The Mandaluyong City government received 22 bicycles under the free bicycles project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
The Labor department launched on Monday its Free Bisikleta (FreeBis) project which seeks to ease unemployment by providing livelihood opportunities to workers displaced by the pandemic.
“Under their ‘FreeBis’ program, the DoLE provided 22 bicycles for Mandaleños whose livelihoods were affected due to the pandemic and wanted to enter the delivery service,” said Mayor Carmelita Abalos.
Mandaluyong City was among the local government units in Metro Manila selected to receive the bicycle units under the project.
The DoLE said the bicycle units distributed in the National Capital Region came with helmet, raincoat, water bottle, thermal bag, and mobile phone with P5,000 load.
According to DoLE, beneficiaries in the metropolis will be given bicycle units that they will use as delivery riders of partner companies Grab and LalaFood.
Abalos received the donated bicycles from DoLE Assistant Secretary Mariano Alquiza during the turnover ceremony at the City Hall on Monday.
The mayor said the local government will request the Labor department to provide the city with additional bicycle units so that more displaced workers in Mandaluyong will benefit from the project.