MABALACAT CITY -- Nacionalista Party senatorial bet Pia S. Cayetano took her trademark bicycle campaign around the province of Pampanga on February 19 to promote health and sustainable transportation among Kabalens.
A triathlete and known advocate of cycling, Cayetano pedaled from Clark Freeport in Angeles City to a rural health center in Mabalacat to lead a vaccination drive for infants and young children in Barangay Mabiga, together with parents and community health workers.
Cayetano was joined on the road by several local bikers led by national triathlon team coach, Melvin Fausto, who hails from Pampanga. The group also included 2017 South East Asian Games (SEA Games) triathlon silver medalist John Leerams Chicano, a native of Subic town in Zambales.
Cayetano and the cyclists then biked to the Mabalacat City Hall, where she paid a courtesy call to Mayor Cris Garbo, who took the former senator to a quick tour of her city's health service facilities.
“What’s very close to my heart is my passion for biking. I can say that it is here in Pampanga where my passion for biking because of its well-planned roads. I do this for health and wellness,” she shared in a local radio interview in the City of San Fernando.
Cayetano lauded the province of Pampanga for being the honing ground for national athletes and its development to become the Philippines' next premiere gateway to Asia and the world. The province and the rest of Central Luzon will lead the country's hosting of the 30th SEA Games in November.
Stressing the need for long-term sustainable solutions to traffic congestion, Cayetano said her biking campaign allows her to encourage more Filipinos to consider alternative modes of transportation like biking and walking.
She is also seeking the support of local government units (LGUs) for the allocation of more bike lanes and walkways in major thoroughfares across the country.
“The allocation of more bike lanes is just what we need. In blooming economies and areas like Central Luzon, the time is right to plan it properly for the people,” Cayetano said.
The Taguig representative particularly cited the the 5.58-kilometer bicycle lane along the newly built Laguna Lake Highway in Bicutan, Taguig City.
She stressed that similar “landmark projects” should be done throughout the country to make communities walkable and bike-friendly. (PR)