Davao del Norte to host triathlon event in 2017

DAVAO del Norte – The Province of Davao del Norte will host a national triathlon event next year, as part of the 50th founding anniversary of the province.

Governor Anthony del Rosario said the provincial government will organize the multiple-stage competition to promote the province’s prominence as an agriculture, culture and ecology (ACE) tourism destination.

Open water and trails for swimming, cycling, and running will feature the ‘island to highland’ experience set in a unique mix of lush natural landscapes, verdant agriculture and rich cultural heritage tourism that are a must-see in the province.

“It will be the most anticipated event and we promise to make it the best triathlon competition in the country,” he said.

In preparation for the event, the governor recently went to Albay to observe the Mt. Mayon Triathlon 2016, together with Provincial Sports Coordinator Giovanni Gulanes and Provincial Information Officer Sofonias Gabonada, Jr.

Del Rosario expects over 500 participants to take part in the competition, top billed by international triathletes and local celebrities.

It can be recalled that the province hosted the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, which was tagged by sports officials, athletes and spectators as the “best Palaro ever”.

Buoyed by the success of previous regional and national sporting events mainly staged at its modern Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex, the province has been exploring possibilities of hosting international sporting events.

The province expressed its bid to co-host the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019. A team from the Philippine Sports Commission recently visited the province to check on Davao del Norte’s capacity to stage some events in the international competition.

The governor has already organized Task Force Singkwenta, which will take charge of the year-long preparation leading up to the grand jubilee of the 50th Araw ng Davao del Norte next year.