PROGRESSIVE ILOILO Philippines’ Bike Capital

words by: MDPN. NICANOR S. CINCO III & MDPN. FRANCIS C. BALDEMOR illustration by: MDPN. ARCYNE JOHN N. SERMENO

They were all prepared. Their bikes’ seats were tightened and adjusted to support the riders as they slum their backs. The tire pressure of their wheels was just right, ready to outburst the tension from within them. Brake levers and brake pads were ready to respond quickly to encountered obstacles. They gathered in black — a silhouette of power and grit to claim something right.

It was March 19, 2019 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. A bicycle activist started to push himself by foot, tucking his feet upwards onto the pedals. He led the ride to protest the campaign “Ride to Liberation: Ride for our Rights” and 599 cyclists followed. They cycled the bustling streets of Iloilo City—swiftly, furiously, and bravely.

The summed-up clicking noise from the bikes’ pedals was heard from a distance. The echoes peaked through the noisy metropolitan—”liberation” became their battle cry.

Scrapping the outdated local ordinance (Regulation Ordinance No. 354 -1982) that bans bicycles in selected areas of the city was their goal in mind. They are heroes who stood up for their right to pedal, paving the way for Iloilo City’s Bike Capital branding. Iloilo City takes pleasure in the picturesque bike lanes that Ilonggos had been using long before the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, the metropolitan recently earned its right to be called the “Bike Capital of the Philippines”. The Iloilo City Network is an award-winning bike lane that stretches 11 kilometers from the Diversion Road to a few city pathways, connecting locals and tourists to various destinations for work and recreation. It includes a 4-kilometer protected bike lane— one of the longest in the country— constructed with eco-friendly safety barriers that provide safe, scenic, and sustainable space for bikers of all ages.

Department of Tourism-Region 6 (DOT-6) Director Cristine Mansinares said that Iloilo City as the bike capital of the Philippines will promote wellness to local cyclists and tourists alike.

In the city, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a desire for biking due to the utmost support of the local government by constructing more and more cycling infrastructures to promote pedal-friendly practices as a coping mechanism amidst health crises.

According to data, most cyclist respondents began regularly using bikes at the height of the pandemic. The number of cyclists skyrocketed by 41.89 percent alone in 2020. In the first four months of 2021, it climbed by an additional 12.38 percent from this yearly total.

A bicycle is a zero-emission vehicle. According to Reid (2022), if a city promotes bicycles as the main mode of transportation, then, the quality of air will enhance. The carbon emissions will reduce by 6 to 14 million tons and fuel consumption by 700 million to 1.6 billion gallons annually – creating a safer and more sustainable environment.

700M - 1.6 B

GALLONS (Fuel Consumption)

6 - 4

MILLION TONS (Carbon Emissions)

The cycling industry of Iloilo City is an added boost to developing a healthy society. Cycling became Ilonggos’ lifestyle—their habit to achieve healthy living.

In an article in Medical News Today, cycling can improve cardiorespiratory health. It also notes that it can help the immune system protect a person from respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. DOT-6 Director Mansinares also added that Iloilo City as the bike capital will “create more jobs and bring more investments’’. It will provide economic progress as it “allows the expansion of economic and livelihood opportunities of local government units across the Western Visayas region”. The biking activity will certainly boost the economy. According to a study by the Outdoor Industry Foundation, the US economy benefits from cycling to the tune of $133 billion yearly. Also, Portland, which has been recognized as a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community, earned $90 million in bicycle-related activity in one year alone.

On the other hand, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Lawyer Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones said that they will continue to support bike tourism as this also aligns with their advocacy on responsible tourism since biking helps bring down carbon footprints. The dedication and appreciation shown by Iloilo City’s local government unit (LGU) and tourism officials to Ilonggo cyclists is enough to motivate and encourage both veterans and newbies to pedal around the city. Take for example, the experience of Michael, a beginner cyclist who just started to pedal from Arevalo to downtown Iloilo a few weeks ago. “The moment I saw how Iloilo’s cycling industry boomed and how it benefits the city, tourism

and the cyclist himself, I felt obliged to try cycling. I push myself even further every day until I circulate the city’s cycling network,” he said. The Iloilo City Network is beloved by locals and tourists. Through the local government’s efforts to build sustainable infrastructures and promote eco-friendly practices, the city developed resilience and was ready to welcome the world. Being the Bike Capital of the Philippines is not merely a city branding, rather it is an opportunity for Iloilo City to become the most sustainable metro in the Philippines. As a city, it became a model in terms of livability. Iloilo City receives various recognitions through the years: Highly Urbanized City, 8th Safest City in Southeast Asia, and Most Business-friendly City. “The greater purpose is to make it known that Iloilo is a forward-thinking city that cares for its people, its environment, and its heritage.” “What does this [Bike Capital of the Philippines] mean for us, really? Do we expect to attract more tourists? Maybe. Will there be more bike-owning Ilonggos? Why not, I hope so. Achieving both is good and all part of the grand plan. But the greater purpose is to make it known that Iloilo is a forwardthinking city that cares for its people, its environment, and its heritage,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. It was July 31, 2022, at Festive Walk Iloilo–just like before, they were all prepared. Their bikes’ seats were tightened. The tire pressure of their wheels was just right. The brake levers and brake pads were functioning properly. But, this time, they didn’t gather in black. They gathered in colors— a symbol of their vibrant enthusiasm. The same bicycle activist from the campaign was there, along with more than 1500 cyclists. They pushed themselves by foot and tucked their feet upwards onto the pedals. They pedaled together as one to celebrate Iloilo’s new victory— it bagged the “Philippine Bike Capital” title.