Makati to co-host electric vehicle motorcade on Earth Day, tour of the fireflies on Sunday

MANILA, Philippines — A motorcade of electric vehicles will highlight the observance of Earth Day by the Makati City government on April 22. Dubbed “Byaheng Malinis, Byaheng Kay Ganda," the motorcade of electric vehicles to be conducted in key areas of Metro Manila on April 22. The city government portal (www.makati.gov.ph) said the motorcade's sponsors include the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer (GRIPP), a civic group organized by exponents of Greenpeace, the Miss Philippines Earth group, and the City of Makati. It is meant to continuously promote the use of vehicles powered by engines powered by alternatives to fossil fuels, which are believed to be the main cause of global warming. Joining the motorcade are four electric bicycles, a dozen electric scooters, an electric car, three electric tricycles and eight electric jeepneys, with contestants of the Miss Philippines Earth 2009 on board. Portions of Roxas Boulevard, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Shaw Boulevard are included in the route of the motorcade that will end at the Legaspi Mini Park in Makati. Assembly time is at 6:30 a.m. in the vicinity of National Statistics Office (NSO) and Hobbies of Asia, Diosdado Macapagal Ave., Parañaque City. Meanwhile, Makati will play a key role in the 11th Tour of the Fireflies on Sunday. The effort is in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and firefly brigades of different local governments. Makati Department of Environmental Services (DES) chief Danilo Villas said Makati will be among the five key cities of Metro Manila that will serve as pit stops of the Tour of the Fireflies. Villas said Mayor Jejomar Binay will lead other officials and guests in welcoming all the participants upon their arrival in the city. With the theme “Bike to Work, Bike to School, Bike to Play, Bike Today!," Makati will be the second and last water stop of the 50-kilometer bicycle ride around Metro Manila. The water stop in Makati will be at the Tower One and Exchange Plaza on Ayala Avenue. “The annual Tour of the Fireflies has served as a constant reminder of our individual and collective duty to take care of the environment. The widely noted disappearance of fireflies from polluted places should be sufficient warning for us to do our part and become active environmental advocates, lest we suffer the same fate," Villas said. The event will start and end at the Tiendesitas Grounds in Pasig City. The tour will pass through the cities of Pasig, Quezon City, Caloocan, Madaluyong and Makati. Some 5,000 cycling enthusiasts are expected to participate in the event. Also joining this year’s tour are the candidates of Ms. Philippines Earth 2009 candidates. Makati’s participants in this year’s tour include Makati Cycling Federation, Makati Road Runners, Bigay Pagmamahal Scholars, and the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Makati. The DES also invites interested bike riders to join the event. The registration will start at 5:30 am and the tour starts at 7 a.m. The Tour of the Fireflies is an annual “mardi gras on wheels" that is one of the many activities commemorating the worldwide celebration of Earth Day. A convoy of costumed bicycle riders passes through different cities to raise awareness about the need for clean air and promote the use of bicycles as an alternative and sustainable transportation that is cheap, efficient, environmentally sensible, and good for one’s health. Aside from providing potable water for participants, the Makati Rescue will deploy medical units and conveyance at strategic points along the bike route for emergency response and medical assistance. The city’s Department of Public Safety will likewise supervise traffic control and management along the tour route. There will also be synchronized bicycle rides in Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Baguio, and Palawan to drum up awareness for sustainable transportation and livable communities. - GMANews.TV