MANILA, Philippines - Placer, Masbate Mayor Jay Seachon Lanete has assured Cebuano cyclists of their safety when they would see action in the 1st Himag-ulaw Mountainbike Cross-country Challenge on February 20.
This assurance was given by the mayor after several Cebu cyclists expressed concern about their safety due to the reports of rebel presence and armed groups in the province of Masbate.
Lanete met with some of the Cebuano cyclists to assure their safety.
“Yes, Masbate is the second hot spot under the Comelec’s list in the election, but I assure everyone’s safety. The Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army have already deployed more troops out there. My place is safe, far from what had been projected of Masbate,” Lanete told The Freeman.
The mayor said that competitors from Manila are also due in Masbate about the same time to join the dragon boat race.
“Teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force and other teams are going to Masbate for the dragon boat competition also in the same time of the mountain bike event. Safety is also their main concern. If they didn’t find Placer a safe place, they won’t give nod to the dragon boat event as well.”
Center of Gravity’s Ian Sepulveda, cousin of Mayor Lanete, who will be organizing the event, added that if there are reports of election-related violence, it’s also only those who are running for the different position and the athletes going to their place are never involved.
Organizers said the event had been staged not as part of the Lanete clan’s campaign strategies, but the reelectionist Mayor Lanete said, now is the right time to introduce Placer and Masbate as a whole.
The Mayor is riding high on the prestige and honor they just got out of winning the latest Sinulog Festival’s free interpretation category.
“It’s the right time. We won the Sinulog and everyone’s curious what’s with Masbate. Now, we have more reasons to invite people to go there, if we invite people, mas maayo man gyud tong naa na mi napakita,” Mayor Lanete said.
The mountain bike and dragon boat competitions are also part of the fiesta celebration of Placer, a booming town.
The organizers are also setting up plans for billeting the athletes who would go to their place to make it very affordable.
They hope that with the support of the Cebuano cyclists, the event will become a huge success and help push Placer as an eco-sports tourism destination. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN NEWS)