In Leyte, Philippines, bikes used to boost school attendance

Gina Merilo (Facebook)

Tacloban City: Needy students from three high schools in the Philippines have been offered bikes to motivate them to cover the distance from their remote homes to classes.

The 115 bikes were donated in Leyte, the archipelago’s seventh largest island, under a project that aims to address school dropout, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Leyte Board Member Gina Merilo said the Philippine Contractors Association (PCA) -Leyte Chapter told the agency that Sta. Fe National High School received 80 bikes, Kiling National High School 20 and Tanauan National High School 15.

“These bicycles are of great help to students especially those who live far from school and will have to walk or commute every day,” Merilo was quoted as saying.

School officials identified the beneficiaries and priority was given to poor students whose houses were kilometers away from the schools.

The contractor’s group has plans to distribute more bikes in more schools in the towns of Carigara, Dulag, and Julita.

Some of the bikes were provided by foreign friends of PCA members.

“The PCA used their own funds, also seeks, but also sought assistance from friends keen on helping fund the distribution of bikes, Merilo added.