Iloilo City bags two gold awards this week and further cements itself as the Biking Capital of the Philippines alongside its being the country's Most-Bike Friendly City.
On November 25, Iloilo City was adjudged as a Gold Medal Winner for the Most Bike Friendly City, the top award during the 2021 Mobility Awards.
And today, November 26, the city bagged another Gold, this time in the 2021 Bike Lane Awards in celebration of National Bike Day.
“We are moving closer to our vision of making a more sustainable metropolis for all. Thank you for recognizing the beauty of the City of Love!” Mayor Jerry TreƱas stressed.
The 2021 Mobility Awards was organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, MNL Moves, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350.org Philippines, and the Pinay Bike Commuter Community.
This is the first nationwide bout of the Mobility Awards, which was launched in 2020 for Metro Manila cities, with Pasig as its first Gold Awardee, and San Juan and Marikina as Silver Awardees.
The Mobility Awards are a platform recognizing leadership by local governments, workplaces, and commercial establishments promoting cycling as a reliable, efficient and sustainable mode of transport among their constituencies, customers, employees, and communities.
On the same note, the Bike Lane Awards was organized to acknowledge the accomplishments of the Local Government Units (LGUs), and showcase their innovative practices and interventions for the promotion of active transport, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Supported by the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Health, the award aims to highlight LGUs that best utilizes the efficiency and effectiveness of bike lanes.
Anchored on a more sustainable and inclusive transport system, the said award also aims to promote road safety for all road users, as well as share innovative practices to improve active transport infrastructure as an example to other LGUs.
This is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1052, s. 2020 declaring the fourth Sunday of November every year as ‘National Bicycle Day’ in the Philippines to highlight the importance of non-motorized transportation.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry TreƱas touted the 11-kilometer bike lane network encompassing the districts of Mandurriao, Jaro, Molo, and the city proper, which includes the 4-kilometer protected bike lane along Benigno Aquino Avenue.
The current bike lane network would be extended to up to 32 kilometers in the future according to the mayor.
Credits
Text snippets from Iloilo City PIO and Rappler
Photos from Iloilo City Government FB, Mayor Jerry TreƱas FB, Mobility Awards FB, Google search