Tumulak tells race organizers to ‘use common sense’ amid moves to increase permit fees

Local

FOR more than a decade, Cebu City has charged race organizers the same permit fees, even as fun runs and marathons have grown bigger, more frequent, and more resource-intensive.

Councilor Dave Tumulak says that gap is exactly what his proposed ordinance aims to fix.

“Since 2012 until now, it’s high time also to increase the permit fee to be shouldered by the organizers,” Tumulak said in an interview on Wednesday, April 1.

He defended the measure seeking to overhaul how the city regulates road races.

At present, organizers pay P7,000 for events 10 kilometers or shorter, P10,000 for races below 21 kilometers, and P15,000 for longer distances, even for large-scale events that draw thousands of participants.

Tumulak pointed out that while organizers pay relatively low permit fees, they often charge runners significantly higher registration rates, creating a mismatch between private earnings and public costs.

Under his proposal, permit fees would increase to P20,000 for shorter races, P50,000 for events under 21 kilometers, P75,000 for distances up to 42 kilometers, and as much as P100,000 for full and ultra-marathons.

For Tumulak, the issue is not just revenue, but

accountability.

“These events use public roads. We deploy traffic enforcers, ambulances, and paramedics for the safety of runners and motorists,” he said.

“At the end of the day, these permit fees will be returned to the general fund to be used for social services.”

He emphasized that the proposed increase is meant to ensure organizers share responsibility for the city services their events require, from traffic management to emergency response.

The councilor also dismissed criticism from some organizers and runners questioning how the city computes the value of these services.

“Use their common sense. How many participants they have? Multiply two. And then how many expenses,” he said.

Still, he noted that support for the measure is not unanimous, but neither is opposition.

“Some organizers agree. Even some participants agree—it’s for fairness,” he said.

He added that the ordinance also aims to discourage poorly organized or “fly-by-night” events.

Beyond raising fees, the proposal introduces tighter regulations for race organizers, including environmental safeguards.

Among these is a ban on single-use plastics during events, with organizers encouraged to provide refill stations and reusable containers.

Tumulak said waste left behind after races has been a recurring concern.

“Not all, but there are some who leave all the trash,” he said. He linked the issue to the city’s broader efforts to manage garbage and enforce accountability.

The measure also requires organizers to coordinate with relevant city offices and meet safety standards, including adequate medical support and logistical planning.

The proposal has drawn concerns that higher fees could push organizers to hold events in neighboring cities like Mandaue or Lapu-Lapu, potentially affecting Cebu City’s sports tourism.

Tumulak acknowledged the possibility but maintained that the city must prioritize fairness.

“It’s their choice,” he said. “This is not for the runners to shoulder. This is for the organizers. It should be shared responsibility.”

He added that market response will ultimately determine whether higher fees affect participation.

“If the organizers increase registration fees and people stop joining, then that’s the consequence,” he said.

The ordinance remains under review by the Cebu City Council’s committee on laws and styling, with a public hearing expected to gather feedback from stakeholders.

The proposal comes as city officials, including Mayor Nestor Archival, push to update regulations amid the growing scale of road races.

Archival earlier flagged the disparity between the city’s earnings, around P10,000 per event, and the estimated P400,000 to P500,000 in public resources deployed.(TGP)