Philippine Dragon Boat Federation

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation was formally organized in February 2003 with the objective of giving autonomy to various private dragon boat clubs affiliated with the national association for Rowing and Dragon Boat Racing otherwise known as the Amateur Rowing Association of the Philippines (ARAP).

For the past 16 years since the first Philippine participation in the Macao and Hong Kong races, local dragon boat racing has grown tremendously and the sport popularized rapidly. To date, more than thirty teams that have been organized comprising students, professionals, businessmen and military personnel actively participate in quarterly dragon boat races to further enhance the standard of the sport among its members. Aside from the National Team, various club teams did the country proud by outstanding performances in dragon boat races held in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and various cities in China, Japan, Australia, Germany, U.S.A., United Kingdom, and Canada.

The country hosted the 1991 Southeast Asian Games when the dragon boat race events were held under the auspices of ARAP and the recent 2005 25th Southeast Asian Games held in La Mesa Dam, Quezon City under PDBF and ARAP.

Local races have also been organized in different parts of the Philippines particularly in Bulacan, Quezon Province, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Pangasinan, Boracay, Marikina, Bicol and Manila Bay as the center of Dragon Boat Racing.

True to its mission of granting autonomy among its affiliate members, regular meetings are being held to discuss plans for organizational functions and improvements to be implemented, future events and promotional campaigns to be undertaken.

IDBFnewlogo_webThe Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is a Member of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and recognised by the IDBF as the specific Governing Body for Dragon Boating in the Philippines.

The IDBF is the world governing authority for Dragon Boat Sport and the Member International Federation, of SportAccord (the General Association of International Sports Associations) specifically for Dragon Boating. SportAccord is an International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised sports association.

The IDBF is also an International Federation recognised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and is a Founder Member of the Association of International Paddle Sports Federation (AIPSF) .

The PDBF is also a member of the Asian Dragon Boat Federation, South East Asian Traditional Boat Association, The Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.