Iloilo City’s ‘I-Bike’ program bags Galing Pook Award

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo City Government’s I-Bike program, which solidifies the city’s tagline as the “Bike Capital of the Philippines,” bagged this year’s Galing Pook Award in recognition of its impact in harnessing citizens’ participation in promoting bike-friendly culture in the metro.

“Galing Pook is about good governance and projects worthy of emulation by other local government units (LGUs). This caps the awards we have been receiving. Congratulations to all Ilonggos as this is for you,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said.

“This proves that good governance can produce good results for the benefit of our constituents as Ilonggos should continue to strive harder to reach greater heights,” he added.

Treñas personally attended the awarding ceremony and received the award from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022.

Public Safety and Transportation Management Office head Jeck Conlu also attended the awarding.

The I-Bike program, which promotes the development of the city’s bike-friendly culture, is also an expansion of existing initiatives from the public and private sectors, as it encourages the public to practice safe mobility and road sharing.

A total of 196 LGUs vied for the Galing Pook Awards this year and it was trimmed down to 18 finalists, which included Iloilo City.

On Nov 21, the Iloilo City Government and other finalists underwent a panel interview and final presentation to determine the ten entries that stood out and would be included in this year’s list of Galing Pook awardees.

The city government highlighted during the presentation the city’s safe and eco-friendly bike lane system spanning the City Proper, Mandurriao, and Molo districts, which improved the bike networks in the metro.

Iloilo City has been known recently for its bike-friendly mobility infrastructure, including the 11-kilometer bike path called Iloilo City Network, as well as accessible bike parking racks in public places and government buildings.

Iloilo City also won gold in the 2021 Mobility Awards and 2021 Bike Lane Awards, while the PhilBike Awards cited Iloilo City as the ‘Most Bike-Friendly City’ in 2018.

The ‘Friday Bike Count’ conducted on all Fridays in June 2022 also indicated that there were 22,114 cyclists on major city thoroughfares, which showed the influence of cycling in the city, whether as a mode of transportation, a hobby, or as a form of exercise.

The I-Bike program of Iloilo City is the third Galing Pook Award given to the city government. The first two were the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival in 2013 and the Iloilo River Rehabilitation Project in 2018.

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr., who led the awarding ceremony, encouraged LGUs to continue innovating programs that will provide solutions and inspire other communities.

“I encourage you to continue your programs and advocacy so that you may inspire your fellow LGUs to also introduce innovative practices geared toward improving the lives of your constituents,” Marcos Jr. said.

“Let your constant pursuit of inclusive and sustainable and participative governance inspire our people to also cooperate with our unification efforts and make them know that we will serve them regardless of any color,” the President added.

Here is the full list of this year’s Galing Pook awardees:

– The Green Wall of Alcala – Alcala, Cagayan

– Advancing and Sustaining Good Governance and Community Actions Towards Resiliency and Empowerment – Basilan province

– Bataan Public-Private Partnership Programs – Bataan province

– Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development through Heritage Conservation – Biñan City, Laguna

– From Black to Green: Fishponds, Eco-Tourism and Employment – Barangay Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal

– Trekking to Unlock Community Ailments and Difficulties (TUCAD) – Goa, Camarines Sur

– “I-BIKE” A Program Promoting the Development of the Iloilo City Bike Culture – Iloilo City

– Yaru: A Whole-of-Community Approach Towards Disaster Management – Itbayat, Batanes

– Libertad Fish Forever Savings Club – Libertad, Antique

– Basta Piddigueño, AgriHenyo: Consolidated Farm Production System – Piddig, Ilocos Norte

The Galing Pook Foundation is the leading resource institution that provides support, tools, and resources to LGUs to enable them in building adaptive solutions to challenges in their respective communities.