Petition to Ban Marathons in Manila at Change.org
We got an message in Facebook about a petition to ban marathons in Manila. The petition states that running events are bad for the economy and for Mother Nature. It further states that “…ito po ay nagdudulot ng TRAPIK, POLUSYON at pagbagsak ng ekonomiya ng PILIPINAS.” Thus, it must be stopped!
The petition does sound angry. It is a common reaction from non-runners who got caught in the middle of a traffic due to diversion of roads. I hate traffic, as well. Thus, I would understand the rant.
But I find the reasons quite extreme. Blaming the fall of the economy and the floods of Manila to the conduct of running events is making a mountain out of an anthill. Yes, business are effected and there will be plastic litters, but the economic downturn and the floods of Manila will still happen even without the running events.
The city officials do have controls to minimize the disruption of running events. Previously, running events can be done on Saturdays and Sundays. Today, races can only be done on Sundays and night runs are no longer allowed.
In the past years, running events are also not allowed in December by MMDA.
The petitions to ban running events has been going for some time now. The latest has been the MMDA’s Memorandum Circular No. 03, series of 2015 (MC 03-2015) issued last March 31, 2015. The memo was suspended though.
While there are pro’s and con’s to staging a marathon event, I obviously side with the runners. In other countries and cities, marathon events are big celebrations with strong involvement from the community. I think this is also possible for the running events in Manila. I hope I am still running when that day comes.
About The Author
ManokanRunner
Jinoe Gavan is the founder of this award-winning blog Takbo.ph, The Filipino Running Community. Known as ManokanRunner, he is a computer addict on weekdays, a church leader on weekends and a runner in all days of the week. He wants to run and cover as many miles in many places as he could. Read more about his life in the urban jungle with all the distractions and the fun of raising his son in DaddyandtheCity(dot)com.
I do not know whether this was setup to spur comments and make the topic trending across the social medias but the premise of the petition to ban marathons in Manila is the most “trivial” reason we ever heard! This petition should be ignored rather than bash the petitioner! Let us move on to other productive endeavours (e.g. Marathon in Manila) 😀
Ako po ay sumusulat sa Tagalog upang maintindihan ng mga hindi marurunong sa Ingles at para makapagkumento ang mga maralitang Pilipino.
Nanawagan po ako sa ating Mahal na Presidente at sa mga butihing MAYORS ng mga Maynila na IPAGBAWAL ang mga MARATHON sa Maynila. Ito po ay nagdudulot ng TRAPIK, POLUSYON at pagbagsak ng ekonomiya ng PILIPINAS.
Maraming nalalate dahil sa mga WALANG SAWANG nagpapaMARATHON linggo linggo at ito ang pagiging late ang dahilan kung bakit sila mapaalis sa kanilang trabaho at resulta sa kawalan ng trabaho, gutom at kawalan ng bahay.
Nadedelay po ang mga deliveries sa dahil sa matinding trapik dahil sa mga pagsara ng mga kalsada. Imbes na makarating agad ang mga gulay at isda sa palengke, ito po ay nahaharang sa kalsada at nabubulok lang at resulta sa pagkalugi ng mga Negosyante at pagkagutom ng mga Pilipino.
Ang Marathon rin po ay sanhi ng mga BAHA at matinding POLUSYON sa MAYNILA. Sarado ang mga daan at trapik. Ang mga kotse ay mas naglalabas ng MATINDING USOK dahil sa trapik resulta sa pagkadumi ng hangin. BAHA dahil sa mga PLASTIC CUPS na ginagamit ng mga RUNNER at tinatapon na lang sa kalsada. Sawang sawa na po ang mga mamayang PILIPINO sa BAHA,TRAPIK, POLUSYON at kawalan ng TRABAHO.
BAGSAK NA ANG EKONOMIYA GUTOM PA ANG MGA PILIPINO.
Sana po pakinggan niyo po kami mahal na PANGULO at mga MAYOR ng MAYNILA
thats the document from change.org. the maker of this is crazy. his arguments are unfounded. very few have supported this petition.