Paoay Lake holds 3rd Int’l Rowing Competition

Highlighting the outstanding potentials of Ilocos Norte’s Paoay Lake as venue for international rowing events, the Paoay Lake International Regatta is set to comeback on its third year on October 30 to November 1, 2015.

The Paoay Lake, which has been proclaimed by the Philippine Rowing Association last year “as one of the three official rowing sites in the country” together with the “La Mesa Dam and the Pasig River,” is now established as a part of the regatta circuit in Asia.

“Paoay Lake is now on the map (of international rowing events) and is already a part of the regatta circuit in Asia,” noted Governor Imee R. Marcos during a press conference.

The Asian regatta circuit comprises of different popular countries in the Asian region like Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand that organize various regatta competitions participated by delegates across the world.

Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte Sports Development Office (INSDO) revealed that the Paoay Boat Club, the first ever group dedicated to rowing in Ilocos Norte, will compete in this year’s competition.

“The Paoay Boat Club has members from the Mariano Marcos State University and Northwestern University. They will race against the Manila Boat Club and rowers from Asia, Australia and United Kingdom.”

Delegates of the previous regatta events in Paoay Lake included the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious boat clubs in the world.

Governor Marcos added that international participants are delighted with the location of the Paoay Lake because of its convenient distance from the Laoag International Airport.

“In Malaysia and the rest of the ASEAN countries that host rowing events, delegates have to travel for at least four hours on a rough road before reaching the rowing site,” she noted.

The majestic Paoay Lake, which spans a 387-hectare body of water located a few kilometers south of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, is also a host to diverse biodiversity and some migratory birds including the Great Cormorants.

Since 2012, Governor Marcos developed the Paoay Lake as one of the leading attractions in Ilocos Norte’s provincial tourism campaign, ‘Paoay Kumakaway!’

The Paoay International Regatta 2015 is organized by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte together with the Manila Boat Club.—John Michael Mugas, PGIN-CMO