ASIDE from the exposure the Ironman 70.3 Philippines gave to Lapu-Lapu City, the mayor wants the benefits for the host city to translate into projects for the Oponganons.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan said he hopes Sunrise Events Inc. would build schools or sports facilities as their contribution to Lapu-Lapu City for hosting the international sporting event since 2012.
While the organizers have conducted charity events such as feeding programs and distribution of school supplies to school children after every race, Chan said it would be more meaningful to have physical structures that would remind the residents of the gains of hosting the triathlon.
This, as the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) lamented the inconvenience the Ironman caused the public, saying it outweighs the benefits that Cebu is supposed to get from the event.
“The Ironman is putting us on the map, in the international scene. But if you ask us, there’s more inconvenience than the benefits,” HRRAC president Carlo Suarez told SunStar Cebu on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, a day after the race.
Suarez said the traffic caused by the closure of certain lanes of major thoroughfares during the race burdened both local and foreign tourists. The roads were closed from 4 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, and these were reopened between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
“We lack pretty much infrastructure to do the whole thing. Look at the papers, we see tourists walking because of the closed roads. Is that the kind of tourism we want?” he said.
Suarez said only selected hotels in Mactan benefited from the hosting of the Ironman.
“Guests checked out so early in the morning and the hotels would even pay for a ferry to transport them,” he said.
For eight straight years now, at least 2,000 athletes from close to 60 countries have been coming to Cebu to compete in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike race and 21-kilometer run. The ultramarathon covers the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay.
Except for the P80,000 the organizers paid for the streamers and banners it put up along the race route in Lapu-Lapu City, the City does not earn any revenue from the event since it is exempted from paying local taxes and fees.
Chan said he recognizes the contribution of the Ironman events in boosting tourism in the city, mainly the promotion the city gets for free.
He said that through the Ironman, the beaches of Lapu-Lapu and its other attractions have become more popular.
“The Ironman was able to promote Lapu-Lapu as host of a world-class event. What we got was free advertising and promotion. That’s all,” Chan said.
The mayor also noted that the event has increased the revenues of hotels, resorts and other business establishments in the city with the arrival of thousands of athletes and their families and friends.
But other than that, Chan said, the City did not earn revenues from the Ironman events, including local taxes and permit fees.
“Kanang mga banner, naa tay taripa ana. Banner ra gayud. Wala nay tax. Free na tanan pag-agi sa bridge, pag-agi sa kuan free na (For the banners, there are certain fees for that, but that’s it. No tax was imposed on the organizers. Everything was free including the use of the bridge and roads),” the mayor said.
For the race, the City spent P9 million for the carbo loading event and welcome party for the athletes, entertainment activities and hiring of cheerers for the race.
The amount is lower than the P15 million that the previous administration spent for last year’s Ironman, Chan pointed out.
He said the City begged off from sponsoring certain athletes due to budget constraints. It also did not spend for the fireworks this time. (from GCM of Superbalita Cebu/JOB/LRC)