained lifeguards stationed at the Sabang Seaside Center in Barangay Tinabanan, Marabut.

The beneficiaries included members of the local community-based tourism organization, accredited lifeguards, and representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police.

Each recipient received a safety kit designed to boost emergency response capabilities in the town’s coastal areas. The lifeguards were also awarded licenses and certificates from the Philippine Life Saving Association, marking the completion of their training and qualification to render professional lifesaving services.

Local officials and tourism stakeholders attended the distribution activity, which forms part of broader efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and promote safer beach destinations in the municipality.

Among the certified lifeguards was Christian Ruiz, who previously put his training into action by rescuing a four-year-old child from drowning in December 2025.
Officials said the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring safer shorelines for both residents and tourists while supporting sustainable tourism development in the area.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY— Following weeks of protests from farmers and residents, the MacArthur Integrated Processing Corporation (MIPC) has temporarily withdrawn its massive cutter suction dredger from the town’s coastline, citing concerns over community welfare and environmental impact.

The dredger, roughly the size of a six-story building at 30 meters wide and 150 meters long, had been stationed in Barangay Maya, just 150 meters from the proposed black sand mining site. Locals feared that full-scale operations could damage rice fields, irrigation systems, and other critical agricultural areas.

“In light of local sensitivities, we have decided to withdraw the dredger and coordinate with authorities while reassessing our work plan,” MIPC said in a statement on Thursday, February 19. The company emphasized its commitment to balancing mining activities with environmental protection and community welfare.

The black sand mining project, which involves extracting magnetite-rich sands under a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) covering more than 7,000 hectares, is seen by the company as a major economic driver.

MIPC estimates that the project could generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boost household incomes, energize local businesses, and attract new investments. Annual contributions in mineral resource taxes and regulatory fees are projected to exceed P100 million, potentially funding programs in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and rural development.

MIPC also highlighted environmental safeguards, including a P56-million rehabilitation bond posted with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to restore mined-out areas before returning them to landowners. A five-year community development program covering health, education, livelihood, and infrastructure is planned to benefit host and neighboring communities.

Despite the withdrawal decision, protesters, led by farmer representative Jesus Cabias Jr., remained vigilant. “We will see their sincerity if the dredger is removed from here,” Cabias said, noting that while the group does not oppose mining outright, they demand strong assurances that farmlands and irrigation systems will be protected.

The protests, which began in January, prompted Mayor Ruden Babante to call on MIPC on February 15 to voluntarily withdraw the dredger and appeal for residents to suspend demonstrations, stressing that any local government action would follow due process.

(JOEY A. GABIETA,LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)