Every year, air pollution from fossil fuels is linked to 27,000 premature deaths in the Philippines, according to a study by Greenpeace and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. That figure puts the health cost of the country’s reliance on cars, jeepneys, and other combustion-engine vehicles into stark perspective. On a typical weekday, Metro Manila transforms into what residents call “Carmageddon” — a smoggy, gridlocked environment where the air quality itself becomes a public health concern. Against this backdrop, a volunteer-led organization called the Firefly Brigade has spent over two decades quietly promoting a different vision: one where bicycles and sustainable transportation are a normal part of daily life.
The group’s work is not just about weekend rides. It involves lobbying local governments, installing bike racks, teaching maintenance skills, and marshalling mass cycling events that draw thousands of participants. The scale of the challenge is considerable: in 2022 alone, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority documented 2,182 road crashes involving bicycles, a reminder that safety on the road remains a serious concern for anyone who chooses two wheels over four. For a deeper look at how urban development and industry have shaped the country’s air quality crisis, you can read more in our article on urbanization and the air quality crisis.
What the Firefly Brigade actually does
The Firefly Brigade was founded in 1999, but its roots go back a couple of years earlier. Katti Sta. Ana joined a long-distance mass ride in the Philippines in 1997, aspiring to become a triathlete. That experience planted the seed for what would become the inaugural Tour of the Fireflies in April 1999, which attracted 200 cyclists in nature-themed costumes. More importantly, that first event helped the brigade establish working relationships with officials in all 17 local government units across Metro Manila’s capital region. A quarter century later, the organization remains women-led and guided by its original mission: “to bring back the fireflies.”
Why cycling matters more now than ever
The pandemic was an unexpected turning point for cycling infrastructure in the Philippines. It took COVID-19 for the government to construct 497 kilometers of bike lanes across the country’s metropolitan areas, completed by June 2021. These bikeways supported many workers who turned to cycling when mass public transit systems were suspended. In 2021 alone, a nationwide survey by Social Weather Stations found that about 6.2 million households had at least one member who uses a bike for transportation, outnumbering car-owning households by 4 to 1. That statistic reveals a significant shift: cycling is not a niche activity but a mainstream commuting choice for millions of Filipino families.
The return of pre-pandemic traffic patterns has created a new set of problems. Motorists increasingly encroach on bike lanes, and the painted lines that mark many of these lanes offer little physical protection. The Firefly Brigade’s project coordinator, Mia Bunao, who joined the group after being inspired by the 2002 Tour of the Fireflies, has seen this cycle before. In 2009, she helped organize a forum where the Metro Manila Development Authority presented a 200-kilometer bikeway plan. When that effort did not come to fruition, the brigade pivoted: they secured sponsorship from the Embassy of the Netherlands to install bicycle racks in public spaces instead. The racks at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, at Quezon City Hall, and at Pasig City Hall are now among the most utilized. This pattern — push for large-scale infrastructure, adapt when it stalls, and focus on tangible smaller wins — defines how the group operates. The connection between air quality and transportation choices is also explored in our piece on jeepney soot and air pollution.
What gets overlooked in the cycling conversation
Most discussions about cycling in Metro Manila focus on infrastructure — or the lack of it. But several less obvious factors shape whether people actually feel safe and willing to ride.
The marshals make the ride possible
The Firefly Brigade has 20 to 30 active volunteers running its cycling initiatives and 50 marshals tasked with keeping participants safe. On a typical Sunday ride, about 20 women and men wearing beige jerseys marked “marshal” direct stops at red lights and block cars at intersections to ensure everyone can pass. This includes a father on a custom bike with children in tow, a man carrying a shih tzu in a cargo bike, and a group of girlfriends on road bikes. The marshals are not traffic enforcers — they are volunteers who make group cycling feasible in a city not designed for it. Without them, a mass ride through Marikina and Antipolo would be far riskier.
