ILOILO City was hailed as the “Most Bike-Friendly City” in the Philippines during the Phil-Bike Awards 2018, Sunday, September 9, at the World Trade Center in Manila.
As stated on the plaque, the city was seen practicing “sustainable bike programs, supporting the biking community and promoting environmental awareness.”
In an interview with Mayor Jose Espinosa III after the City Hall flag ceremony on September 10, the city contests with the “big cities” and cities under the National Capital Region.
Espinosa stressed that the award shows “consistency” and continuous promotion of the biking community for the observance of the Republic Act No. 8749 also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.
Espinosa encourages the Ilonggos to use bike as a mode of transportation to lessen the vehicles in the city.
It was seen that parts of the bike lanes in the city were utilized as parking areas, however, Espinosa said that TMTRO and Public Safety and Transportation Management Office are currently conducting clearing operations to the areas that has specific uses.
“Next week, two weeks from now, siguro may mga vehicle na kita nga para ma enforce ina nga mga ordinansa nga gina patuman sang ila nga departamento,” he added.
(Next week, two weeks from now, maybe we will have vehicles to enforce the ordinance implemented by the respective departments.)
Previously, the Iloilo City council passed the Regulation Ordinance No. 2016-299 which designates a bike lane in Benigno Aquino Avenue.
Espinosa said that the city promotes “road sharing” especially to the bike lanes. He added that vehicle drivers “should refrain from using it.”
“It’s really a give and take situation kay indi lang pirme mag-rely nga kinahanglan dakpon anay kag may ma implement gid. It should be upon ourselves nga kung kita niyo tani kag under the principle of road sharing, i-share lang naton ang road kay indi siling nga ang road ta, may specific road da,” he added.
(It’s really a give and take situation because we shouldn’t always rely that there should be an apprehension and there should be someone to implement it. It should be upon ourselves that you can see and under the principle of road sharing, let’s share our road since there are specific roads.) (Carolyn Jane Abello)