Joel Uichico's Contact Details

Joel Uichico's Company Details

Bikes for the Philippines Foundation

Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines • 2 Employees
Civic & Social Organization

Bikes for the Philippines Foundation (BFPF) is a non-profit foundation that provides bicycles to disadvantaged individuals in a country where poverty and access to education are critical social problems. It was created in 2011 when Founder and Program Director Joel Uichico, a sports professional and businessman, noticed school children walking by the roadside in the town of Baclayon, on the island of Bohol. He discovered they were traveling long distances over unsafe terrain - walking well over an hour, and up to 7 kilometers per way, everyday - just to get to school. As expected, this distance affected their grades and attendance, putting them at risk of dropping out and never finishing school. After seeing their plight and checking with the school principals on the status of the students Joel was inspired to make a difference and thought of a way to help out. With the help of his cousin Jo Grant who was based in the US, he coordinated with Bikes for the World for the donation of bikes for Baclayon National High School and for other beneficiary schools. More than 200 bikes were received for the first donation shipment. In 2013, it was formally organized as the Bikes for the Philippines Foundation. From its pilot project of providing bikes to poor kids in Baclayon National High School in Bohol, the program has expanded to a national program co-managed with the Department of Education (DEPED) under the Pedals and Paddles Program in 2015. Based on an initial assessment of DEPED, more than 40,000 students in grade school and high school need bikes to get to school. To qualify for the program, a student must have to walk at least 3 kilometers to get to school, an income of not more Php6,000 for a family of 5.To date, BFPF has more than 100 graduates, 18 beneficiary schools and over 500 beneficiary students currently enrolled on the program. Its major donors among others include Metrobank Foundation, San Miguel Corporation Foundation and Mitsubishi Corporation.