Liloan junks 8-hour, full road closure request

The Municipality of Liloan did not agree to close two of its main roads fully for eight hours to accommodate the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Philippines-AsiaPacific Championships on August 5, 2018.

In a Facebook post, Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said over “100,000 people in Liloan will not have mobility” if this happens.

Frasco made the decision following a meeting with the event organizer, Sunrise Events, and representatives from the provincial government.

During that meeting, organizers asked that Liloan close its North Coastal Road and national highway from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the triathlon’s bike route.

But Frasco said: “These major high capacity roads provide the only direct access to and from Liloan and the North of Cebu. If closed for 8 hours, over 100,000 people in Liloan will not have mobility.

Combined with Consolacion, Compostela, Danao, and Carmen, plus commuters, the Ironman road closure will affect half a million people.”

Frasco said among the concerns she raised include heavy traffic; possible emergencies; massive inconvenience to residents and commuters, pedestrian risk; and loss of income from local vendors and establishments.

“I said that if they close our main roads for that long they should be able to provide an alternative route for people to pass. They said they want entire road closure as their priority is the safety of their athletes. My priority is the welfare of our people.”

An estimated 2,400 are expected to participate in this year's Ironman.

Organizers of the international event were forced to seek help from local government units in the north after Mayor Tomas Osmeña rejected their request for the city to host the event's 90-kilometer bike leg anew at the South Road Properties.

Osmeña also cited public inconvenience in shutting the Cebu South Coastal Road fully for eight hours, considering the ongoing construction of an underpass in Barangay Mambaling.

Back in the north, other local government units have expressed support for the event, including Consolacion, Compostela, Carmen, and Danao City.

EFFORTS CONTINUE

Sunrise Events isn't giving up on Liloan.

“We are still working it out with Liloan,” said General Manager Princess Galura. Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino shares the optimism.

“Suwayan lang gihapon hangtud ma-YES!” reads his text message to The FREEMAN.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale suggested a possible route: Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Barangay Talamban in Cebu City, and Compostela, the town after Liloan.

“Well, yes, why not? Bisekleta man na. Why not? Nindot pa ang trail. Diba mao ilang gusto, mas challenging? Tuyok na lang ka Mandaue, Canduman nya kani diri sa Talamban unya ari na mo sa Compostela moguwa.You bypass Consolacion and Liloan,” Magpale said.

Galura said they have yet to look into Magpale's latest proposal.

Liloan has hosted an off-road version of the Ironman some years back, the Xterra, which caused problems to residents and commuters.