AS the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on many people, especially in terms of transportation, many opted to go bike riding as a means of mobility, whether going to work or for buying essential goods for the family.
But the more important thing is how to promote not only bike riding within the general populace but also riding safely and hopefully, advance the creation of more bike-friendly cities in the future.
Recognizing this, Allianz PNB Life came up with the Ride Safe bike adoption and safety campaign, which won for it the CSR Initiative of the Year at the Insurance Asia Awards 2021.
The winning campaign, Ride Safe, comes at a time when rising COVID-19 cases and tighter quarantine restrictions have hampered public transportation for most Filipinos. With cycling now on the rise as an alternative mode of transport and source of livelihood, Allianz PNB Life has been helping create safer, more bike-friendly cities in Metro Manila over the past year.
Allianz PNB Life proactively partnered with local government units (LGUs) and organizations through Ride Safe to promote cycling in line with their global sustainability thrust as well as healthy-lifestyle advocacy. The campaign ran a series of cyclists’ education and community engagement initiatives online, while also advocating for much-needed infrastructure on-ground.
“It is truly an honor to be chosen for best CSR Initiative among other top insurers in the country-level category,” said Allianz PNB Life CEO Alexander Grenz. “With the industry hard-pressed by the pandemic, and the remarkable initiatives fellow companies have also come up with in response, this is a win not just for Allianz PNB Life but the ones we truly want to champion: Filipino cyclists.”
In November 2020, the company partnered with the City of San Juan to launch the country’s first solar-powered bike pit stop together with new bollards and signs for the city’s bike lanes. Recently, Allianz PNB Life built themed bike racks and art installations in four of the City of Manila’s historical locations.
“An effective follow-through is important to any cause-driven initiative. Working with policymakers and advocates is a good way to ensure our initiatives are well-grounded and properly accounted for,” Grenz said.
“We are as much excited with our future projects as we are in tracking the progress of our current ones,” he added. “This award is a reminder for Allianz PNB Life to keep pushing Ride Safe so that Filipinos could live healthier lives in sustainable cities.”
Since 2016, the insurance Asia Awards has gathered and recognized 130 outstanding insurance firms from 24 countries across Asia. It is hosted by Insurance Asia, a biannual publication for insurance companies, investors, professionals, and policymakers in the region.