DIPOLOG CITY, Oct. 5 (PIA) - The city's famed annual walk dubbed "Alay Lakad" once again filled the streets of Dipolog at the crack of dawn earlier this week as hundreds of Dipolognons join the parade.

Throngs of residents, students, government employees and other sectoral representatives participated the event which took-off from the Dipolog Boulevard, its assembly area, going to Dipolog Sports Complex, in Barangay Olingan.

The local government unit of Dipolog, in collaboration with the Alay Lakad Council spearheaded the yearly event that aimed to gather more funds for its scholars.

The 'Alay Lakad' event has been going on for quite some time already, almost three decades in counting, and was able to produce several professionals from its list of scholars over the years.

At present, it is supporting about 105 students who are enrolled at different private and public colleges and universities in the province, on a four-year course.

According to Juniel Fideles, focal person of the Alay Lakad, the number of scholars has been increasing since its inception, and several fund-raising activities has been added to the regular annual walk, such as the Mr. and Ms. Alay Lakad, and Raffle Draws to augment the funds needed for the scholars.

This year, the raffle draws reward P30 thousand as first prize, P20 thousand as second prize, and P10 thousand as third prices, respectively. Twenty-five kilos of rice were also given as consolation prize.

Dipolog City Mayor Darel Dexter Uy, together with the rest of the Alay Lakad Council expressed their gratitude to all participating groups and organizations who contributed to the successful conduct of the event.

Among the government agencies and non-government organizations who attended the annual walk included the uniformed personnel of Dipolog City Police Station, Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, public and private schools, barangay councils, NGOs, civic organizations, some fraternities, business establishments, and many others. (RVC/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte/with reports from City Government of Dipolog)