MOTORISTS are reminded about the road closures and to take note of the traffic rerouting in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue for the Ironman 70.3 2016 Asia-Pacific Championship triathlon on Sunday.
During the event, more than 1,200 police and force multipliers will secure the triathlon route and the area where the triathletes will stay.
Glenn Antigua, chief for operations of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, said they have put up tarpaulins showing the traffic rerouting in different areas in the City.
“We are ready now,” Antigua said in Cebuano.
Team will close the route for the bicycle leg from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the activity ends.
Affected will be roads connecting to Ouano Ave., A. Soriano St. and D.M. Cortes St.
U.N. Ave. that leads to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge will also be closed for triathletes from D.M. Cortes St.
Motorists going to Mandaue proper from Cebu City will take Lopez Jaena St., A. del Rosario St. then proceed to their destinations.
Motorists from Cebu City going to Lapu-Lapu City or to the airport will get on Lopez Jaena St., M.C. Briones St., make a right on U.N. Ave. then to the second bridge, specifically on the lane that will not be used by the triathletes, and vice versa for Cebu City-bound motorists.
More detours
Motorists from Mandaue proper heading to the airport will get on S.B. Cabahug St. to Pacific Mall, make a right on U.N. Ave. then to the second bridge.
“PUJs (public utility jeepneys) for Mandaue from Liloan and Consolacion with plate number ending of 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 (even numbers) will take M.C. Briones St., left turn to A.C. Cortes Ave. right turn to S.B. Cabahug St., right turn to A. del Rosario St. to destination. PUJs bound for Consolacion and Liloan from Banilad with plate number ending 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (odd) will take A.S. Fortuna St., left turn to M.C. Briones St., right turn to L. Jayme St., right turn to B.B. Cabahug St., left turn to A. Del Rosario St., left turn to S.B. Cabahug St. to destination,” a part of the advisory read.
Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas, Mandaue City Police Office director, said they’ve conducted a security coordination together with the local government unit.
In a separate interview, Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot, Lapu-Lapu Police Office (LCPO) director, said their men will be augmented by personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime, Lapu-Lapu Task Group Motorsiklo, Barangay Public Safety Office and ROTC students.
Cabagnot said LCPO personnel will be deployed a few hours before the start of the triathlon.
Cheer squad
According to Lapu-Lapu traffic advisory, all motorists going the airport are advised to take Sangi Matumbo Road or Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase, if available.
Trucks, trailers and tourist buses will not be allowed to travel during the duration of the event, especially on the diversion route going to the airport.
“All motorists, hotel operators, residents of Barangays Punta Engaño, Buaya, Ibo and Pusok are hereby advised on the scheduled road closure from Punta Engaño to M.L. Quezon National Highway, to the Junction of Marcelo Fernan Bridge,” the advisory read.
In addition, the road from Goldberry Hotel in Pusok up to Mangal in Punta Engaño will be closed at 5 a.m. and will be opened at 2 p.m.
Mayor Paz Radaza said around 50,000 high school and college students will line up along the streets to cheer triathletes.
Meanwhile, the resort-host of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 is running full occupancy this weekend.
“We are running full during the Ironman weekend. Being the home of the triathlon for the last five years has always had a positive impact on our business,” said Albert Lafuente, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa director of sales and marketing.
Shangri-La’s Mactan has a total of 530 rooms.
Its general manager, René D. Egle, in a statement, said the Asia-Pacific championship is a “magnificent opportunity to strengthen Cebu’s place on the global sporting stage.”
He said they are grateful to the organizers for making them part of this event.
Egle is also participating in the relay category along with two Shangri-La employees.
A total of 23 Shangri-La employees are participating in the event this year.
Tourism boost
GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), the private operator of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), will ensure “a smooth, secure and convenient travel experience for the athletes and guests who are coming for this year’s event” through its strong collaboration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7, DOT-airport staff, with strong collaboration from the Bureau of Customs, Immigration and Quarantine.
According to the GMCAC’s statement, some registered VIP athletes arrived yesterday.
Most of the arrivals are expected on Aug. 4.
GMCAC is providing a reception area for athletes manned by event organizer Sunrise Events while a bike holding area is available at the MCIA domestic arrivals for those who require it, whether before or after the race.
DOT 7 Director Rowena Montecillo also welcomed Cebu’s hosting of Ironman 70.3.
“The arrival of around 10,000 athletes together with their families and friends will prove that Cebu is a destination for all types of markets,” said Montecillo.
Just like in the past years, the DOT expects a surge of tour bookings for Cebu and Bohol.
“The twin city and island-hopping packages are the in-demand tour packages during the Ironman event mostly availed of by athletes and their families,” she said.