By Pat Jared V. Pangantihon
Correspondent
CLIMATE justice advocate Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) launched a Trisikad Caravan simultaneously in Barangays Lapasan, Consolacion, and Kauswagan in the city yesterday.
Trisikad drivers were mobilized into groups and paraded around their barangays with hand-lettered posters made from used paper bags carrying slogans for a call to action for the protection of the environment.
Local group Youth for Climate Justice-Cagayan De Oro (Y4CJ-CdeO) spearheaded the event and distributed face shields and masks to the participating trisikad drivers.
“Dako baya pud ni og parte ang mga trisikad driver sa atong transportasyon. Sila mao ako ga sakyan paingon pag eskwela. Ato silang tagaan pag tagad kay fossil- fuel free ni sila, ug mao maka tabang sa pag lihok-lihok sa mga tao sa mga komunidad na dili masudlan sa mga de motor na sakyanan,” said Scott Bandoquillo, a Y4CJ-CdeO resident of Lapasan. “Nanghatag pud mi og face shields og masks sa mga sikad drivers, kay nakita namo na maski ingani ka basic personal protection batok sa Covid-19, walay ilaha,” he added.
With the adorned posters on the trisikads reading “1.5C to Stay Alive,” and “Sikad para sa Kinaiyahan,” the group hopes that the people’s awareness of the looming climate emergency will be the catalyst that will propel more action from the people to do their part in saving the environment.
“Mao na among gi paningkamutan na dili kami mag gamit og mga single-use materials, recycled paper bags among gi gamit para ma highlight pud ang need to stop using plastic bags. Dapat mas eco-friendly na atong gamiton na materyales,” said Janelle May Salar, Y4CJ resident of barangay Consolacion.
“Among barangay naka agi na og dakong pahamak atong bagyong Sendong, kinahanglan mag lihok na ta para dili mo samot ang pagdaot sa kinaiyahan.”
This activity was a part of the national Bike Action for Climate campaign organized by the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development simultaneously in several countries as a call to governments and financial institutions to end support for fossil fuels and undertake urgent climate actions.
Bikers from all over the country participated in the event, and some areas also held fluvial parades in solidarity to the call for a better government response to the looming climate emergency brought about by rising global temperature, sea-level rise, and unabated fossil fuel consumption.
Participation of PMCJ chapters in Davao City, Ozamiz City, and Tangub City included mobilization of several biker groups for the Bike Action for Climate and a fluvial parade composed of local fisherfolk and member communities of PMCJ.