Higher fees for fun runs in Cebu City pushed

Local

FOOTRACES in Cebu City continue to draw thousands of participants and increasingly strain city resources.

A Cebu City councilor is pushing for higher fees and stricter rules to better regulate marathons, fun runs, and similar events held on public roads.

Councilor Dave Tumulak has proposed a new ordinance that seeks to overhaul existing regulations, citing the need to keep pace with the growing scale and frequency of these events and their impact on traffic flow, public safety, and the environment.

The measure, endorsed on March 18, aims to replace City Ordinance Nos. 2309 and 2527 with a single, updated framework governing the conduct of “eco-foot races,” fun runs, marathons, and other mass-participation events in Cebu City.

Central to the proposal is an increase in permit fees charged to event organizers.

Under the ordinance, fees would range from P20,000 for shorter races of up to 10 kilometers, P50,000 for mid-distance events, P75,000 for half marathons, and up to P100,000 for full marathons and ultra-marathons.

Tumulak said the adjustment reflects the “substantial administrative and logistical costs” the city shoulders in staging such events, including traffic management, deployment of safety personnel, environmental monitoring, and coordination with various government offices.

The proposal notes that while organizers already charge participants, from around P799 for shorter runs to as much as P15,000 for ultra-marathons and international races, the regulatory costs borne by the city have continued to rise alongside these large-scale events.

Beyond fees, the ordinance introduces more detailed requirements for organizers.

These include securing clearances from the Cebu City Sports Commission and the Cebu City Transportation Office, as well as submitting comprehensive traffic mitigation plans before any permit is approved.

Event organizers would also be required to deploy at least three ambulances along the race route, provide communication units, and assign traffic and route marshals to ensure both participant safety and minimal disruption to motorists.

To further manage road use, races must be staged on routes with at least four lanes, and standardized cut-off times will be enforced—eight hours for full marathons, four hours for half marathons, and shorter limits for other distances.

Environmental provisions are also strengthened under the proposal, with a strict ban on single-use plastics, including bottled water, during events.

Organizers must instead provide refill stations and promote reusable containers.

A performance bond equivalent to 50 percent of the permit fee would also be required, refundable only after organizers submit a post-event compliance report and pass evaluation by city authorities.

The ordinance likewise mandates inclusivity by requiring organizers to reserve at least 10 free slots for grassroots athletes in every event.

Violations may result in fines ranging from P2,000 to P5,000, imprisonment, or both, with repeat offenses potentially leading to permit revocation.

By tightening regulations and raising fees, the proposed measure seeks to strike a balance between encouraging sports and community events and ensuring that public welfare, road safety, and environmental standards are upheld.

The proposal is expected to be taken up by the Cebu City Council in the coming sessions.(TGP)