‘Donate A Bike, Save A Job’ gets backing from MVP
THROUGH Donate A Bike, Save A Job founded by volleyball star-turned-television presenter Gretchen Ho — business magnate and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan has donated over 500 bicycles through the “Bike for Livelihood” initiative.
The project was made in time for last Thursday’s celebration of World Bicycle Day.
“I was really surprised when Sir Manny messaged me on Facebook wanting to donate, after watching my story on the rollerblader that we gave a bike to. I was just finishing off donations from last year but welcome to Donate A Bike, Save A Job Season 2,” said Ho.
Pangilinan’s donations to beneficiaries nationwide was made through the PLDT-Smart Foundation, One Meralco Foundation, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation and First Pacific Company Limited.
“I could see that the biking project was something that could help the livelihood of our people,” said Pangilinan.
“At the end of the day, the best solution to poverty is livelihood. If you could provide them with a means of making themselves a livelihood, whether by delivering food, medicine or water, I think that’s something we should support.”
Apart from the donations, the MVP Group of Companies has also pledged to support bike-friendly initiatives such as bike parking, among others, to encourage their own employees to bike to work.
“The hope is to provide people with the tools, not just to survive the pandemic, but to be able to thrive in the new normal. I think it’s a great initiative where bicycles have given them the means to go to work instead of walking for hours. At the same time it’s health and wellness. It’s very much in line with what we stand for and we’ve really embraced the meaningful project,” said Smart President and CEO Al Panlilio.
“Bike for Livelihood” will be working with different local government units to identify recipients, starting with Pasig City, and eventually reaching recipients in Manila, Quezon City, Malabon, Caloocan and Batangas.
“Napakaganda ng programa na ito. We are really pushing to be more bicycle friendly.” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
