Iloilo City bids to become Phl's "bike capital"

CEBU, Philippines -  Around 3,000 cyclists from Iloilo City and neighboring towns gathered Sunday for the first Iloilo Bike Festival, held at the Megaworld's 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district of this city.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said the weeklong bike festival was proof that Iloilo City is now geared into becoming a livable and bike-able city, and the country's bike capital.

"It's our way of showing that we are an environmentally-friendly city. It's about time we become conscious about biking and what it can do to help our environment," he said.

Drilon announced the road widening projects along the B. Aquino Avenue in Mandurriao, up to Brgy. Sambag in Jaro district, will have a paved 10-kilometer bike lane. The 60-meter wide road network will have a 5-7 meters of bike lane. "As we widened the roads, then let us provide for the bike lanes," the senator said.

Road widening will also be done from Jaro up to the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan where bike lanes will be built also.

Another project will be the 14-kilometer circumferential road, from Acropolis Subdivision in Arevalo district to the coastal road in Dumangas town, which will have a 2-meter bike road on both sides. This circumferential road will be named President Corazon Aquino Avenue. "We could be the only city in the country with at least 25 kilometers of bike lane," Drilon said.

Other government officials, who graced the 1st Iloilo Bike Festival, were Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa III, city Rep. Jerry Treñas, while environment advocates and Megaworld executives also participated in the 25-kilometer scenic bike ride.

"The purpose of this festival is to gather the Ilonggo community and showcase the 'live-work-play' lifestyle of the Iloilo Business Park. Everybody should always have time for fun," said Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong, marketing head for Iloilo Business Park of Megaworld.  (FREEMAN)