Makati to hold bike event on Sunday

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government through its Department of Environmental Services (DES) will hold a 25-kilometer bicycle riding event on Sunday morning to drum up support for the nationwide observance of Environment Month this June.

DES chief Danilo Villas said the bike run dubbed “Bike for Mother Earth” aims to promote cycling as an affordable and environment-friendly means of getting from one place to another, and generate public support for the fight against global warming through the use of alternative transport with little or no carbon emissions to reduce greenhouse emissions.

Now on its fourth year, Bike for Mother Earth is expected to draw over 1,000 cyclists with members of the Makati Cycling Federation and Cycling Advocates (CYCAD) joining other bike enthusiasts from DES, the Makati Cooperative Development office and other partner-organizations. To join the event, cyclists must bring plastic (PET) bottles when they register.

“We invite everyone to join the Makati Bike for Mother Earth event on Sunday.  Only one plastic (PET) bottle is needed for registration,” Villas said.

The registration and program proper will take place at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle on Sunday from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., and a photo exhibit booth set up by CYCAD will be open for viewing as well.

Meanwhile, spectators and family and friends of the bikers can enjoy a two-hour calisthenics and Zumba session at the Quadrangle, led by Ester Bandoma of Makati Park and Garden Aero Club, while waiting for the bikers to return.

Villas also announced that on June 26, Thursday, DES will lead simultaneous planting and greening activities in two locations. 

Around 933.75 linear meters or 1.673 square meters will be planted with poison ivy along the perimeter walls of the PNR area from Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue to Zobel Roxas St.

At the same time, environmental advocates, including high school students, will be planting 800 Banaba and Calumpit seedlings in an open area of PNR from Magallanes to Don Bosco, measuring 663 linear meters or around 3.978 square meters. 

From the assembly and starting point of the bike run at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle, the bikers will take the following route: turn left to Angono St., right to J.P. Rizal St. then left to Kalayaan Avenue, and turn left towards Makati Avenue.

From Makati Avenue, turn right to J.P. Rizal St., then make a left turn to Apitong St., turn right to J.P. Rizal St. going to Lawton Avenue, turn right to Kalayaan Avenue going straight to the Buendia-Kalayaan flyover down to Gil Puyat Avenue. Turn left to Bautista St., make another left to Edison St. and make another left turn to Pasay Road.

From Pasay Road, turn right to Evangelista St., turn left to Gen. Lim St., turn right to Osmena Highway and make a right turn to Gil Puyat Avenue when the u-turn slot is reached. From Gil Puyat Avenue, turn left to Chino Roces Avenue, make a right turn to get to Kalayaan Avenue and make a left turn at Pililia St., turn right to Osmena St., then turn right at F. Zobel St., and make a right turn to head back to the Makati City Hall Quadrangle.