Mt.Apo eco-sporting events will make a major comeback after a year’s postponement due to the fire incident that led to the its closure from mountaineers.
In a media briefing on Tuesday at ROX Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City, Mt.Apo Sky and Vertical Race organizer Romualdo “Doi” Calbes who also discussed the details of this year’s Boulder Face Challenge, said he registered the events to three of the biggest international organizations.
“These are International Trail Racing Association , Asia Trail Master, and Ultra Trail Mount Blanc,” said Calbes who added these lured several foreigners to sign up on the events.
Calbes said these participants come from Thailand, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
“Based on history, we have few to no foreign participants because they are not familiar with the trail and no time to practice on the trail unlike our locals,” said Julius Paner, Municipal Tourism Officer of Sta.Cruz, Davao del Sur.
Paner added, the local government assured that safety and security will be observed as they will coordinate with the PNP.
“On the fire incident, we will have coordinated with PAMB (Protected Area Management Board) of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who will also send participants join the runners up to the peak to monitor them,” said Paner
Although none of the proceeds will be allocated for the rehabilitation of Mt.Apo, the municipal tourism officer said the LGU has already allocated PhP500,000 for the tree-growing activity and another PhP1 million for the Pista sa Kasinayaan, Sta.Cruz’ environmental festival.
“Sta.Cruz is Davao’s gateway to Mt.Apo that’s why we have the only environmental festival in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Calbes stressed that one of the advocacies of Mt.Apo events is the gender responsiveness which aims to encourage females to participate on this male-dominated arena.
He added slots are still available for the race especially on the female category.
Registration fee for Mt.Apo Sky and Vertical Race is PhP3,500 for 70km and PhP1,500 for 35km category.
Included on the fee are event and finisher shirt, finisher’s medal, trophies for top 3 finishers, logistics, trail fee, post-race meal, and prizes.
Meanwhile for the Mt.Apo Boulder Face Challenge, registration fee is PhP2,500 for Individual Open Elite Category, and PhP4,000 for each team on All-Male and All-Female Categories.
Winners could bring home cash prize of PhP70,000 for champion, PhP50,000 for 2nd place, and PhP30,000 for 3rd place.
Visit Davao Fun Sale will run from April 16 to May 31, 2017 featuring offerings in airfare, accommodations, tours, dining, shopping, beauty and wellness, as well as sporting events, arts and nightlife.
The Visit Davao Fun Sale is organized by the Davao Fun Sale Execom in partnership with the Department of Tourism and co presented by the City Government of Davao, AirAsia, Bonamine, BPI Cards, Cebu Pacific and Tanduay.
For this year, VDFS has once again partnered with ROX Abreeza Ayala Mall, Davao City which will provide the trail apparels of the participants and offer 15 percent discount on the gears and accessories.
