CALABARZON promotes 'motorcycle tourism'

The Department of Tourism (DOT) plans to link bike riders all over Luzon in its proposed route loops in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas. Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) as it partnered with several motorcycle clubs in the Philippines.

At the Breakfast Ride Season 2 event in Sta Rosa, Laguna on Sunday, DOT Region 4-A Director Rebecca Villanueva-Labit bared one of their ride loops for Calabarzon, which will start from Manila to Antipolo, going to Tanay, Morong, San Mateo, Pililia (all in Rizal), Quezon and Batangas.

Labit said there would be a series of meeting with the Breakfast Ride community to ink a deal, not only for tourism but also for volunteerism.

“There are three routes but there will be more,” she said. “Very soon, we will be having a meeting, probably (sign agreement) early next year.”

Raymon Gabriel, founder of Together We Ride, the group that organized the Breakfast Ride said they have more than 2,000 members in their community.

Gabriel noted that motorcycle tourism is a “growing industry” which aims to promote a sustainable way of traveling the whole country.

“Kung mapapasigla natin ito, bakit ka pa mage-eroplano, kung kaya mo naman mag-motor? Bakit ka pa sasakay ng bus, kaya mo namang mag-motor? Dito, nationwide, lumalaki na yung industry,” he said.

“By doing this, since we travel nationwide, we are able to showcase the culture and heritage of a certain landmark we visit,” he added.

Gabriel said the DOT has been eyeing motorcycle tourism through Breakfast Ride for almost a year.

“Region 4-A, particularly Ms. Labit wants to execute a good motorcycle tourism campaign here. Gagawa na kami ng ride to show na hindi lang kami puro kain, this time ipapakita namin iba’t ibang lugar with all the riders.”

“We’ve done this in Mindanao, marami ring um-attend, now (it) will happen around the Philippines, that’s one thing for sure,” he said.