MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government and nearby areas known as the “Alliance of 7’’ will vigorously promote the use of bicycles in a bid to address the environmental issues.

Mayor Herbert M. Bautista will be giving away 10 bicycles to selected community leaders in the city who are active in the rehabilitation of the Marikina Watershed Project and in the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR) effort.

The bikes will be distributed during the pre-anniversary activities of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 23.

Aside from Quezon City, the other members of the alliance are Marikina City, Pasig City, Antipolo City and the towns of Cainta and San Mateo, Rizal.

The event, dubbed as “Padyak for CDRR,” is a cycling caravan that will start in Quezon City and end in Marikina that promotes the role of the bike as CDRR tool.

The participating cyclists will stop in each city to discuss the climate change and disaster risk reduction in a simple ceremony headed by the local chief executives.

PRRM, the organizer of the event, believes that the bicycle is a useful tool in spreading vital information in the communities that concerns saving on gasoline while keeping the air clean.

On the other hand, the caravan and the program during the event will enable to promote effort for the rehabilitation of the Marikina Watershed to a wider public, according to the PRRM. (Chito Chavez)