The third National Surf Summit and Competition opened Thursday at Bagasbas Beach in Daet town, Camarines Norte, with 269 competitors taking part in a six-day event promoting safe and sustainable surf tourism in the country.
‘Bicol is blessed with some of the country’s incredible surfing destinations-from the powerful waves of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes to the surfing gems of Sorsogon,’ said Herbie Aguas, Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol director, in a phone interview Thursday.
He said surfers and surfing enthusiasts from established surfing destinations, including Siargao, Baler, Zambales, Samar, Quezon and La Union, were expected to participate in the event.
‘Seeing the surfing community come together here in Bicol is both overwhelming and inspiring. This is more than a competition-it is a celebration of surfing, friendship, sportsmanship, tourism, and our shared love for the waves,’ Aguas said.
The event, themed ‘Building Safe and Sustainable Surfing,’ runs from Sept. 24 to 29 and is being held in collaboration with the provincial government of Camarines Norte and the Daet municipal government.
The four-day national surfing competition, sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA), brings together established athletes and emerging talents, Aguas said.
The event will also feature the launch of the National Surf Tourism Road Map and Action Plan and the Bicol Surf Fest, which aim to promote Bicol as a marine sports hub and showcase its coastal destinations to national and international audiences.
The surfing competition will be followed by the National Surf Summit, where government agencies, local governments, tourism stakeholders, surfing associations, environmental advocates, academe and private-sector partners will discuss sustainable surf tourism, safety management, environmental stewardship, destination governance and sports tourism development.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay is expected to lead DOT officials attending the event.
The National Surf Tourism Road Map and Action Plan will serve as the country’s strategic framework for the sustainable development, promotion, management and competitiveness of surf tourism destinations nationwide, Aguas said.