Himamaylan City gears up for ‘Bike to Work, Bike to School’

The City of Himamaylan in Negros Occidental has introduced the “Bike to Work and Bike to School” program as part of the local government efforts to protect the environment.

The initiative was launched during the kickoff of the 16th Environment Week themed “Time for Nature” held at the Himamaylan City Hall yesterday.

Mayor Raymund Tongson, who led the launching activity, said going back to the basics like using a bicycle to go to school and work is one way for the Himamaylanons to “secure the community and protect the environment”.

“We are going back to basics. Through biking, we are able to appreciate the simplest things around us. Our thrust is defending and securing the simplest things in our community today,” he added.

Tongson said looking at the brighter side of things amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, he hopes that people will realize that Mother Nature was healing while communities have been quarantined for months and socio-economic movements have been challenged.

Armela Waldato, city environment management officer-designate, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) the launching activity is a prelude to a “bigger plan” to establish bike lanes in the major roads of Himamaylan.

“We want to have bike lanes that are functional, safe and free from obstacles and hazard,” she added.

Waldato said using bicycles as an alternative means of transportation will help save the environment by cutting down carbon footprint.

She added the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao will pass a resolution urging or encouraging residents of Himamaylan to use bicycles as an alternative form of transportation.

The opening program of the 16th Environment Week was attended by members of various bikers club, Bantay Bukid volunteers, and personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Provincial Environment Management Office.

In November last year, Himamaylan hosted the 5th Tour of the Fireflies participated by some 4,000 bikers.

The advocacy ride for clean air, road sharing, and discipline was one of the activities of the 15th Provincial Wildlife Month Festival.*