ORGANIZERS of this year’s Ironman triathlon event will be allowed to use a portion of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. But it will be the last time they’ll be able to do so for free.
This development was confirmed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who told reporters that the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) approved the organizer’s request to use the bridge for the international sporting event.
“This is the last time. I think it’s time for Ironman to give back to Cebu, which has been hosting this challenge for eight years to the great economic benefit of this Ironman challenge,” Garcia said Friday, Aug. 2.
Garcia, who sits as MCBMB chairperson, had suggested that Ironman organizers meet with mayors of host cities to see how they could help these local government units (LGU) in return.
The cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu also suggested that organizers turn over their traffic barriers to the host LGUs as their “contribution” after the event.
“What can you give back in return, considering that you’ve been reaping huge profits?” Garcia said.
In 2018, Ironman organizers were allowed to include the first bridge in the bike route after Cebu City and Liloan decided not to allow the use of their roads for the race’s 90-kilometer bike leg.
At that time, then Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña said he would not allow organizers to use the Cebu South Coastal Road because it could affect traffic on the national highway.
Organizers then sought the Capitol’s help to bring the bike leg to northern Cebu, passing the towns of Consolacion, Compostela, Liloan, Carmen and Danao City.
But Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco also said no to the organizers after they proposed to close two of the town’s major thoroughfares, namely the national highway and the Cebu North Coastal Road.
On Aug. 11, a portion of the second bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. to give way to participating athletes. (RTF)