Iloilo City breaks ground on PHP 74M bike, mobility hubs

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By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Iloilo City government formally broke ground on four projects on Monday, May 11, in a bid to boost its portfolio as an active mobility city, recognizing the needs of cyclists, pedestrians, and runners alike.

The four projects include the establishment of standalone and short-term end-of-trip cycling facilities and the construction of urban shading and public transport stops.

The groundbreaking was led by Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu at the premises of the standalone end-of-trip cycling facility at the Iloilo River Esplanade, which will include shower and bicycle parking facilities, among others.

The projects are pegged at PHP 74.021 million, funded through the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways program.

Iloilo City is only the second recipient of the DOTr funding, following Marikina City.

The contract was awarded to A.D. Pendon Construction and Supply, Inc.

In her message, Treñas-Chu said the new facilities are expected to encourage more people to ride their bikes.

The first facility, located at the Esplanade’s skate park, will target mostly cyclists, but also runners and pedestrians who use walking as a primary mode of transportation.

The mayor said the other end-of-trip facility will be located in the vicinity of the Freedom Grandstand, catering mainly to city government employees but also open to other offices in the area.

“We need the end-of-trip biking facilities, especially if we are promoting biking in the city. Going from your house, you wouldn’t need to take a bath since you’re on a bike. When you arrive [near] the office, you can take a bath there,” the mayor said in her message.

“We saw that there were many, not only bikes, but also running communities at the skate park, so it will be supported here in the city,” she said about the facility being constructed at the skate park.

The mayor also said the urban shading project, which will be located along the Diversion Road bike lane, was inspired by similar facilities in Vienna, Austria.

Despite the ceremonial groundbreaking, construction work has already started, with a billboard indicating the project began on January 21, 2026, with a 280-day timeline, expected to end on October 27, 2026.

Architect Wilfredo Sy Jr. of the city’s Active Mobility Council said the initial works that started in January included scoping and completion of the proper paperwork.

Treñas-Chu said the projects are just some of the city government’s moves toward achieving greater active mobility, encompassing not just cyclists but also pedestrians and other stakeholders.

She teased the city’s upcoming Active Mobility Festival in June, which she calls an “upgraded” version of the Bike Festival observed in previous years.