SIXTEEN–YEAR-OLD Cazan Clyde Carreon led 249 other bike enthusiasts and topped the civilian category of the first RD Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera: Padyak Tungo sa Pagbabago 2017 at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet.
The one-day race saw participants from the different parts of the region composed of civilian and Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel starting at La Trinidad Municipal Police Station and ended at the at PRO–Cordillera grandstand.
James Dacayanan checked in second with Sonny Lamsis placing third in the race which also saw PNP personnel, Aritao Bikers Club, Malpetak Bikers of Kalinga, and biker enthusiasts from Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and PDEA personnel joining the fun race.
“We are hitting two birds with one stone. This event brings the participants closer and proceeds from it will fund community based rehabilitation centers to help drug surenderees in the region,” said PRO -COR regional director Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona.
Special Awards were also given to 71–year–old and retired Senior Superintendent Brigildo Balabaas the oldest finisher, Marjorie Velo (lady finisher award) while siblings Ren Henry Tarnate, 5, and Willer Ander Tarnate, 8, were given special tokens as the youngest finishers.
Highlight of the program is the presentation of a cheque to the Department of Health (DOH) received by Dr. Clarette Rosario, Medical Specialist II and Dr. Shelly Aral, Medical Officer IV representing Baguio Rehab Center and Dr. Mary Josephine Dulawan, representing the Ifugao Reflection Camp.
PRO-Cordillera initiated the race to help defray rehabilitation expenses of drug surenderers in the region and geared towards bringing awareness to a healthier lifestyle and attaining a stronger sense of camaraderie among the participants.
From July 1, 2016 to April 20 this year, drug surenderers in the region has reached 10,818.
Sarona meanwhile is appreciative of the apparent close collaboration of the PNP and the different stakeholders who showed full support in this particular endeavor.
The region’s top cop also urged the public and other stake holders to fully support the fund raising activities for drug surenderees and enjoined everyone to support the government in its campaign against illegal drugs to lessen if not totally eliminate the drug menace in the region. (Shaura Elaine Cuyan/UC intern)