ILOILO City – A higher penalty of P5,000 is being pushed against motorists parking illegally on designated bike lanes.
Councilor Miguel Treñas, during Wednesday’s regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, proposed an amendment to Iloilo City Regulation Ordinance No. 2016-299 or the Benigno Aquino Bike Lane Ordinance which penalizes motorized vehicles that pass on, obstruct or excavate designated bike lanes.
Under the existing ordinance, violators are meted with a P2,000 fine and a citation ticket.
But, citing his observation that there are lots of motorists unmindfully parking on bike lanes especially in the City Proper and Molo areas, Treñas proposed a higher penalty of P5,000.
“This is our way of discouraging illegal parking along our bike lanes and also to avoid traffic congestion because of illegal parking,” he said.
The proposed measure already hurdled first reading and was referred to the SP committee on transportation chaired by Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna for study, report and recommendation.
Treñas noted during the committee hearing the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) will be involved and expected to provide data as to the number of motorists already apprehended for illegal parking at the bike lanes.
Aside from Regulation Ordinance 2016-299, another bike lane-related measure is the Ordinance 2014-193 (An ordinance requiring government and non-government buildings with existing parking spaces to provide a safe bicycle parking zone).
The city’s bike lanes – called the Iloilo City Network – is a safe, scenic and eco-friendly bike path stretching 11 kilometers.
In August last year, during the three-day Iloilo Bike Festival 2022, this southern city officially positioned itself as the “Bike Capital of the Philippines”.
The “Bike Capital” title came with the hashtag #BikeKaNamanSaIloiloCity.
“The city government through the MICE Center carefully planned the marketing campaign centered on Iloilo City Network with the objective of inviting people from all walks of life to come and experience Iloilo City,” Treñas said.
For her part, Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) chief operating officer, Atty. Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, through TPB Marketing and Events Division acting head Eloisa Romero, emphasized: “Our shared endeavor to push for bike tourism directly responds to the very core of our tourist sentiments, longing for more outdoor activities in a way that also allows people to rediscover the iconic sites of the place and, in between stops or at the end of each ride, be able to experience and taste the gastronomic flavors unique to your communities.”
The launch of Iloilo City as the “Bike Capital of the Philippines” is likewise well aligned with TPB’s advocacy for responsible tourism as it helps bring down carbon footprints, Allones added.
TPB also commended Iloilo City’s support to its creative sector by tapping them to create murals that make the bike pathways a sight to behold./PN
