The volunteers of BCERT Cycle Response Unit spearheaded the Bike Scouts Cebu Volunteers Cyclist Orientation and launching of Tern Bicycles Pilipinas Cargo Bike Fleet for disaster response, litteracy drive, environmental initiatives, and other community outreach activities last September 17, 2022 at Diamond Suites and Residences, Cebu City. The Tern Cargo bike fleet is the very first in the country with a sole purpose to serve the public.
The orientation was led by Myles Delfin founder of Bike Scouts Philippines and Lou Gepuela President of Bike Scouts Philippines to discuss the functions of Bike Scouts as a community with the help of technology. The Cebu City SUGBO BIKE LANES BOARD presented their accomplishments and challenges as discussed by Rex Raven Ulila of SBLB legal department.
The Cycle Response Unit fleet was introduced by Joseph Inosante the co founder of Base Camp Emergency Response Team Inc. and brainchild of the CRU fleet. BCERT CRU is the first response bike unit in the county to operate under EMS-DRR with regular patrols, AED, training standards, and operational guidelines. The goal is to promote and encourage other regions or cities to form their very own cycle responders. The participants also discussed other environmental projects, advocacies or what can they offer to the province of Cebu as cyclist using their existing resources.
The University of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu & Mandaue campus) high school department will be also signing a memorandum of agreement with Base Camp Emergency Response Team for their community extension program as to promote disaster preparedness, emergency resilience , literacy programs, and environmental awareness. The Mobile Library Book Drive was officially launched on the event and aim to collect one thousand books for the coming months.
The members and officers of Rotary Club Mandaue East headed by their current President Claudine Hibaya also turned over the donated bike repair tools to the volunteers of BCERT CRU. Do it Paint Philippines a local paint manufacturing company also pledged to support the volunteers by providing cleaning solutions for the response bicycles fleet. Other partners from LifeKit Philippines, Andots Sportwear, and Citi Avenue Bike shop also sent their support for the volunteers by providing medical supplies and personal protection equipment. UNTV News and Rescue also covered the event and conducted interview to the resource speakers and participants.
This is the first volunteer cyclist orientation organized for the Cebuano cycling community and Bike Scouts Cebu. They only aim to be more ready during calamities and emergencies by using bicycles as a way of giving hope or saving lives. (PR)
