ILOILO CITY — Another accolade has been given to Iloilo City as the Most Bike-Friendly City in the country.
Iloilo City won gold in the Mobility Awards 2021 as it bested 29 other cities around the country.
Mandaue City and Naga City were silver awardees.
The awards 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 aims to recognize the role and partnerships of both local governments and the private sector in “promoting cycling as a reliable, efficient and sustainable mode of transport among their constituencies, customers, employees and communities.”
“In our desire to become a sustainable city, we provided an alternative mode of transportation that aims to lessen carbon footprints as our response to the rising impacts of climate change,” said Mayor Jerry Treñas in a recorded speech.
While there have been everyday Ilonggos who have long used bikes to commute, the alternative transportation was strengthened with the national government funding constructions of bike lanes and several private-led initiatives beginning with the Iloilo Bike Festival in 2014.
The COVID-19 pandemic also boosted biking as an alternative mode of transportation.
In 2018, the PhilBike Awards also hailed Iloilo City as “Most Bike-Friendly City”.