(Graphics grabbed from 1st Dapa Siargao International Dragon Boat Festival Facebook Page)
BUTUAN CITY – The Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office (SDNPPO) has set up measures to secure the 1st Dapa Siargao International Dragon Boat Festival slated on July 14 to 16 in Siargao Island.
“Security measures are already in place as Dapa town gears up to welcome international and local participants to the sports event,” Maj. Dorothy Tumulak, SDNPPO information chief, said in an interview Monday.
More than 100 police personnel will be mobilized to provide security for the upcoming event, Tumulak said.
Col. Laudemer Laude, SDNPPO director, said part of the police force's specialized units will "provide security coverage for the duration of the sports event."
SDNPPO has already coordinated with local government units to strengthen community engagement and heighten public awareness regarding security measures, Laude said.
Recovery
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism in the Caraga Region (DOT-13) Director Ivonne Dumadag said the dragon boat competition in Dapa aims to promote another water sports event on Siargao Island and is expected to spur domestic and international travels.
“The staging of the event is part of the recovery efforts of the Dapa local government following economic setbacks due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the devastation of typhoon Odette that hit the island in December 2021,” Dumadag said.
She added that the international event is expected to forge better partnerships with key tourism stakeholders in the efforts to promote emerging tourism products in the Caraga Region.
“Of the 28 teams with 918 athletes who already registered to join the sports event, five were from overseas,” Dumadag said.
The five overseas teams include the Filipino Dragons Singapore with 43 members; the Hongkong University Dragon Boat Team with 38; the IDBC Singapore Barbarians RED, 25; IDBC Singapore Barbarians BLACK,19; and the Titans Dubai, 46.
Among the 918 athletes to compete during the race is Nef Luczon, the bureau chief of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in Northern Mindanao.
Luczon is part of the Rapid Riders, a dragon boat team from Cagayan del Oro City.
“The CDO-based Rapid Riders includes in its 33 crew list 1st Lt. Roca Casing, a person with disability from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Barangay Patag,” Lucson said in a phone interview on Monday.
The rest of the teams will come from Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and the different parts of Mindanao, including the local dragon boat teams from Siargao Island and the Caraga Region. (PNA)
