Borongan City in Eastern Samar will host the 2nd National Surfing Summit from Nov. 24 to 26.
The summit will be the venue or platform for the discussion of emerging trends, sustainable practices and the future of surfing in the country.
“The primary goal of this summit is to bring together all surfing stakeholders under one roof. We intend to explore how we can harness the global phenomenon of this sport as a powerful tourism attraction and recognize its status as an Olympic sport,” said Borongan City information officer and Surf City chairperson Rupert Ambil.
In preparation for the summit, key officials held the first coordination meeting in Borongan on July 11 attended by Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, surfing association officials from Eastern Visayas, Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, DOT Region 1 Director Jeff Ortega, DOT Bicol Director Herbie Aguas, and Mark Edward Velasco of United Philippine Surfing Association.
“This summit is a momentous occasion as it brings together multiple surf communities, fostering a sense of unity and support among them. Together, we are planning for the establishment of a regional surf circuit in Eastern Visayas, creating exciting opportunities for surfers and further enhancing the growth of the sport,” Ambil told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The summit will be held before the annual Surf City Borongan competition, scheduled from Nov. 26-30, he said.
“By hosting the National Surf Summit alongside our annual Surf City Borongan competition, we seek to create a synergistic event that maximizes the efforts of all involved,” he added.
Athletes, coaches, local government officials and national government agency officials will have the opportunity to discuss and observe the national competition as part of the summit program, Ambil explained.
Joining the summit are surfers from popular surfing sites in the country such as San Juan, La Union; Siargao, Surigao del Norte; Baler, Aurora; Daet, Camarines Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental; Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Baras, Catanduanes; San Antonio, Zambales; Real, Quezon; Aparri, Cagayan Valley; and Nagtabon Beach, Palawan, including surfing officials and instructors.
La Union hosted the first National Surf Summit in 2022, while Bicol Region will host the third installment next year. (PNA)
