ILOILO City – The 2020 edition of the Paraw Regatta Festival this Feb. 23 to March 1 has been called off over concerns on the possible spread of the novel coronavirus scare (2019-nCoV).
This is the second major local event postponed due to the nCoV scare.
On Tuesday, the Department of Education Region 6 announced the postponement of the 2020 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in Aklan.
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced Paraw Regatta’s postponement yesterday after consulting with the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI).
Paraw Regatta is a race of wind-propelled native boats. Now on its 48th year, it is considered the oldest sailing event in Asia and the largest in the Philippines.
“The postponement is for everyone’s safety,” said Treñas.
There is no confirmed case yet of nCoV infection in this city, Iloilo province and the rest of Western Visayas, according to DOH-6 yesterday.
But according to Treñas, he decided on the postponement because “want to protect the Ilonggo people from nCoV.”
Paraw Regatta was established nearly half a century ago primarily to preserve the paraw as a significant link to the earliest period of Ilonggo history.
The paraw is a small boat with two stabilizers and was widely used for travel and trade in the 1200s. Up to this day, it is still being used as a means of transport as well a source of livelihood.
Treñas said Paraw Regatta may be staged next month “if the situation gets better.”
A strikingly fast boat, the paraw makes 20 kph to 30 kph through the waves. It was the prototype that inspired Westerners to develop the trimaran, the fastest sailboats now on the planet.
As of Feb. 4, DOH-6 recorded a total of 10 persons under investigation (PUI) for nCoV in Western Visayas. Six of these PUIs were from Aklan, two from Negros Occidental, and two from Iloilo City.
PUIs are individuals who have fever or respiratory infection and a history of travel to China within the last 14 days or a history of exposure to a confirmed 2019-nCoV case.
The 2019-nCoV originated in China’s Wuhan City.
DOH data showed that seven of the 10 PUI were already discharged from the hospital while five were already tested negative for the 2019-nCoV. The test results of the others were yet to be released.
DOH-6 emphasized that it was closely working with local government units and concerned government agencies to intensify case detection and surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures.
Those who have travelled to countries with positive 2019-nCoV cases are encouraged to coordinate with their local health offices and have themselves checked should they experience fever or respiratory diseases.
The public is also advised to remember “NCOV” when they hear or read information about this virus – Never share unverified news/articles; Check your sources before sharing; Only source information from DOH official channels; and Verify news information at www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV and Department of Health Western Visayas CHD facebook page.
The DOH can also be reached through its Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) Hotline No. (033) 332-2575 and 332-2329 local 149./PN
