M4GG HAILS MAYOR RAISA FOR ILOILO CITY’S NAT’L BIKE DAY WINS

The Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) congratulated Mayor Raisa Treñas for the major distinctions earned by Iloilo City at the National Bike Day Awards and Recognitions 2025.

The city secured its third Gold Award and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Active Transport Non-Infrastructure Initiative in the competition organized by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Along with Mayor Treñas, who is a member with Observer Status, M4GG also extended its congratulations to Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City, and Mayor Leni Robredo of Naga City, who likewise received distinctions during the same event.

“Lubos na ipinagmamalaki kayo ng M4GG! Kaisa niyo kami sa pagtataguyod ng mga programa para sa ligtas, inklusibo, at sustainable na transportasyon sa ating bansa,” M4GG expressed through its official Facebook page.

Mayor Treñas, for her part, expressed gratitude to M4GG and, most especially, to the Ilonggos.

“Tungod sang inyo suporta kag pagpalangga sa aton siyudad, we were able to launch projects that brought positive impacts to our city, beneficial to the community. Pangabay ko lang, let us continue working together in creating more sustainable, people-centered, kag inklusibo nga serbisyo. Kay ini nga kadungganan deserve gid sang kada Ilonggo, bugal sang Siyudad sang Iloilo,” the city mayor said.

She added that the honor highlights the city’s transformational efforts in promoting biking as a mainstream mode of transport and in creating pedestrian-friendly spaces.

One of the city’s key non-infrastructure initiatives is the Iloilo Bike Festival, a public–private collaboration between the Iloilo City Government and Megaworld Corporation launched in 2014. What began as a two-day activity has since grown into a two-week celebration, showcasing various facets of cycling—advocacy, mobility, arts, sports, and recreation.

In recent years, activities on active transport have also been featured in the Mobility Forum and the Cycling Cities Conference, further strengthening Iloilo City’s leadership in sustainable mobility.

FIRST-EVER KATIPUNAN AWARDEE

Iloilo City also made history after it secured the first-ever Katipunan Award, the highest distinction given at the 2025 Mobility Awards, held in Quezon City on November 25.

The Katipunan Award also reflects the city’s strong and sustained transformational efforts in promoting active transport. It highlights how the city, along with various establishments and offices, encouraged residents, employees, and customers to adopt bike commuting as a mainstream transportation option while also advancing initiatives that make the city more pedestrian-friendly.

The Mobility Awards is organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), MNL Moves, 350 Pilipinas, The Climate Reality Project–Philippines, and Pinay Bike Commuter, in partnership with 39 local active mobility organizations nationwide. The initiative aims to inspire greater action, participation, and coordination among LGUs, workplaces, and commercial establishments working to improve urban mobility conditions.

According to the organizers, the Katipunan Award is the most difficult to achieve. It can only be earned in two ways — if a city or establishment attains a score of 4.0 in a single year, or if it wins three consecutive Gold Awards as a business, workplace, or LGU entity.

Iloilo City achieved this milestone with its third Gold Award as a Bike-Friendly City, coupled with a Silver Award as a Pedestrian-Friendly City.

These recognitions add to the city’s growing list of achievements, including the 2022 Galing Pook Award for its pioneering I-Bike Program, and the titles of Most Promising City for Public Transport and Bicycle-Friendly City at the Southeast Asia Mobility Awards Ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Iloilo City continues to lead the way in building a safer, more efficient, and more people-centered urban mobility system for all Ilonggos. (ADVERTORIAL PAID FOR BY CITY HALL)