RUN FOR WPS. Coast Guard Seaman First Class Arnold Merin shows his finisher medal along with other runners at the "Takbo para sa WPS" on Sunday (Sept. 8, 2024). Merin, who hailed from Surigao del Norte, finished the 16-kilometer category. (Photo courtesy of CGSN1 Merin)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Government authorities on Sunday further intensified their campaign to protect the sovereign rights of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with the culmination of "Takbo para sa WPS".
At the closing ceremony here, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela underscored the importance of Mindanao being part of the efforts to protect WPS, citing it is a national concern and that every Filipino must stand for it.
"Our stand and our run for WPS here in Cagayan de Oro is evidence that every Filipino is uniting to stand for WPS because our fight for WPS is a fight for every Filipino," he said.
The "Takbo para sa WPS" is a marathon event organized by the PCG and Presidential Communications Office under the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
Philippine Information Agency's Director General, Jose Torres Jr., said the activity is a call to action by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect the WPS, especially the islands.
"We will not give it up even how small the places there in WPS," Torres said.
Sunday's marathon consists of four distance categories from two to 16 kilometers.
Over 1,500 runners participated in the event.
Among the finishers was PCG's Seaman First Class Arnold Merin, who traveled to the city to join the event.
Merin is a marathon enthusiast who represented the Coast Guard Station Surigao del Norte and finished the 16-kilometer category. (PNA)
