MEMBERS of Cagayan de Oro City's dragon boat teams Brave Heart, Ateneo Blue Dragons, and Rapid Riders showed up at Duaw Park to help clean the Cagayan River last Wednesday, March 27, marking the start of their cleanup challenge.
The paddlers, who are working professionals, senior high school and college students, picked up garbage floating in the water and scattered along the riverbanks for more than an hour starting around 4 p.m.
John Asuncion of Dragon Boat Kagay-an said the cleanup challenge is an activity initiated by the paddlers to "give back something to the city," especially after the teams bagged championship trophies and medals during the 2nd Panagsangka sa Banawa and 6th Bugsay Mindanao Paddle for Peace which was held last March 17 in Cortes, Surigao del Sur.
"I think this is one of the more notable ug angay nga (and an appropriate) challenge gyud sa mga kabataan nato (for our youth)," Asuncion said, adding that the Dragon Boat Kagay-an has provided the paddlers with cleaning materials such as rakes, dustpans, trash bags, and others.
Timothy Josua Manuel Kiefer of Ateneo Blue Dragons, for his part, said that the cleanup activity is their way of reaching out to people and telling them that "Dragon Boat isn't only a sport but it’s also for speaking for our local environment, especially in our river area."
Asuncion said they conduct the cleanup activity at least monthly, although the paddlers will strive to keep the river clean in between their practice drills by grabbing trash from the waters using a net.
He added that through seeing the efforts of the dragon boat teams, park goers and passersby will also help through practicing proper garbage disposal.
"To everyone, especially the youth, please advocate for what you believe in. And if you believe that advocating for cleaning our rivers, cleaning our environment, and saving the Earth is a great advocacy to you, create a movement. Do not stay stagnant. Please try to save our Earth cause its the only planet we have," Kiefer said.