INQUIRER Sports

PILI, Camarines Sur – The main highway here where vehicles pass going to and from Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao will be closed Sunday for five hours, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., to give way to an international triathlon event, said an advisory from the provincial government of Camarines Sur.

The traffic advisory covers a portion of the RP-Japan Friendship Highway, from Barangay (village) Palestina, Pili town to Tigaon and Sangay towns all in Camarines Sur.

According to the provincial government, the five-hour road closure on August 23 aims to protect and provide a way for the participants of the triathlon event in the cycling portion of what local authorities consider the biggest tourist drawing event to be held here.

The highway is the main route of vehicles from Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao going to Manila and vice-versa. No alternative route was provided by the advisory.

It advised the public that the route would be open immediately after the cycling event of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines which would end at the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC).

The event will be attended by more than 500 participants from 23 countries. The Ironman 70.3 has attracted the world's top triathletes and national personalities, including Chris McCormack from Australia.

McCormack won the Iron Hawaii World Champion, International Triatlon Union (ITU) Olympic Distance World Champion and the ITU World Cup.

Other local personalities from government and business who said they would join the triathlon were Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Senator Pia Cayetano, Wilfred Steven Uytensyu of Alaska Milk Corporation, Ernie Lopez of the ABS-CBN, and Fernando Zobel of the Ayala Corp.