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Friday, May 26, 2006
3,000 boy scouts here for international urban jamboree
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
THE second BIMP-Eaga Urban Scout Jamboree starts Friday at the PTA Grounds in Davao City.
The event, which is expected to gather at least 3,000 boy scouts from BIMP-Eaga and other participating countries such as Ghana and South Korea, will end on June 2.
With the theme "Shared Culture for Peace and Unity", the eight-day jamboree aims to foster camaraderie among the youth of BIMP-Eaga member countries.
The opening rites start at 3:30 p.m. today with City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to welcome delegates and officials of various Boy Scout councils.
Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP)-Davao City Council chair and jamboree camp chief Wendel Avisado will declare the eight-day jamboree open.
Avisado said the City Government will also host a welcome dinner for delegates and other guests.
Among the objectives of this year's urban jamboree is to provide activities for scouts and scouters to share their cultures and appreciate the culture of others while promoting a spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect.
Aside from this, the jamboree also intends to create an avenue that will foster peace and unity in spite of varying cultures and ideologies through challenging, adventurous, and cooperative activities.
Avisado said the city has been monitoring every detail of the preparation to ensure the success of the international jamboree.
"The security aspect has been taken up and it will continue to be monitored. All systems are in place and therefore we expect a smooth and successful holding of the jamboree," Avisado said.
He said the City Government has set aside a total of P8.1 million for hosting the jamboree, of which P3.1 million is for the refurbishing of the PTA Grounds and P5 million for contingency plan.
He said the BSP national council has also allotted about P3 million for the event.
In line with its theme and objectives, the events of the jamboree are grouped into five categories: main activities, special activities, arena shows, evening shows, and special gatherings.
The main activities, namely the global development village, cultural exchange, jambo race, sea challenge, and tour, are to challenge the scouters' proficiency in problem solving and heighten their awareness of each other's culture.
Global development village, for one, will showcase global issues on health, environment, science and technology, peace, and human rights.
This activity will enable the scouters to understand societies' principal development problems and equip them with information on how to react to these problems in their own societies.
The cultural exchange, meanwhile, will encourage interaction and exchange of ideas on cultural diversity among scouters.
The special activities will focus more on enhancing the skills of scouters and training them on scouting techniques. These activities consist of high and low ropes, back-to-basics, arts and crafts, water rescue/survival, emergency preparedness, and a BIMP-Eaga quiz show.
Arena shows include jambo fiesta, fancy drill competition, and evening cultural presentation. The evening shows to be held are the Davao Night, International Night, Luzon Night, Visayas Night, and Mindanao Night. On the other hand, the jamboree's special gatherings will comprise of the Eagle Scout Conclave, Rover Gathering, and Wood Badge Reunion.
The Parent Teachers Association of Davao City's Athletic Grounds or more commonly known as PTA Grounds will be the site of this year's Urban Jamboree.
The PTA's location in the city's urban area and its proximity to four public schools made it a very conducive setting for the Jamboree. The neighboring schools' buildings and facilities will serve as jamboree offices, staff quarters and activity centers.
The BIMP-Eaga and the Boy Scout Councils of its member countries spearhead this year's jamboree in collaboration with the Davao City Government.
Davao City is the second city to host the said Jamboree after Sarawak, Malaysia. It is still part of the measures that the BIMP-Eaga is undertaking to further strengthen linkages among its member countries and to accelerate socio-economic growth in the region.
To ensure that traffic flow will be smooth and in order during the event, TMC chief Celso Gempesaw said they have cleared city streets from obstructions.
"Ang preparation sa TMC is quite fast, we have reached up to Calinan in preparing, we cleared streets of possible obstructions and set-up traffic signages from Ulas to Calinan," Gempesaw said.
Gempesaw said these areas include Calinan District, where the Philippine Eagle can be found, and the Aldivinco Shopping Center.
"Katong mga illegal loading, unloading and illegal parking gipapahawa nato. So medyo hapsay na kay ang atong systema dili man gud kung kanus-a lang kinihanglan, mao ra atong gitrabaho. And immediately after sa Boy Scout event, whether there are other activities or not the system will continue," he said.
He said the TMC will strictly implement the temporary closure of Palma Gil Street, from the corner of Ponciano street, up to the corner of Camus street during the event.
Gempesaw tells affected jeepney drivers to use Bonifacio street. (With Medco)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 26, 2006 issue)
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