It is with immense gratitude and excitement that we report the achievements of our recent ride! This Tuesday, over 100 participants from the health sector, cycling groups, civil society organizations, and advocates joined our bike campaign, “Ride for their Lives: Bike for Clean Air and a Healthier Future” in commemoration of the Philippine Clean Air Act’s silver anniversary.

Bikers deliver the Statement of Commitment to the Department of Health; Biker representatives of medical organizations with our lead biker doctor, Dr. Tony Dans.

About the Campaign

The "Ride For Their Lives: Bike for Clean Air and a Healthier Future'' campaign is a collaborative initiative organized by Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, 350 Pilipinas, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), and the Health Alliance for Climate and Clean Air Philippines (HACCAP) which is partnership between Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), and HCWH SEA.
The campaign aims to not only raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution but also demonstrate the healthcare sector's commitment to driving tangible changes in policy and practice towards sustainable development and healthier lives for all Filipinos.
You may read the full concept note here 👉 bit.ly/RFTLprogram

Dr Miriam Lalas, member of HACCAP, presents an overview of the health impacts of air pollution; Bikers along the streets of Metro Manila

Our Statement of Commitment and Collaboration

In the ~14-kilometer ride, our bikers delivered the Statement of Commitment and Collaboration to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Through this campaign, not only are we bringing health professionals and climate advocates together, but also the two key national government agencies responsible for addressing air pollution and health in the Philippines.
In commemoration of the Clean Air Act’s 25th anniversary, the Statement serves to renew our commitment and solidify our efforts to fulfill its promises. As of June 25, we have a total of 58 signatories including the DOH and DENR along with 50+ medical organizations representing more than 47,000 health professionals in the Philippines 👏
Read the full Statement here and list of signatories here: bit.ly/RFTLPHStatement

Signing of the Statement of Commitment at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Our campaign on the front page of the Inquirer newspaper

Next Steps and Resources

The onboarding of DOH and DENR provides renewed hope about the continued implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act. We are organizing a joint meeting with both agencies in the following weeks to discuss how to move forward with the key points of the Statement.
Below are some additional resources for your reference:

💼 See our Advocacy Kit here: bit.ly/RFTL2024DigitalAdvocacyKit

📽️ Watch our Event Livestream here: HCWH SEA Facebook Live

📰 Read the press release here

📻 See other media releases here