WITH 11 days to go before the Aug. 5 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines, organizer Sunrise Events Inc. and the city of Lapu-Lapu are scrambling to plug up all holes to ensure a successful holding of the event.
In a meeting last Monday at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Frank Brazil, appointed head of the event’s traffic management, assured they have done everything necessary to ensure the safety of the racers in their area of jurisdiction.
Brazil, who is the chief of Lapu-Lapu’s City Traffic Management System (CTMS), also said that they already have a traffic plan pertaining to the race route. He said what they need to work on right now is the alternative routes and the parking spaces. The organizers alone have 1,000 vehicles.
Based on last Monday’s meeting, color-coded passes will be given out to all vehicles. A neon orange pass will be for vehicles of the organizers, the white one will be for Shangri-La employees and guests, neon pink will be for the sponsors while participants and other guests will be given the neon green pass.
The neon green passes will be given out on first come, first served basis.
Six areas have been designated as parking zones and Lapu-Lapu will be putting up signages to direct the vehicles to their designated parking spaces.
Princess Galura, Sunrise Events Inc. project director, said that no vehicle should be parked in front or within two blocks of Shangri-La on race day.
Lapu-Lapu City has also acceded to provide 100 students to help man the hydration stations as per request of the organizer.
As for the event’s security, tourist police chief Col. Percival Zorilla said that 200 police officers, augmentation and force multiplies will be deployed for the event. /correspondent Mars G. Alison