The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is pouring in P9.9 million to further promote Iloilo City as the country’s “biking capital”.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the fund will be used to carry out projects, programs, and activities that primarily aim to encourage more Ilonggos to use the bicycles as public transportation.

The city government, according to Trenas, will add more than 32 kilometers of biking lanes to connect with the existing lanes in the metropolis.

In 2018, Iloilo was proclaimed the “Most Bike-Friendly City” in the country by the PhilBike Awards.

BIKE FUND RIDE FOR ULYSSES SURVIVORS


Around one thousand cyclists joined the “Bonifacio Day Fun Ride, Fund Drive” around Iloilo City on Monday, Nov. 30.

The 16-kilometer fun ride, organized by the Iloilo Provincial Capitol’s Cycling Club, raised a total of P103,050 for Typhoon Ulysses survivors in Isabela.

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed in August a joint administrative order with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) urging local governments to construct protected biking lanes and walking paths to further encourage safe, alternative transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Data from the ground show that the public transport system can be a breeding ground for COVID-19 transmission kaya patuloy ang ating paghikayat sa mga LGU na magtayo ng walking paths at bike lanes. Ito po ay para matiyak din na ligtas ang mga mamamayan sa kanilang paglalakad o pagbaba-bike,”  said Secretary Eduardo Año.

“At ngayon nga na we have signed a JAO with other agencies, we urge the LGUs to see this as an urgent matter para magamit na agad ng mga tao,” he added.IMT

 Photo by Arnold Almacen