GMA 7 backs Laguna Lake ultra marathon relay

MANILA, Philippines - The Laguna Lake Development Authority and GMA 7 are staging the 200-kilometer Laguna de Bay Ultra Marathon relay race on May 1-2 with an aim of raising environmental awareness for the preservation of Laguna de Bay.

LLDA general manager Edgar Manda and GMA executive Felipe Yalong have joined hands to organize the two-day event to be run in a route surrounding the scenic lake.

“Aside from creating greater awareness on the strategic value and present condition of the Laguna de Bay, the event hopes to mobilize civic participation for the conservation and protection of the lake and its watershed,” said Manda during the press launch at GMA’s Network Center yesterday.

“We don’t think twice in supporting events like this one,” said Yalong, GMA senior vice president for finance.

The race will be flagged off at the Fonte Verde in Pasig City and goes through Sucat, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Calauan and Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Day One before proceeding to Siniloan, Jala Jala, Tanay, Binangonan and back to Pasig on Day Two.

Manda said 40 teams with seven members each are expected to compete.

Each team will have five runners, with at least one runner of opposite sex, a crew of two persons and a service vehicle.

A runner of each team will be designated one leg per day.

The winning squad earns top prize worth P350,000 while the second and third placers will pocket P200,000 and P100,000, respectively.