DepEd eyes bicycles as newest 'come-on' to encourage students to go to school

Bicycles may soon serve as the latest "two-pronged incentive" to go to school for poor but deserving students: not only as means of transportation but also as a tool to teach students about road safety and the environment.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said it is working with Bikes for the Philippines Foundation Inc. (BPFI) to provide bicycles initially for students of Baclayon National High School in Bohol.

“This will not only help them get to school but also provides a way to teach road safety and environmentalism,” DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said in a news release.

For now, the project is targeting Grade 7 to 12 students, but proponents are studying expanding the age range of the beneficiaries.

Under the program, the foundation will donate P600,000 worth of bicycles to the program.

Students who benefit from the program will be trained not only on proper bike handling but also maintenance.

On the other hand, Luistro, who signed a memorandum of agreement on the bikes with BPFI president Joel Uichico, said they agreed to look into having the project cover more areas.

“I have asked the field offices to evaluate their areas to see if their students can be beneficiaries as well,” Luistro said. - VVP, GMA News