BAYBAY CITY — The 2026 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet officially opened Sunday, March 1, this city, with Mayor Jose Carlo Cari welcoming more than 10,000 athletes, coaches, trainers, and chaperons from 13 Schools Division Offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region VIII.

The weeklong regional sports competition, held from March 1 to 7, formally kicked off at the newly-built Binaybayon Sports Complex, drawing thousands of participants and supporters from across Eastern Visayas.

In his welcome message, Cari highlighted Baybay City’s upgraded sports facilities, particularly the newly completed Binaybayon Sports Complex, which serves as the main venue of the games.

He also invited delegates and visitors to explore the city’s tourist destinations, including Lintaon Peak, the “16,000 Blossoms” garden, pilgrimage sites such as Pomponan Church and Punta Church, the sea-of-clouds view in Villa Solidaridad, and the city’s boardwalk known for its local barbecue.

The mayor expressed gratitude to the provincial government of Leyte led by his cousin, Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Baybay City Council, DepEd Region VIII, and his son, Rep. Carl Nicolas Cari, for their support, particularly in ensuring funding for the completion of the sports complex.
He also thanked the Philippine National Police for maintaining peace and order throughout the event.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro was the guest speaker as she underscored the role of sports in shaping discipline, leadership, and resilience among the youth.

“Sports teaches us lessons that go far beyond medals and trophies. It teaches us discipline, teamwork, humility in victory, and grace in defeat. True sportsmanship is not just about winning—it is about respecting your teammate, your opponent, and the journey that brings all of us together on the same playing field,” she said.

DepEd Regional Director Ramir Firmo, in his message, emphasized camaraderie, respect, and excellence as guiding principles throughout the games. He urged athletes to give their best in every event while upholding integrity and sportsmanship.

Firmo also thanked the Baybay City local government for hosting the regional meet, lauding the city’s preparedness, hospitality, and strong partnership with the Baybay City Division to ensure the smooth conduct of the games. He likewise acknowledged the support of local government units across Eastern Visayas in nurturing young athletic talents.

A total of 7,992 athletes from 13 delegations are competing in various sporting events across different categories during the regional meet.

The opening ceremony gathered local chief executives, DepEd officials, tournament directors, coaches, parents, and thousands of student-athletes who proudly marched under their respective division banners.

Among the officials present were Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, Southern Leyte Vice Governor Emilia Mercado, Catbalogan City Councilor Stephany Uy representing Mayor Dexter Uy, Calbayog City Vice Mayor Rex Daguman, Board Member Bembot Bermejo representing Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — At least 1,300 crown-of-thorns starfish were removed from a reef area off Barangay Himay-angan in Liloan, Southern Leyte, in a joint marine conservation effort led by the Philippine Coast Guard and local divers.

The large-scale injection and extraction activity, held on Feb.28, was carried out under the PCG’s iCare Program, a campaign focused on protecting and rehabilitating coastal and marine ecosystems.

Taking part in the operation were personnel from Coast Guard Sub-Station Maasin, the Marine Environmental Protection and Response Unit–Southern Leyte (MEPERU-SL), the Coast Guard K9 Team in Liloan, and Field Station Southern. They were assisted by the “Dap-ag” Boys, a group of local divers from Liloan, and members of Lukas Dive.

The team covered about 400 square meters of reef during the activity. Of the total removed, around 500 crown-of-thorns were neutralized through injection, while approximately 800 were manually extracted.

The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on live coral tissue and is considered among the most destructive threats to coral reef ecosystems when its population surges.

Authorities warned that unchecked outbreaks can quickly strip reefs of living coral, leading to reduced marine biodiversity and declining fish populations—an impact that could hurt coastal communities reliant on fishing and tourism.

Marine experts underscored the importance of proactive removal efforts, particularly in biodiversity-rich areas such as Southern Leyte, which is known for its dive sites and marine resources.

The PCG said the intervention was necessary to prevent a potential outbreak and preserve the ecological balance in the area. It also reiterated its commitment to environmental protection and urged coastal communities and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and take part in conservation initiatives to safeguard the province’s marine ecosystems.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)