THE Bohol Paddlers Association (BPA) will hold a dragon boat competition in line with the celebration of Sandugo Festival in the province July next year.

The activity, with the theme “Bugsay sa Pag-Abante,” will be the first to be held since it started in 2013, which was suspended to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the support of Governor Erico Aris Aumentado.

BPA president Dr. Theodore Dumaluan said in a press conference on Monday, November 21,2022, that up to 30 paddler groups, including those from the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will join the event.

Each group is composed of 12 persons.

Dumaluan said the resumption of the tournament is their way of showing to the people that the situation in the province has gradually returned to normal after the pandemic, as well as paying tribute to retired Major General Charlie Holganza, who initiated the water sport in the province.

“We want to show that the province is an ideal place for the competition since the water here is calm from Tagbilaran City to the municipality of Panglao. Even though if there is storm signal no. 1, the water is still calm,” Dumaluan said.

"Ultimately, the goal is about the economic stability of the community," he added.

The 200-meter race will be held in the seas off Tagbilaran City.

The winners will receive P15,000 for the first place, P100,000 for the second place, P75,000 (third place), P50,000 (fourth place), P25,000 (fifth to 10th place).

Prior to the competition, the BPA will be holding a mangrove-planting activity.

Meanwhile, the group is also planning to bring the tournament in dams in the province to highlight the importance of watershed areas. (BBT, TPT)