Bike ownership outpaced car ownership years ago
The 2021 Social Weather Stations survey showing 6.2 million cycling households versus roughly 1.5 million car-owning households is worth sitting with. It suggests that the demand for safe cycling infrastructure already exists at a scale that exceeds car dependency in sheer household numbers. The gap is not in interest — it is in safe space to ride. Many of those 6.2 million households likely include people cycling not by choice but because it is the most affordable option, which makes the safety issue even more pressing.
National reach beyond Metro Manila
The Firefly Brigade has inspired similar organizations in Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, General Santos City, Puerto Princesa, and other cities. This is not just a Metro Manila story. The group has also partnered with national agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Transportation and Communication, and the Clean Air Commission. The breadth of these partnerships shows that cycling advocacy has moved beyond a hobbyist concern into a recognized part of the conversation around clean air and urban mobility. For more on how pollution affects natural ecosystems, see our article on pollution in coastal waters.
How to get involved or start cycling yourself
Whether you are a complete beginner or a returning cyclist, there are practical ways to engage with the cycling community and advocate for safer streets.
Join a mass ride to learn the routes
The Firefly Brigade holds monthly mass rides that are open to the public. These are not races — they are paced group outings designed to show participants safe routes through the city. Warren Demdam, a Metro Manila resident, has been a regular participant since 2016. For someone new to urban cycling, joining a marshalled group ride is one of the safest ways to learn which streets have bike lanes, where traffic tends to be heaviest, and how to navigate intersections. The brigade’s Facebook community, which has more than 7,000 members, is the primary channel for ride announcements and route details.
Attend a skills or maintenance clinic
One barrier for new cyclists is not knowing how to handle a mechanical issue on the road. The brigade holds clinics that teach biking skills and basic bike maintenance. These sessions cover things like fixing a flat tire, adjusting brakes, and shifting gears properly. Knowing these basics means a minor issue does not become a reason to stop cycling altogether. The clinics are typically announced through the same Facebook community and are free or low-cost.
Advocate for better infrastructure locally
You do not need to be part of an organization to push for safer streets. The Firefly Brigade’s experience shows that persistent engagement with local government units can produce results — even if those results are smaller than originally hoped. Writing to your city or municipal engineering office about a missing bike lane connection, requesting bike racks at a public market, or attending a local transport planning consultation are all actions that contribute to incremental change. The brigade itself has worked with local governments in Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Parañaque, Manila, Makati, and Navotas, among others.
Upcoming events to watch for
The brigade has scheduled a Night Ride on May 9, 2026, starting at Greenfield District Open Park in Mandaluyong City, with call time at 4:30 PM and ride out at 5:00 PM, heading to Marikina. There is also a Padyak & Hangout Session on May 3, 2026, at Ayala Triangle Gardens, with call time at 6:00 AM and ride out at 6:30 AM, destination UP Diliman. These events are open to cyclists of all levels and are a good entry point for anyone curious about group riding. For a broader perspective on environmental challenges facing the Philippines, you might also find our article on reef bleaching and biodiversity threats relevant.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own bike to join a Firefly Brigade ride? ▾
Are the rides free to join? ▾
What should I bring to a group ride? ▾
Is the Firefly Brigade only for experienced cyclists? ▾
How does the brigade fund its activities? ▾
One ride at a time
The Firefly Brigade’s approach is not about waiting for perfect infrastructure to appear. It is about creating the conditions for cycling to be safe and normal right now — through marshals, community, persistent advocacy, and showing up every month. The 27,000 premature deaths linked to fossil fuel air pollution each year are a reminder of what is at stake, but the 10,000 cyclists who join the Tour of the Fireflies annually are evidence that another way of moving through the city is already taking shape. If this was useful, you might also want to read why environmental education matters for lasting change.
Sources
Combatting e-waste in the Philippines — A look at another environmental challenge and what communities are doing about it.
Metro Manila’s Firefly Brigade promotes cycling to reduce pollution. The Christian Science Monitor, 2024.
Metro Manila’s Firefly Brigade. The My Hero Project, 2024.
Firefly Brigade — Marikina City. FindGlocal.
