BACOLOD City – Around 4,000 bikers traversed the 78-km route from this city to the southern city of Himamaylan in Negros Occidental during the 5th Tour of the Fireflies.
The advocacy ride for clean air, road sharing and discipline was part of the 15th Provincial Wildlife Month Festival organized by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) and its various partners on Nov. 24.
PEMO information officer Olive Seruelo said hours before the 5 p.m. registration deadline on Saturday, a total of 3,898 bikers have already confirmed their participation.
Bikers from various cities and provinces in the Visayas joined the tour.
Most participants came from Bacolod and other towns and cities in Negros Occidental while others were from Iloilo, Guimaras, Dumaguete, Cebu, and Bohol with The Firefly Brigade from Metro Manila.
Seruelo said since the Tour of Fireflies started five years ago in Negros Occidental, the number of participants increased each year.
During the first edition when bikers converged in Manapla, Negros Occidental, 800 have participated and during the second year in Cadiz City, around 2,000 of them have joined.
Around 3,000 bikers rode towards Hinigaran, Negros Occidental in the third year, and last year, 3,500 bikers joined the ride to Bago City.
Seruelo said the provincial government advocates the use of bikes for zero carbon emission to reduce air pollution.
“Fireflies are indicators of clean air and right now, most fireflies can be found only in the upland areas,” she added.
During the ride, bikers will have stop-overs in the boundary of Valladolid and San Enrique towns and also in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental before proceeding to the Himamaylan City Hall grounds.
Cash prizes will be given to the most number of uniformed participants. The top winner will get P25,000; second, P20,000; third, P15,000; fourth, P10,000; and fifth, P5,000. The sixth to the 10th placer will receive P2,000 each.
The most disciplined group will get P15,000 while the team with the most number of women bikers, P5,000. The oldest biker will also receive P5,000.
The 5th Tour of Fireflies was spearheaded by the City Government of Himamaylan, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Negros Occidental, the mountain bikers group MTB Negros, and the provincial government.(With a report from PNA/PN)
