Iloilo City named most promising bike-friendly city in SEA

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

MANILA — Iloilo City was named one of Southeast Asia’s Most Promising Public Transport Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the 2025 South East Asian Mobility Awards (SEAMA) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, September 19.

The city was recognized in the Component Cities category alongside Georgetown, Malaysia, and Bandung, Indonesia, for showcasing bike lane infrastructure and how cycling enhances urban life.

According to the SEAMA website, the award highlights cities that make meaningful strides in integrating cycling into everyday mobility.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said in a statement posted on the city government’s Facebook page, “This recognition proves that Iloilo City is on the right track in creating sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered mobility.”

“Our efforts are not just about infrastructure, but about giving Ilonggos safer, greener, and healthier options for transport and everyday living.”

In a video message played during the awards ceremony, Treñas-Chu credited the city’s cycling progress to collaboration between stakeholders across sectors.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the biking community and advocates, festival organizers, our partners in business, government, and civil society, whose commitment make active mobility a reality,” she said.

“Together, we prove that we can work hand in hand, and we can build a city where sustainable transport and vibrant public spaces are not only possible, but celebrated,” she added.

The SEAMA website describes the awards as a “dynamic campaign empowering Southeast Asian citizens to spotlight their cities through visual storytelling.”

Iloilo City has long aimed to become the bike capital of the Philippines, with numerous local and international recognitions for its cycling infrastructure and inclusive mobility programs.

According to the 2024 Bilang Siklista Bicycle Count report, Iloilo City recorded a daily average of 7,070 cyclists.