BAGUIO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Transportation are calling on local government units (LGUs) that have made “great strides” in establishing active transport infrastructures such as bike lanes throughout the region.
“The Bike Lane Awards 2021 aims to acknowledge the accomplishments of LGUs, and showcase their innovative practices and interventions for the promotion of active transport,” said Officer-In-Charge Regional Director Araceli San Jose.
It can be recalled that the DILG issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2020-100 on July 17, 2020 to provide guidelines for the establishment of networks of cycling lanes and walk paths. The said policy also directs all local government units to promote, and make active transportation accessible as a means to support people’s mobility within their respective area of jurisdiction.
San Jose said that the MC is in support of Presidential Proclamation No. 1052 series of 2020, declaring the Fourth Sunday of November as the “National Bike Day,” which encourages LGUs to prioritize sidewalk and bike lane development, with the goal of promoting sustainable, inclusive, secure, and active transport systems.
Meanwhile, the following criteria will be used to judge the entries: Institutional Mechanism – 5 percent; Policy, Ordinances, and Issuance – 5 percent ; Coverage of Bicycle Network – 10 percent; Planning of Bicycle Network – 15 percent ; Quality of Network and Infrastructure Design – 20 percent; Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation – 20 percent; Road Safety Design and Compliance to the design standards – 25 percent.
Further, San Jose said that for qualified LGUs, they may submit their entries through the LGU’s respective DILG Regional Offices/Field Operating Units using the template as a reference guide that can be accessed through the link: bit.ly/2021bikelanesaward.
She stated that the awards will be given in three categories: city, first-to-third-class municipalities, and fourth-to-sixth-class municipalities. The top three LGUs in each category will receive gold, silver, and bronze awards, provided that the LGU’s overall score percentage is at least 75 percent.
Adding, “Special awards may be given to LGUs that have demonstrated exemplary performance, best practices, and innovative interventions in specific aspects of program implementation,” she explained.
The deadline for the submission of entries will be on Oct. 22, while the awarding ceremony is set on Nov. 28, National Bike Day.
