The local government here is positioning this city as an events destination in Eastern Visayas, Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez said on Tuesday.

In a press briefing here, Gomez said the city government is building a convention center to host MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) activities, one of the priority programs of the tourism department.

Construction of the PHP120-million convention center in Barangay Juaton started in 2022.

“The whole city benefits when people come here. It benefits the community, the business community, because they spend, they eat and they buy. What we can do is prepare these things so that people will keep coming,” Gomez said.

The city is also hosting local and national sporting competitions.

Events on schedule this month are the Ormoc City Speedo Swim Cup 2024, Goma Cup KOMBATI Airsoft Festival 1.0, and archery and shooting competitions.

In May, the city hosted and bagged the overall title in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association.

The city likewise funded sports-related infrastructure projects like the Ormoc Fencing and Modern Penthalon Hall, Ormoc Skate Park, Ormoc Badminton Center and Athletes’ Dormitory.

“As a city, we are setting the stage so that people will keep on coming. They are free for the people. We do not charge but that doesn’t mean that they do not spend here in Ormoc,” Gomez said.

Ormoc City earned three awards for hosting from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines’ Pearl Awards 2024 during the national convention in South Cotabato on Oct. 9 to 12, including the grand award in Best Sports Tourism for the Philippine Summer Ball Dancesport Championship last year.

During his State of the City Address on Monday, Gomez acknowledged all local government workers for their services.

“No job is ever too big or small. We all need each other, and we all have to be there for each other,” Gomez said.

“We are 3,993-strong and sure, perhaps imperfect but efficient, always determined. We are a coming together of different circumstances but share a singular vision of making Ormoc shine,” she added.

Ormoc City, with a population of 230,998, is the economic, cultural, commercial, and transportation hub of western Leyte. (PNA)