More than 700 runners gathered before dawn on July 31 at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex, closing this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month with the third CDRRMC Fun Run, an event that city officials increasingly view as more than a sporting competition.
The participants came from nearly every corner of the community. Government employees ran alongside police officers and other uniformed personnel. Private companies joined organized running clubs, while children and senior citizens shared the same starting line, illustrating the city’s effort to make disaster preparedness a responsibility carried beyond emergency responders.
Competitors raced in three divisions, 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers and 15 kilometers, following routes through Puerto Princesa’s major roads. But the finish line was only part of the objective.
City disaster managers have increasingly framed resilience as something built long before calamity strikes, arguing that preparedness also depends on healthy communities capable of responding when emergencies occur.
Leading the winners’ circle were members of the Puerto Princesa Runners Club. JM Mayores captured the 5-kilometer title, Steven Fresnillo won the 10-kilometer race, while Jesfer Sabanes emerged victorious in the 15-kilometer category after crossing the finish line in 59 minutes and six seconds.
The event also recognized participants at opposite ends of the age spectrum. Six-year-old Brianna Tecson was honored as the youngest runner, while Glenn Sabino and Ernesto Ledesma received recognition as the oldest finishers, underscoring the broad public participation organizers sought to encourage.
Awards, medals and plaques were presented by Shiela Marie S. Reyes of the Office of Civil Defense–Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council MIMAROPA and Earl H. Timbancaya, head of the Puerto Princesa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Now on its third year, the annual fun run has become one of the city’s closing activities for National Disaster Resilience Month, reflecting a wider effort to promote preparedness through community engagement rather than emergency simulations alone.
This year’s observance carried the theme, “Naghahanda at Kumikilos Tungo sa Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” reinforcing the city government’s campaign to strengthen public awareness of disaster resilience by encouraging wider participation from Puerto Princesans.
