Basilan gears up for first triathlon event

ISABELA CITY — The TRI-Basilan 2026 on Sunday, Nov. 8, marks a historic milestone as the island province hosts a triathlon event for the first time at the Pahali White Beach Resort in Malamawi Island. The bike-swim-run competition was designed to promote peace, athleticism, and economic recovery, highlighting the dramatic stabilization of law and order that has opened Basilan to large-scale sports tourism and commercial investments. Organizers are anticipating that the triathlon event will draw regional athletes and visitors while highlighting Basilan’s improved security climate and eco-tourism potential. In preparation for the sports spectacle, military personnel, local officials, and civic groups assembled at Malamawi Island on Oct. 28 for an extensive environmental clean-up drive across primary race routes. The readiness initiative was spearheaded by the 1101st Infantry (Gagandilan) Brigade under BGen. Frederick Sales to ensure the island’s coastline is pristine and safe for participants, delegates and spectators. Sales said that maintaining environmental cleanliness directly supports public safety while showcasing Malamawi Island as a premier, secure destination for eco-tourism. The coastal clean-up also served as an operational trial for inter-agency coordination between security forces, local government units, and civil society groups ahead of the major sports gathering. The joint environmental effort underscored the province’s ongoing transformation from historical...