Hundreds join Makati's 5th “Bike for Mother Earth”

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/261435028326/hundreds-join-makati-s-5th-bike-for-mother-earth-
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015

By Jerome R. Paunan (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, 23 (PIA) – More than a thousand biking enthusiasts from the city and nearby localities had a chance to demonstrate their advocacy for a healthy environment Sunday during the 5th Bike for M.E. (Mother Earth) organized by the local government and its partners.

Themed “Stop Earth Destruction, Stop Global Warming”, this year’s cycling event started at two points, the barangay hall of Bangkal for District I and barangay hall of Rizal for District II.

Participants pedaled towards the converging point at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle with most bringing a PET bottle as their added contribution to saving mother earth. Those without bike helmets, however, were disqualified from joining the event.

The city government through the Department of Environmental Services (DES) has been holding the event for five years now to help raise awareness about the benefits of using non-carbon emitting modes of transport like bicycles. Using bikes not only promotes physical health but also helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.

The city’s major partners in the event include the Office of the Vice President, Liga ng mga Barangay, Makati Cooperative Development Office and Makati Cycling Federation.

Around 900 cyclists participated in last year’s Bike for M.E. Since its inception, the event collected three to five kilos of PET bottles every year, the proceeds of which are used for environmental projects.

Other event partners of the city government on this event are The Firefly Brigade, Tryon Marketing, Fil-Mari’s Bakery, JC Bicycle Shop, Equinox Bicycle Center, Bike Town Cyclery, Sabak Sports & Adventure, Endless Bike Shop, MACEMCO, Manila Water, MERALCO and Leaf Publications.