EU bats for bike-to-work in PH

MANILA — To promote a sustainable lifestyle, the European Union (EU) delegation to the Philippines is hosting anew a month-long bike-to-work challenge in May this year.

In a press briefing in Makati City on Monday, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen announced that EU institutions, especially the Manila delegation, will spearhead the May 1-31 challenge of cycling to work.

The challenge takes place in Bohol to show to participants the well-preserved green spaces in the city.

“Bohol is a nice place where more people will go and [thus more will] learn the importance the need to help protect the environment and promote a sustainable lifestyle,” Jessen said in an interview.

This is in line with EU Cycling Group’s idea of encouraging the daily use of bicycle of all EU staff and promote their interests to commute by bike.

Most of the EU institutions, including its delegation in Manila, will be participating in the program which is now on its second year.

The VeloMai campaign promotes the use of the bicycle as a healthy and sustainable mode of transport, namely to commute to work, in line with the health well-being and staff mobility policies of the EU Institutions. This also helps to improve air quality.

This event is in line with the EU’s bike tour in Bohol on May 6 to 7 following the successful tours in Palawan and Guimaras in 2018.