Labella pushing for fun run fees

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is now studying the possibility of requiring organizers of fun runs, marathons and other similar activities to pay for the extra services of traffic enforcers and garbage collectors who will assist them during their activity.

The proposed ordinance sponsored by Councilor Edgardo Labella that will regulate fun runs and other such events was presented before the City Council for final deliberation last Wednesday but approval was deferred.

Labella’s proposal requires run organizers to first secure permits from City Hall and pay the necessary regulatory fees before holding the event, but councilors Augustus Pe Jr. and Rodrigo Abellanosa said there should be additional fees to be collected from the organizers.

Both Abellanosa and Pe said runs usually start at 4 a.m. when traffic enforcers are off-duty which is why the organizers should be required to shoulder the overtime pay of these enforcers.

They also said that the runs and similar activities generate garbage like plastic cups, energy drinks and other waste. 

Some of the councilors said while most of fun runs are for cause, others are merely for profit because participants are required to pay registration fees depending on the distance. Under the proposed ordinance of Labella, the city will collect a non-refundable regulatory fee of P4,000 for races covering a distance of 10 kilometers or less; P6,000 for races over 10 kilometers but less than 21 km; and P12,000 for races covering a distance of more than 21 km.

The proposed regulatory measure also requires the organizers to clean the entire route of any garbage left after the race.

The city legislators also argued on how many fun runs can be allowed every weekend. Some city councilors said if they will allow three or more fun runs in one day it will surely cause traffic problems if it will be conducted in the city’s major streets. 

The City Council decided to defer the approval of the proposed ordinance, but it will be discussed again during the regular session by the second Wednesday of January. (FREEMAN)