CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government kicked off the first Kagay-an International Dragon Boat Fiesta Race with 19 competing teams on Saturday, August 19.
RACE official Prisicilla Castillo (left), Hong Kong Dragon Boat Net Founder Edwin Hou (second from the left), Councilor John Michael Seno (center), Department of Tourism-Region 10 Director Marie Ellaine Unchuan (second from right), and Kagay-an Dragon Boat Race Coordinator Kim Lao (right) answer questions from the media during the first Kagay-an International Dragon Boat Fiesta Race press conference at the New Dawn Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City, on Saturday, August 19. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Prior to the start of the competition proper, a short program was held in Isla de Oro here where a Chinese ritual was performed and local officials gave their messages hoping for a successful event.
Participants were given an opportunity to warm up to enable them to have better body conditions during the race.
Race official Prisicilla Castillo said a total of 19 teams, or 700 participants, are competing in the two-day event, one of the core activities of this year’s Higalaay Festival here.
There are five competing teams from the Davao region, two from Iligan, four teams from this city and Visayas, and one team each from General Santos City, Zamboanga Peninsula, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Apart from providing the equipment needed for the competition, the city government tightened security by deploying personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during the race at the Cagayan de Oro River.
City Tourism Officer Rico Libre also said that the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) has been deployed to assist participants as some of them are from different parts of the country and abroad.
"Our security plan is from the Laguindingan Airport until such time that they would go home. Actually, we are deploying about 216 personnel, or if I’m not mistaken, 198 personnel, both PNP, Coast Guard, Task Force Oro, and some of the volunteers and forced multipliers," Libre said in a press conference on Friday, August 18.
DRAGON boats are prepared for the competition on the Cagayan de Oro River on Saturday, August 19. (Cagayan de Oro City Information Office Facebook live screengrab)
The city government has allocated P1.6 million for the competition, covering prizes, medals, food, and accommodation for the international race officials.
Champion will receive a trophy, medals, and P50,000. Trophies, medals, and cash will be awarded to runners-up.
The event aims to promote Cagayan de Oro as one of the top tourist and sports destinations in the country.