ILOILO City Mayor Jerry Treñas has postponed all events and activities of Paraw Regatta Festival in Iloilo City this February due to threat of the novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
"I have no choice but to postpone our Paraw Regatta this February and other big events," Treñas said.
The decision came after the consultation meeting with the Department of Health (DOH), City Health Office focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., and Fulbert Woo.
Treñas said he decided to postpone all the Paraw Regatta activities for the health security of the people of the city, especially the children.
"Let us see this March if we can still have the Paraw Regatta, then we will make the decision when the time comes," Treñas said.
Postponed are the Miss Paraw Regatta and other related activities, Slalom Race, Paraw Photo Contest, Jet Ski Competition, Sinamba sa Regatta, Lighted Paraw, Pinta Tawo, and the Main Sailing Race.
"I hope they will understand that we are doing this as a precautionary measure especially there are persons under investigation," Treñas said.
He said Iloilo City is prepared for the 2019-nCoV ARD. "We tried as much as possible to be prepared. We want to be ahead of the situation and not surprised and we are in touch always with the DOH."
Paraw Regatta Festival or Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is an annual festival held in February or March in the Villa de Arevalo district, Iloilo City.
Its highlight, the sailboat race, will be held on Iloilo Strait and has a 30-kilometer race course.
Paraw, a Visayan term for double outrigger sail boat, started in 1973, making it the oldest wind sailing event in Asia and the largest sailing event in the Philippines.
It is one of Iloilo City’s tourism events along with the Dinagyang Festival, Kasadyahan Festival, Chinese New Year festival and the February 2 Jaro Candelaria Fiesta.