By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – 1,000 bikers took part in the 6th Tour of the Fireflies in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental Sunday morning.
Hosted by the City of Himamaylan, the latest edition of the advocacy ride pays tribute to the frontliners in the battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It is a fitting tribute to our front-liners while protecting human health and the environment from the effects of pollution as well as instilling road safety for the welfare of every community,” Himamaylan Mayor Raymund Tongson said.
Tongson and Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao led the led the city officials in welcoming the bikers from various areas in the province.
The event, originally scheduled as part of the 16th Provincial Environment Month Festival in November last year, is collaboration between the host-city, Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), and the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Negros Occidental.
According to the guidelines provided by the PEMO, only 1,000 bikers will be accommodated following the ruling of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), and all participants are required to observe health and safety protocols, particularly the wearing of face mask and social distancing.
Last year, some 4,000 bikers joined the 5th Tour of the Fireflies, traversing the 78-kilometer route from Bacolod to Himamaylan.
Beginners biked through the Tanate-Nabalian-Cabanbanan-Libacao-Payao-Cabadiangan-Carabalan route and back, while endurance bikers are via the Tanate-Highway-Carabalan Road-Bulod-Bulod Elementary School route and vice versa.
In Negros Occidental, the advocacy ride for clean air, road sharing, and discipline started five years ago when about 800 bikers converged in the northern town of Manapla.
Every year thereafter, the number of bikers increased until the COVID-19 pandemic limited the number of participants this year.
