(PNA) -- The first-ever dragon boat race in Cebu will be held on May 23 in Bogo City, Northern Cebu.

“We have been planning about this a long time ago already,” said Randy Su, a commissioner of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) in an interview here with the Philippine News Agency Saturday night.

“This is one of our alternative sports program,” said Su, president of the Habagat Outdoor Equipment and organizer of the Carera Habagat Adventure Race.

Local paddlers and would-be paddlers in Cebu were also invited to first join the two-day basic dragon boat clinic on May 21-22.

The clinic will be conducted by a national coach from Manila and from the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.

“We also have invited two dragon boat teams from Bohol to play for exhibition races on May 23,” said Su, also a kayaker and mountaineer.

The dragon boat event is part of the Bogo City’s fiesta celebration which will also have its annual bacarera race.

“We have lots of potential dragon boat paddlers especially in the municipalities and provinces of Cebu,” Su added.

CPSC is planning to buy two units of 10-satr dragon boats, which will be used for the training of CPSC’s dragon boat teams.

Each unit, which will cost PHP150,000, will be made by a Bohol-based manufacturer.

"We also want to hold an international dragon boat race here in Cebu soon,” Su said. (PNA) FFC/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP