DENR chief vows government support for biking

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has promised to deliver projects that will encourage more people to use the bicycle as a means of transportation.

In a statement issued for yesterday’s National Bicycle Day celebration, he said that aside from its health benefits, biking also reduces air pollution and could help mitigate the impact of climate change.

“With COVID-19, we have rediscovered the benefits of cycling and walking – saving money, getting fit, and helping to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. We can choose to keep this momentum,” Cimatu said.

President Duterte issued Proclamation 1052 last Nov. 18 to declare the fourth Sunday of November of every year as National Bicycle Day to promote bicycle as a “sustainable and environment-friendly” mode of transportation.

Cimatu said that bike riding plays an important role in fighting climate change as it could help reduce carbon emissions from motor vehicles.

“If no changes are made on the climate front, the global average temperature will exceed the two degrees centigrade temperature limit set by the Paris Agreement by 2030,” he noted.

He added that “a 20-percent increase in cycling worldwide could cut carbon dioxide emissions from urban passenger transport by nearly 11 percent in 2050.”

To further promote biking in Metro Manila, Cimatu revealed that the government would be constructing interconnected and protected bike lanes equipped with racks, spanning 600 kilometers.

The government, he added, will also introduce bicycle-sharing systems.

Cimatu said the project would be funded with a P1.3-billion allocation from the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.