DAPA, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte – The 1st Dapa Siargao International Dragon Boat Festival 2023 opened on Friday, July 14, on Dapa Sunrise Boulevard here.
Five international dragon boat teams and 28 national teams, led by the Philippine Navy, are competing in the four-day event.
The five overseas teams are Titans Dubai, Hong Kong University Dragon Boat Team, IDBC Singapore Barbarian Red, IDBC Singapore Barbarian Black, and Filipino Dragon Singapore.
From Luzon, participating teams are Philippine Navy Dragon Boat Team, last year’s champion, and the PYROS Dragon Boat Team.
From the Visayas are the Black Manta Warriors, Calbayog Hibatang Paddlers, Cancabato Wild Dragons, Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat Team, ORYX Dragon Boat Team, and United Dragonhearts.
Representing Mindanao are the Amihan Dragon Boat Team, Barangay Carmen Dragon Boat Team, Cantilan Red Dragons, CGY Oro Dragons Dragon Boat Team, FSUU Blue Dragons, FSUU Butuan Dragons, Gladiators Davao, Golden City Paddlers, Isla Siargao Dragon Boat Team, Kampilan Dragon Boat Team, Rapid Riders, RMMC Bluefins Dragon Boat Team A, RMMC Bluefins Dragon Boat Team B, Samal Dragonboat Team, and C.E.B.U. Dragons Siargao.
This year’s race which has a distance of 300 meters has three categories – open, all-man, and women and mixed.
Organizers said crews must compete in all categories to qualify for the overall ranking.
Aside from trophies, plaques, and consolation prizes, winners will receive close to P1 million in prizes.
During the first day on Friday, special cash awards for Best in Parade and Team Presentation will be given.
Dapa municipal officials led by Mayor Elizabeth T. Matugas will welcome participants in a dinner here on Friday. Former Surigao del Norte Gov. now Rep. Francisco T. Matugas, Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose “Bongo” F. Matugas, and other municipal officials led by General Luna Mayor Sol F. Matugas, a former governor of Surigao del Norte, were invited to attend.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senators Robin Padilla and Francis Tolentino, Tourism Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, and presidential son William Vincent Marcos were also invited to attend the event.
Department of Tourism (DOT)-13 Director Ivonnie B. Dumadag said on Friday that the influx of tourists for the event will boost the local economy and generate revenues for various sectors here.
“This dragon boat festival and other sea competitions in the coming months in this Paradise Island of Siargao will surely boost the economy and also help the local businesses.”
DOT-13 Tourism Operations Officer Kylee Doreene O. Plaza said that the hospitality of the people with the close cooperation of the local government units and stakeholders will spur the tourism industry on the island.
“The ongoing dragon boat festival and other upcoming events that will take place in a few months, including the world surfing cup and international game fishing tournament, will surely gather big number of tourists both foreign and domestic,” Plaza said.