Biking priest’s trek for typhoon victims reaches Davao City

A Catholic priest on a bike trek to pay tribute to victims of recent typhoons such as Ruby (Hagupit) and Yolanda (Haiya), reached Davao City Friday, a Mindanao news site reported Saturday.

Fr. Amado Picardal - who is on a "Climate Ride" from Baclaran in Metro Manila to Iligan City - arrived at the Redemptorist parish convent to cheers and confetti, MindaNews reported.

Picardal's trek seeks to pass areas hit by typhoons since 2011, including:

Picardal, 60 and now executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Committee on Basic Ecclesial Community, has so far traveled 1,469 kilometers since starting his ride Dec. 10.

He is expected to arrive in Iligan City December 23.

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In Tagum City, MindaNews said photojournalist and anti-pollution advocate Manman Dejeto joined him in heading for Davao City.

Dejeto biked 55 kilometers to Tagum City to meet Picardal.

Seven more bikers joined them in Bunawan district in Davao City, while more met him at the junction of Sasa and Panacan.

Last week, Picardal arrived in Tacloban City, one of the areas hit hardest by Yolanda, which left more than 6,300 dead in 2013. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News