A SOLID NO

After Sunrise events tags Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco as the only person standing in the way of Plan B, Frasco reiterates her decision not to allow the Ironman to close two major roads for the race’s bike course

“No deal.” This was what Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco said with finality in denying the request of the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship to close the main roads of the northern town to give way to the bike leg of the race on Aug. 5.

Organizer Sunrise Events had hoped that Plan B, a bike leg unfolding in Northern Cebu, would go ahead after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña denied their request to use the Cebu South Coastal Road again this year.

Sunrise Events’ Princess Galura along with representatives of the Cebu Provincial Government met with Mayor Frasco and recommended the total closure of two major roads—the North Coastal Road and the National Highway—the only direct access from the North, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. without presenting an alternative for motorists.

“I think I’ve been very clear from the start. They need to be able to offer more than the complete shutdown of our only access to and from Liloan and to the North,” Frasco told Superbalita Cebu.

Frasco also addressed a report tagging her as the only person who stands in the way of finalizing the bike course in northern Cebu.

“It is unfortunate that Ms. Galura has singled me out for taking a stand in behalf of the people of Liloan and the people of Cebu, who will be greatly inconvenienced by the closure... from the start, Liloan has had no part in the organization or planning of this event. Why is it that the burden of Ironman’s potential failure has now been unfairly passed on to Liloan?” said Frasco in her official Facebook page.

“It’s not my job to think of an

alternative route because this is not my event, that is their responsibility. My responsibility is to the people of Liloan,” Frasco said.

Galura said that they had an alternative route planned but they still haven’t presented it yet.

“The alternative route kasi within Liloan we have something kaya nga lang di pa siya naprepresent. Kung sinabi na niya na no, maghahanap nalang kami sa labas ng iba.” Galura added. Galura told Superbalita Cebu that they have scheduled a meeting with Liloan officials on Monday but that has been cancelled because of other commitments.

Galura added that they are bent on coming up with a better alternative for the bike course.

“We have to have the race. We have to find an alternative route, we have to have a bike course. So if they say no, we have to do it somewhere else.”

“The main objective is really to have the race that will be good for Cebu and the participants. This is the crown jewel of Asia and it’s the Asia Pacific Championships, we cannot just give them something that we did not think about or is not the best experience,” Galura said. /

From the start, Liloan has had no part in the organization or planning of this event. Why is it that the burden of Ironman’s potential failure has now been unfairly passed on to Liloan? CHRISTINA FRASCO

Liloan Mayor

The main objective is really to have the race that will be good for Cebu and the participants. This is the crown jewel of Asia and it’s the Asia-Pacific Championships. We cannot just give them something that we did not think about or is not the best experience.

PRINCESS GALURA Sunrise Events