Iloilo ranked gold in the Mobility Awards 2021 adding another prestigious feather on its shoulder as the Bike Capital of the Philippines.
The Gold Recognition Sign bestowed on Iloilo is a milestone considering that the city earned this recognition in the inaugural nationwide launch of the Mobility Awards.
The Iloilo City Government was notified by the organizers in a letter to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas November 23, 2021.
Also read: Biking transformed Iloilo landscape for the better
“On behalf of the organizers of the Mobility Awards, we would like to congratulate Iloilo City for being the top gold awardee as the Most Bicycle-Friendly City in the Philippines during the inaugural nationwide launch of the Mobility Awards 2021,” wrote Mobility Awards National Coordinator Arielle Celine Tabinga.
“As such, the city government will receive the a Gold Bicycle-Friendly Recognition Sign, a certification designating the city’s ranking, and gift certificates from bicycle-friendly establishments worth PHP10,000 for the city’s team members who worked tirelessly in making Iloilo City a Bicycle-Friendly City,” added Tabinga.
Iloilo City will formally receive the awards on November 25 in a program marking the National Bicycle Day. It will be streamed live on Facebook.
Iloilo City is Most Bicycle-Friendly City
The Mobility Awards offered nominations for three categories, namely: Most Bicycle-Friendly Commercial Establishment, Workplace and City.
Iloilo City bested 30 cities who vied for the Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities Nationwide.
Among cities who participated were the following: Baguio, Dagupan, Tagaytay, San Jose del Monte, Naga, Lucena, Masbate, Borongan, Danao, Puerto Princesa, Surigao, Cebu, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, and Iloilo City.
Prizes for the Most Bicycle-Friendly City comes in Bronze with P5,000 worth of vouchers; Silver with P8,000; and Gold with P10,000 vouchers.
In 2018, Iloilo City was recognized as the “Most Bike-Friendly City” in the Philippines in 2018 by PhilBike Awards during the PhilBike Expo at the World Trade Center in Manila.
Mobility Awards Going Nationwide
The nominations was designed to be unlimited. It was opened from September 7 up to November 5 and announcement of winners is set on November 25, 2021.
World Cities Day – October 31
The nominations of cities was also highlighted in this year’s celebration of the World Cities Day last October 31.
“As we celebrate World Cities Day 2021 with the theme, Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience, we can all do our part in advocating for sustainable and climate-resilient cities by promoting the use of sustainable forms of transport such as cycling in our communities,” said Mobility Awards 2021.
The Mobility Awards 2021 is organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project Philippines, 350 Pilipinas, MNL Moves, and Pinay Bike Commuter.
ILOILO CITY’s award is just fitting as the city has the most extensive urban protected biking lanes in the Philippines, and the scenery is clean, beautiful, and orderly as you drive along. Iloilo City is the most beautiful City in the Philippines
That’s correct and I’m proud of it. However, some bikers are not friendly towards those who prefer to jog or walk especially along Esplanades 4 and 6. They speed through like they are traversing on a race track or something.
A foreign blogger in Iloilo commented that bikers all over the world are like that, no matter in what city abroad, they don’t respect rules. But the his companion noticed that here in Iloilo t, at least , bikers are disciplined because they follow these rules : bikers are not allowed at Esplanades 1 and 2, and they flow this. Biking is allowed only at Esplanades 3 to 10, and at the other biking lanes citywide. That’s nice enough. ILOILO CITY is the Biking Capital of the Philippines and gas been awarded the Most Bike-Friendly City in the Philippines. Hurray!