DAVAO City—Local government units—including two cities and one town in Davao del Norte—formalized their partnerships and management responsibilities with their Davao City counterparts for the Ironman 70.3.
Governor Edwin Jubahib led the partnership meeting with his Provincial Administrator Engr. Josie Jean Rabanoz, Chief of the Provincial Sports and Youth Development Office Giovanni Gulanes, Davao City Assistant Administrator for Administration Atty. Dwight Tristan Domingo, Chief of the Davao City Sports Development Office Mikey Aportadera and Ironman Philippines General Manager and Regional Director Princess Galura.
Discussions delved on logistics, security and safety and other preparatory details for the race set on March 26.
The event consists of a 1.9-kilometer swim in Davao Gulf, a 90-km bike ride from Bajada in Davao City to Tagum City and back and a half-marathon 21-km run from Victoria Plaza to Azuela Cove and back.
The race requires full cooperation from the city government of Davao, Panabo and Tagum and the municipal government of Carmen.
Aportadera said the city and its partner LGUs “are at least 90 percent ready to host the event in March and will only have to finalize minute details in the coming weeks.”
Gulanes said Davao del Norte is fully committed to the joint effort of hosting the event.
“Since a template from the past two hostings are already at hand, some of the biggest challenges have been minimized,” Gulanes said.
A total of 1,488 athletes from 44 countries have signed up for the race with registration still ongoing.