Itogon ready for Sky runners

BARRING any glitches, the municipality of Itogon expressed its readiness to host the second staging of the Sky running event in Mt. Ugo slated February 9 covering a 35.4 kilometer (km) out-and-back route.

Mayor Oscar Camantiles told Sun.Star Baguio his office has already finished the mobilization plan for the upcoming event dubbed Pilipinas Akyatlon which is seen to draw some of the biggest names in skyrunning event.

“We are ready to mobilize our local guides including security and medical team for the Skyrunning event,” Camantiles said.

Last year’s sky running event was instrumental in the increase of tourist arrivals in their municipality according Itogon Councilor and chair of the municipal tourism committee Norberto Pacio.

Pacio said in 2012, visitors to Mt. Ugo rose to 1, 445 from the 884 in 2011 which also saw the increase in foreign visitors compared to only two foreign visitors in 2011 while there were 15 in 2012.

Nina Dacanay, project manager and former president of the Philippine Skyrunning Association explained that Akyathlon is a “green race” as it encourages the use of biodegradable and recyclable materials and gears.

Registration fee for the skyrunning event will be at P1,900 for Philippine residents until January 15 while late registrants will be charged P2,400 until February 8.

For foreign runners, registrants will be charged $60 payable in Baguio on February 8 during kit claim/race briefing.

Registration closes at 7:30pm on February 8 and there will be no on-site registration on February 9, 2013, according to race organizers.

Payment by local residents can be made by depositing the fee to BPI current account number 3191-0473-02 of Philippine Skyrunning Association, Inc. Email scanned deposit slip (with your name) to psa@ philskyrunning.com.