MANILA, Philippines?In keeping with his city?s aspiration to become the biking capital of the country, Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman has ordered the revival of an office that will promote cycling as an alternative means of transportation.

The move comes on the heels of a recent initiative to revitalize the city?s 52-kilometer network of bikeways, which was completed as early as 2007 with a $1.3M grant from the Global Environment Facility, but was not properly maintained.

?We are hoping that this move will benefit not just our residents, but Mother Nature as well,? the mayor said.

De Guzman recently issued Executive Order 005-11 delegating the responsibility of ?educating the public about cycling? to the Marikina Bikeways Office, which was created in 2001 for the same purpose but became defunct after only six years.

Guided by Ordinance No. 117, Series of 2001, MBO shall also now implement marketing strategies that ?will put the bikeways on the map? and ensure maintenance of the said infrastructure.

?The city is pushing (for) this advocacy to decrease the traffic count of motorized vehicles and to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide and other emissions released into the air,? MBO head Lota Contreras said.

Contreras added that the city government will be able to introduce a "more environmental approach" to transportation with the bikeways? revitalization.