Liloan won’t close roads for Ironman race
Organizers of this year’s Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships have encountered another challenge.
Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco does not want her town to be included in the race route as this might cause a massive traffic jam that will affect commuters going to and from northern Cebu.
But Frasco said she is willing to change her mind if organizers can provide an alternative route for commuters who would otherwise be stranded.
Capitol officials were worried that Liloan’s refusal will affect this year’s race.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page, Frasco said she found out that Capitol officials and organizers want the national highway and the north coastal road closed for eight hours.
“They said they want entire road closure as their priority is the safety of their athletes. My priority is the welfare of our people,” Franco said, citing the inconvenience to the town’s residents and commuters and the possible loss of income for local vendors and establishments, among others, that may arise if she gives her go-ahead to the plan.
“These major high-capacity roads provide the only direct access to and from Liloan and the north of Cebu. If closed for eight hours, over 100,000 people in Liloan will not have mobility. Combined with Consolacion, Compostela, Danao, and Carmen, plus commuters, the Ironman road closures will affect half a million people,” she added.
Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale, for her part, said Frasco’s announcement surprised her.
However, she urged organizers to use a newly discovered alternative route from Barangay Talamban in Cebu City to Compostela.
In a separate interview, Atty. Ramil Abing, Provincial Sports Commission executive director, said Mayor Frasco’s concern is legitimate and he respects her decision.
Last week, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also refused to allow the bike leg on the Cebu South Coastal Road as that could cause a massive traffic jam.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Meanwhile, Princess Galura, general manager of Sunrise Events Inc., the company behind the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, told SunStar Cebu that they are still working on a feasible route in northern Cebu for the 90-kilometer bike segment.
“I think we have some good progress today (on our meeting and preparation). But I don’t want to preempt it,” she said.
When asked about Frasco’s post, Galura said: “I don’t know if it’s final. They have promised to come back to me.”
Organizers have met with the mayors of Consolacion, Compostela, Danao City, Mandaue City, Carmen and Liloan to discuss plans to use their roads as routes for the 90-kilometer bike segment.
The Ironman race is set on Aug. 5 with more than 2,500 participants from different countries. The 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21-kilometer run race will start in the Shangri-La Mactan Resort & Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
The swim portion and run segment will be held in LapuLapu City. Only the bike part will leave Mactan Island.