CEBU City Vice Mayor Joy Young’s proposal to have a regulatory body for running for Cebu has gained support from Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City.
Lapu-Lapu City consultant on sports Norvi Ymbong said a partnership among the three cities can also go a long way in helping promote Cebu as a tourism hub.
“I cannot speak on behalf of the city but my personal opinion on this is okay kaayo ni because we can have coordination with key cities in Cebu,” Ymbong said.
Lapu-Lapu City hosted its second Great Lapu-Lapu Run last April, drawing 4,000 runners. The run was also the second to use timing chips in Cebu.
Mandaue City Sports Commission chairman Atty. Hidelito S. Pascual also supports Young’s proposal.
“We are okay with it as long as it has a good set of objectives on why there is a need to form a regulatory body on running. I have no problems with that,” Atty. Pascual said.
Need
Young raised the need for a regulatory body so the scheduling of the races will be coordinated and holding two races in one day could be avoided.
Pascual said they will be available if there is a call for a meeting to form the body.
Cebu City Sports Center manager Ricky Ballesteros, who also organizes running events, said he is happy there is a push to form a group among the different sports commissions.
“It’s a good idea, I hope this proposal will be push through,” Ballesteros said
He said if there is a regulatory committee then they could be the one to check if the organizers have complied with the prerequisites in holding a running event such as medical stations, water stations, marshals and security officers.
“This is a good a sign that the running community continues to grow in Cebu,” said Ballesteros. “Problems can be avoided because the regulatory body can monitor and control the runs in Cebu.”