‘Shoe capital’ Marikina now wants to be biking capital with ‘bike-to-work’ drive

MANILA, Philippines — The shoe capital of the country is fast-becoming the biking capital as well.

Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman has initiated a bicycle loan program exclusive to city hall employees, in an attempt to encourage more people to use the vehicle as a mode of transportation in the city.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 00-3-13, the city government can now extend an amount not exceeding P5,000 to the interested employees, whether permanent, contractual, project-based, causal, or service volunteers.

Those who wish to avail themselves of the program should have a net take-home pay of not less than P1,000, according to a statement of the Public Information Office.

The bicycles, it added, should be purchased from accredited stores within the city.

“In our bike-to-work program, the residents of Marikina are encouraged to use bicycles as an alternative means of transportation in going to school or work,” De Guzman said.

The loaned money would be deducted from the employees’ bi-monthly payroll in six months, the statement said.

It added that those who secure a bicycle through the program can avail of a free maintenance service of the vehicle courtesy of the Marikina Bikeways Office.