Cebu mayor thumbs down staging of Ironman event

CEBU — Mayor Tomas Osmeña remained firm on his decision not to allow an Ironman event to be staged at the Cebu South Coastal Road, saying that it will cause heavy traffic in the area.

Osmena maintained that not even an appeal from Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III could convince him to reconsider his decision because we “cannot let Cebuanos suffer.”

He said he based his decision on a previous staging of the event four years ago.

“People have suffered enough, why would I let them suffer again,” Osmeña said.

He said he had proposed to the organizers to start at Naga City in northern part of Cebu at 4 a.m. and end at the Cebu South Coastal Road by 6 a.m. so that it won’t be a burden for commuters.

But apparently, organizers turned down his suggestion.

“They don’t like it, who do they think they are? As if they own Cebu. We love to have events like that, but don’t make the people suffer.” Osmeña reiterated.

The Ironman event has been set for August 5.