MESSAGE | Bikers in Davao City on Sunday hit the road carrying signs calling for prompt action against the worsening impact of climate change. (Photo from the Philippine Movement for Climate Change)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — Hundreds of bikers in Cagayan de Oro and Davao cities hit the road on Sunday for the “Pedal for People and Planet” campaign to bring attention to the climate crisis and the need for governments and businesses to institute proactive measures to stem the worsening impact of climate change.
The event, which was also held in major cities in the country and in Asia, was timed for World Environment Day on Monday, and the holding of the inter-sessional meetings in Bonn, Germany, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
With zero carbon emission, cycling is the most sustainable means of transportation, symbolizing the climate activists’ urgent call for “real and just solutions” to transforming the country’s current fossil-dependent energy system.
“We are hosting this activity to raise awareness of the issues of climate change, global warming, and sea level rise caused by the excessive use of fossil fuel for transportation and energy,” said Lenin Amidala Corrales of the group Youth for Climate Justice in Cagayan de Oro, where more than 300 bikers registered for Sunday’s ride.
In Davao City, over 300 bikers from various groups carried messages that demand prompt resolution of various environmental challenges in the city.
They also urged local officials to reject dirty energy, oppose waste-to-energy incineration, invest in true zero-waste solutions, expand green spaces, build conducive infrastructure for nonmotorized vehicles, and preserve natural resources such as heritage trees, urban wetlands and watersheds.
Rara Ada, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) campaign coordinator, stressed the importance of cities like Davao to commit to building renewable and clean energy sources: “We need a decisive shift away from fossil fuels. Such action would not only benefit Davao but also serve as an example for other highly urbanized cities in the Philippines and the world.”
PMCJ had recently posed a strong objection to the plan by San Miguel Power to build a power plant in Zamboanga City that runs on liquefied natural gas — which could be the first such facility in Mindanao—citing pollution and safety concerns.