Ironman 70.3 a go
MACTAN, MANDAUE TO COVER BIKE ROUTE
Despite the odds that smacked their way, the organizers of the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships slated on August 5 starting and ending at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City remain upbeat in making the event a rousing success.
For the first time in seven years, Cebu's Ironman hosting was dealt with a blow after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña turned down the request of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. (SEI) to use the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) at the South Road Properties for the bike portion of the grueling triathlon race, invoking public convenience.
SEI's plans to shift the route up North also fizzled out after the municipality of Liloan through mayor Cristina Gracia-Frasco did not agree to close two of its main roads fully for eight hours just to accommodate the Ironman citing traffic concerns.
"This past week has been very challenging. While we maintain the safety of our participants as our upmost priority, we also consider the well-being of the people of Cebu, and any possible inconveniences that the event may cause. We thank everyone who has supported us as well as those who expressed divergent views. This helps us to be better in the process," said Sunrise Events founder Wilfred Steven Uytengsu in an official statement.
Uytengsu, President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation who was honored as "Sportsman of the Year" by the Sportwriters Association of Cebu (SAC) two years ago, said it's still a go for the Ironman as scheduled but they have made some modifications on the bike course due to the mitigating circumstances.
"At this late stage, together with the Province of Cebu, the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue graciously accepted our proposal to support the 90km bike course. The triathletes will traverse both cities using the Mactan-Mandaue bridge," Uytengsu stated.
BIKE ROUTE
Jonathan Tumulak, the provincial government's focal person for traffic, said the new bike route will traverse ML QuezonAvenue, Mactan Circumferential Road, and Maximo Patalinghug in LapuLapu City before bikers cross the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge to Mandaue City where they will pedal through AC Cortes, Plaridel, Ouano Avenue, and Zuellig.
The bikers will have to take three laps of this course to complete the 90-kilometer biking leg.
Eleven barangays will be affected by the race – barangays Mactan, Maribago, Soong, Agos, Marigondon, Basak, Gun-ob, and Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City and Barangays Centro, Looc, and Mantuyong in Mandaue City.
“In Mandaue, dili kaayo ni siya bag-o sa mga sumasakay kay kini nga ruta is susama ra sa miaging mga Ironman. Ang nakadeperensya lang kay nadungagan lang og Zuellig,” Tumulak said. With the Mandaue-Mactan bridge closed from 5 a.m. to 12 noon, the only link between Mactan Island and mainland Cebu is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
“Expected choke point ang new bridge tungod kay adto man magpunsisok ang mga sakyanan,” Tumulak said.
He urged commuters to take the metro ferry to and from Mactan to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Meanwhile, traffic managers will be implementing an “openclose system.” This means that if the Ironman athletes are still far away from the area, vehicles can pass through the routes. Moreover, pedestrian crosswalks will be managed and provided so people who are walking can pass conveniently.
Up to 1,000 traffic enforcers, tanods, and resort security personnel will help manage traffic on August 5. This number does not include volunteers just yet. Uytengsu said they will ensure another success in this year's Ironman.
"Together with the LGUs and government agencies concerned, we will continue our efforts in making the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships a rousing success, reinforce this event as the Crown Jewel of Asia."
Aside from putting Cebu on the world triathlon map and boosting its sports tourism industry, the Ironman has also provided huge support to the province economically.
"With over 2,500 participants competing this year, the estimated economic impact to Cebu is close to P500 million. When you consider the seven years Sunrise Events has held the event in Cebu, the economic benefit has been over P2.6 billion aside from putting Cebu on the world triathlon map. This is part of our mission sports tourism throughout the Philippines," Uytengsu added.