BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated P90.41 million for the construction of active transport and expanded cycling infrastructure in the metropolis.
The City Council recently approved the endorsement aimed at authorizing Mayor Jerry Treñas to sign a memorandum of agreement with the DOTr to implement the Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program in the city.
The DOTr said the project would include expansion, upgrading, and maintenance of active transport infrastructure in Iloilo City.
The protected bike lanes are under DOTr’s active transport program – one of the agency’s flagship programs – that is by the National Transport Policy and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
The use of protected bike lanes was implemented at the height of the pandemic in 2021 when there was limited mobility due to the pandemic restrictions.
The bike lane network augmented public transportation and helped people safely get to work during the pandemic.
In its 2020 survey, the Social Weather Stations and Department of Health reported that 87 percent of Filipinos agree that roads in cities and municipalities will be better if public transportation, bikes, and pedestrians are prioritized over private vehicles.
Iloilo City has earned the title of the “Bike Capital of the Philippines” due to its extensive bike-friendly infrastructure and strong support for cycling as a mode of transportation.
The city boasts an extensive network of bike lanes, making it safe and convenient for cyclists to navigate the city. The 11-kilometer Iloilo River Esplanade is a popular route for both recreational cyclists and commuters.
The city government also hosts numerous cycling events and activities, including the annual Iloilo Bike Festival, which draws participants from across the country.
The allotted fund was part of the P705-million Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that the Department of Budget and Management released to the DOTr.
Under Special Provision (SP) No. 8 of the DOTr-Office of the Secretary’s 2023 budget, the appropriated amount for the program shall be used to construct protected bike lanes, procure bike racks, improve end-of-trip cycling infrastructure, construct safe and accessible pedestrian pathways and sidewalks, and upgrade existing pop-up bike lanes into permanent bike lanes.
The DOTr’s whole active transport campaign seeks to establish 2,400 kilometers of bike lanes in 2028 to provide safe infrastructure for cyclists, commuters, and other road users.
Once the agreement is signed, the DOTr will download the funds to the city government to conduct the necessary procurement activities for the project.
The DOTr, in coordination with the city government, will identify the prescribed locations and designs for the project, and monitor and evaluate the activities to ensure successful project implementation.
The city government will undertake the procurement of contractors under the issuances and policies of the Government Procurement Policy Board.
The city will also facilitate the monitoring and implementation of the project and submit weekly physical and financial status reports to the DOTr relative to the project’s progress of works, problems encountered, and project accomplishment./PN
