Over 5k security forces to be deployed for IronMan 70.3

Over 5,000 security personnel will be deployed to provide security coverage for the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon race on March 26.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is set to deploy around 2,500 security personnel from its own ranks.

“Dinhi sa IRONMAN mas dako atong deployment compared sa Parada Dabawenyo. Naa sa mga 2,500 sa part pa lang sa Davao City Police Office na i-deploy kay mas taas-taas man gud ang stretch sa kadalanan na i-cover nato, (For the IRONMAN will be deploying a much larger force than in the Parada Dabawenyo. We will be deploying around 2,500 from the part of the Davao City Police Office because the stretch that we need to cover is considerably long),” DCPO Spokesperson PMaj Catherine Dela Rey said during the Madayaw Davao Program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.

“More or less siguro, naa pud sa 5,000 or 6,000 ang i-deploy—apil na dinha ang Task Force Davao, other agencies, and the Civil Security Unit sa Davao City, (More or less, there may be around 5 to 6 thousand to be deployed—this includes the Task Force Davo, other agencies, and the Civil Security Unit of Davao City),” she added.

A soft deployment of forces will begin on March 24 for the IRONKIDS triathlon. Security coverage will also be extended for the IRONGIRLS marathon on March 25. The full deployment of security forces will be on March 26 for the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon Race.

The DCPO spokesperson said the city’s forces will be providing security coverage from Lanang to Lasang. Jurisdiction over the security coverage of the race will be turned over to the Davao del Norte Provincial Office in areas outside of the city– Panabo, Carmen, and Tagum.

Due to road closures to make way for the races, Dela Rey urged citizens to plan their trips wisely and, if possible, avoid driving through the race routes.

“Tan-awon nila tong advisory sa CTTMO sa mga oras na naay road closure para sigurado mo nya dili mo ma-traffic or mapurnada ang inyohang mga lakaw, so planohan na ninyo daan kani na mga adlawa specially ang March 26 (They should heed the advisory from the CTTMO on the scheduled road closures so they can avoid the traffic, so they must plan for those days especially March 26),” said Dela Rey.

On March 24, the northbound lanes of R. Castillo Avenue (Azuela Cove to corner San Nicolas Road) will be closed from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the IRONGIRLS run course. The northbound lanes of R. Castillo (from Azuela to Corner Jerome Street) will be closed on March 25 from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. to make way for the IRONKIDS bike route.

For the IRONMAN 70.3 on March 26, the southbound lanes from Alcantara to Lasang, all the way to Panabo, Carmen, and Tagum will closed from 3 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., while from 3 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the northbound lanes of the same stretch will be closed to traffic for the race’s bike course. For the IRONMAN 70.3 running course, the northbound lane from J.P. Laurel to Alcantara will be closed from 3 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CIO