PUERTO Princesa is positioning itself as a potential long-term hub for paddling development, with the Philippine Paddling Federation using the city as a grassroots base while also exploring its potential to host international teams for training camps.
Philippine Paddling Federation president and Philippine national dragonboat team head coach Leonora “Len” Escollante highlighted the growing program during the second day of the Sports and Youth Summit in Puerto Princesa, where PSC Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio also visited the paddling team and watched a demonstration.
Escollante said the grassroots program in Puerto Princesa began in 2024 after Mayor Lucilo “Bayron” Bayron specifically allotted an area for the development of paddling in the city.
“We started actually since 2024, and Mayor Bayron specifically allotted us this area for the development of paddling in Puerto Princesa,” Escollante said.
“So lahat ng grassroots namin ng mga bata is galing talaga dito.”
While Puerto Princesa serves as an important grassroots base, Escollante said the national and junior programs draw athletes from different parts of the country, including Baguio, Samar, Bacolod, Iloilo, Leyte, Ilocos Norte and Davao.
The program is also producing athletes capable of competing internationally.
Escollante said the under-24 team recently competed in Malaysia and returned with two gold medals, with members of that squad now preparing to join the national pool for upcoming international competitions.
“This coming 23 to 26, mayroon tayong World Cup sa Yuanling, China. And after that, diretso po tayo ng World Championships from October 27 to October 3,” Escollante said.
The federation is looking beyond competition results, however, as it sees Puerto Princesa’s climate, location and existing tourism infrastructure as potential advantages in attracting foreign teams for training.
Escollante said teams from other countries, particularly those dealing with winter conditions, could use Puerto Princesa as a training destination.
“Not only national pool, but also the other national teams from different countries, especially if they have winter time, so puwede sila ditong mag-training sa atin,” she said.
“Actually, nagko-contact na po sila. Mayroon na tayong ginagawa mga reservations.”
Escollante acknowledged that accommodation remains an area that needs further development, but said Puerto Princesa’s existing hotel network could help accommodate visiting teams.
“Sabi ko, wala pa kaming accommodation, but we have a lot of hotels here in Puerto Princesa, kaya puwede rin po tayong mag-accommodate sa kanila in the future,” she said.
The city already has an established track record in hosting international paddling events. Puerto Princesa hosted the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships in 2024 and is set to host the 2027 ICF Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships, building on the infrastructure and experience developed from the previous event.
For Escollante, the combination of grassroots development, national-team preparation and the city’s growing sports-tourism profile could make Puerto Princesa an important piece of the country’s long-term paddling ambitions.
“This is talagang potential, not only for the grassroots, of course,” Escollante said. “The entire development of paddling in the Philippines through the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the city government of Puerto Princesa.”
With young paddlers being developed locally and international teams already showing interest in training in the city, Puerto Princesa is looking to turn its waterways into more than just a venue for competition but a training ground for the next generation of Filipino and international paddlers. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
