By Francis Allan L. Angelo
Ilonggo artist and biking advocate Rock Drilon brushed aside insinuations that bikers are being favored in the plan to close JM Basa Street in downtown Iloilo City on Sundays.
In a statement to Daily Guardian, Drilon said the proposed project is labeled as “pedestrianization.”
“It’s all pedestrians, not just bikers. Pedestrianized ang tawag sini to mean car-less for only a day in a week,” he said.
Drilon said the aim is not to “kill” the downtown area by banning motorized vehicles but to revitalize the area by allowing pedestrians and bikers the unimpeded use of the street, which is popularly called Calle Real, on Sundays only.
Calle Real is also the site of heritage buildings that were constructed in the early 1900s and testaments to the city’s rich history.
“Patay ang Calle Real on Sundays. Mayor (Jerry Treñas) conveyed to us nga ‘bubuhayin’ sang city government ang aton heritage street on Sundays so Ilonggos will have an option to go to a safe place where they can eat, shop, have fun, walk, bike in the open and even bring their pets without the pollution from car emissions or fear of being hit or ran over by motorized vehicles. This is a highly commendable decision especially in the time of the pandemic,” he added.
Drilon also explained the concept of road-sharing among motorists, bikers, and pedestrians.
He said that share-the-road can mean two ways:
-Road-sharing simultaneously like in the case of an 8-lane Iloilo Bridge wherein the city government has dedicated one under-used motorists’ lane for exclusive use by bicyclists to use as connector so they can cross the river safely to circuit from one bike lane to another.
The use of rubber plant pots as barriers to protect the bikers is an innovation that earned praises from bikers and motorists alike not only in Iloilo but all over the country.
Photos of the Iloilo Bridge connector-innovation have become favorite references in many mobility Zoom conferences among advocates and implementers.
-Road-sharing on different days. In the case of the planned pedestrianized Calle Real, 6 days for motorized vehicles on busy days (Monday to Saturday) and a day for non-motorized mobility (peds, bikers, wheelchairs.) which falls on a Sunday.
“When Calle Real is almost abandoned and economic activity in the area reduced to almost zero, only motorized vehicles are not allowed but their drivers are most welcome provided they walk, bike or dance,” he added.
Drilon said the project can revitalize the local arts scene through live performances by musicians and even portrait painting and other art and craft display by local artists and other creatives.
He noted that there are other adjacent parallel roads motorists could use on Sundays without driving through Calle Real if the purpose is only to get to their destinations.
“If implemented, a pedestrianized Calle Real will be another Iloilo innovation that Ilonggos can be proud of,” Drilon said.
Drilon said the plan had been attempted before in the administration of former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog with then councilor Jason Gonzalez and incumbent Councilor Jay Treñas as main proponents.
“I just hope that this time there will be more economic and fun activities so both permanent establishments there and temporary stalls for the day like those of the night market, produkto local, plantita stalls, cafe y bisicleta, among others, can participate in this innovation for sustainability.”
Transport groups have been up in arms against the JM Basa closure on Sundays saying it will affect their income amid the pandemic.
They proposed that Muelle Loney Street, which is parallel to JM Basa, be used instead.
Village officials in the downtown area said they do not have objections to the plan since it could help revitalize economic and social activities on Sundays which is considered “dead days” of Calle Real.
Barangay officials also pledged to help maintain security and observance of health protocols should the plan push through.
The proposed pedestrianization will cover barangays Barangays Magsaysay, Arsenal-Aduana, Yulo-Arroyo, Nonoy, Ortiz, Maria Clara and Muelle Loney in the City Proper district.
