51st Engineer Brigade hosts 1st downhill bike challenge

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 18, 2020): 51st Engineer Brigade hosts 1st downhill bike challenge (By Venus May H. Sarmiento)

MANAOAG, Pangasinan, Dec. 18 (PIA) -- The 51st Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Tito Abat here recently hosted the first downhill bike challenge to promote healthy sports and tourism in the area.

Major Amadeo Panlilio, commander of the Engineer Support Company, noted that during a tree planting event in Mt. Paldingan in Binalonan town, bikers were having difficulty in the terrain because of obstructions.

With this, the 51st ESC initiated to clear and clean the area of obstruction and made the path conducive for bikers’ adventures and for bike challenges.

“Aside from clearing and promoting the area, the downhill bike race project has also provided livelihood to about 100 families in the area,” Maj. Panlilio told the Philippine Information Agency.

DOWNHILL BIKING: A biker struts his stuff during the 1st Downhill Bike Challenge initiated by the 51st Engineer Support Company of the Philippine Army in Pangasinan in partnership with the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board. (PIA/MSAB)

Some 125 civilians registered for the challenge while 10 are military men.

Luzviminda Obra, non-commissioned officer of the Army Transformation Roadmap of the 51st ESC, said it was her first time to join and she is glad to have finished at second place in the women’s category.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil na-beat ko na yung oras ko at wala pa akong galos. Salamat po sa mga nagencourage na sumali ako,” Obra said.

Meanwhile, Lynn Ang, chairman of the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board (MSAB), said the board has always been supportive of the initiatives of the Engineer Brigade as they are the link to the civilian people.

ARMY MSAB. Gen. Audrey Pasia, commander of the 702nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade (right) and Major Amadeo Panlilio (left) of the 51st Engineer Support Company of the Philippine Army, pose with the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board led by its chairman Ms. Lynn Ang and member- agency, Philippine Information Agency during the 1st Downhill Bike Challenge in Pangasinan. (VHS) 

“The board is all-out in its support to the bike challenge project as it promotes wholesome and heathy adventure but we also made sure that all the minimum heath protocols were met and followed,” the MSAB chair said.

Castillo said many bikers are clamouring for a second part of the downhill bike challenge which is why the project will be staged again next year. (JCR/JPD/VHS, PIA Pangasinan)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1062050