Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea G. Gozun said the event aims to encourage the public to patronize non-motorized transport that would help reduce harmful emissions in the air.
"We are encouraging the public to start using bikes instead of using public or private transport when carrying out small, day-to-day activities. This effort would not only help clean the air but could also improve the over-all health of a person," Gozun said.
The activity highlights this year’s celebration of the Clean Air Month and is envisioned to be the biggest gathering of professional and amateur cyclists in the country.
The cyclists will assemble at the DENR grounds along Visayas Ave. in Quezon City, pass through the stretch of EDSA (Quezon Ave. to Macapagal Ave. in Pasay), and converge at the People Power Monument.
The cyclists will be joined by other clean air advocates at the EDSA People Power Monument for a brief program. Aside from the DENR chief, other officials expected to grace the occasion are Energy Secretary Vincent Perez, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, and Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza. Other invited guests are Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and six local executives of Kalookan, Quezon, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, and Valenzuela.
The event is a follow-up activity to the SmokeFree EDSA launched last Sept. 27, which aims to reduce total suspended particulates (TSP) level along EDSA by 20 percent.
TSP refers to small solid and liquid particles suspended in the air which include dust, smoke, metallic and mineral particles, soot, mist and acid fumes monitored by the DENR through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
TSP, even in small doses, affect breathing, cause eye irritation and serious lung problems.