Preparation and interaction with other key cities were among the concerns brought up during the post-event assessment of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines.
Princess Galura, project director of the organizer Sunrise Events Inc., was in town recently to discuss with the local organizing committee headed by Cebu Province administrator Mark Tolentino the problems that they encountered in the recent holding of the half-Ironman event here in Cebu early this month.
Galura said more involvement of other cities and early preparation were revised by the province.
“Sinabi ng repreresentative from the office of the governor, they want to start preparation as early as possible,” Galura said. “So by September, may meeting kami.”
She added that Tolentino requested for Sunrise to have more interaction with the other cities involved in the event and not just Lapu-Lapu.
While swimming and running were held in Lapu-Lapu City, the 90-kilometer bike ride brings participants from Shangri-La to the coastal roads of the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay.
With more than half of the event’s activities happening in Lapu-Lapu, the city benefits much from the promotion and advertisement that is provided by the international race.
The province wanted the other cities involved to also enjoy some of those benefits.
This year, Lapu-Lapu hosted the carbo-loading party of the participants, which was previously done by the Cebu Province.
Lapu-Lapu spent more than P3 million for its hosting of the event aside from the carbo-loading party, it also spent meals for the 25,000 school children deployed as cheerers and more than 1,000 peacekeeping force to assist the police in securing the safety of the participants.
Another problem that they will look into is the heavy traffic at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.