The provincial board of Iloilo has approved an ordinance on cycling lanes, bicycle parking and pedestrian walkways in the province. The board, known as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, passed the measure on third and final reading. Bombo Radyo Iloilo reported the approval on October 17. The report did not give the date of the vote.
The measure is called the Active Transport Ordinance of the Province of Iloilo. Bombo Radyo said it was pushed by Board Member June Mondejar and sponsored by several other board members.
Mondejar said the ordinance encourages residents to walk or ride a bicycle as another way to get around. The board member said this is meant to help ease traffic congestion, address vehicle emissions and improve public health.
Who is responsible for which roads
According to Mondejar, the ordinance divides the work by type of road:
- The Iloilo Provincial Government is responsible for cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways on provincial roads.
- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) handles them on national roads.
- Component cities, towns and barangays are responsible for the roads under their own care.
The Provincial Engineer’s Office will prepare the design specifications for bicycle facilities on newly concreted and newly asphalted roads, Mondejar said. It will also prepare standard designs for pedestrian walkways and bicycle parking.
The ordinance also calls on government agencies to coordinate with one another. The aim is for cycling lanes and walkways on provincial roads and national roads to connect properly.
Bicycle parking
The ordinance requires bicycle parking at many kinds of places. Bombo Radyo listed government offices, public markets, schools, churches, transport terminals, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and other establishments.
Mondejar said that from January 2028, bicycle parking is expected to become a requirement for businesses that apply for or renew a business permit. The same is expected for building permits and occupancy permits, according to Mondejar.
Barangay micro-business enterprises, a class of very small businesses, may be exempted if they have no space for bicycle parking, Mondejar said.
What the report did not say
The Bombo Radyo report did not say when the ordinance takes effect, how much the province will spend, or which roads will get cycling lanes first. Pedalan read the report in Hiligaynon, the language in which it was published, and found no other news report on the ordinance to compare it with.
For the national picture, see the Pedalan guide to bike lanes, helmets and the law.