VSU implements car-free and wellness Wednesdays

Visayas State University (VSU)  will officially implement Carless/Motorless Wednesdays starting September 3, 2025, in both the upper and lower campuses from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

This initiative, formally called VSU’s Action in Reducing Emission & Optimizing Health through Alternative Mobility (VAROAM), is paired with VSU’s Action on Wellness on Work and Work on Wellness (VAWOWOW). These are programs that combine sustainability with holistic health for the campus. 

Both Initiatives are implemented under the umbrella program of LINIS VSU and the university’s Go Green Project, which advance the long-term direction of VSU as a green university. 

VAROAM

Under VAROAM, all private and public cars and motorcycles are restricted from entering the main campus during the scheduled hours every Wednesday. The measure is designed to lessen air and noise pollution while encouraging walking, biking, and other active modes of transport.

Parking arrangements are as follows: 

• Cars: Open spaces near the main gates by the ATM, Pasalubong Center, and market.
• Motorcycles: Mabolo Drive, where gates will be opened to accommodate parking.

Exemptions are allowed for:

• Emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police/security units.
• Bicycles.
• Vehicles for persons requiring special assistance or with medical-related needs, provided a medical certificate is issued by the University Health Services.
• Official university service vehicles with valid trip tickets.
• Visitors with approved appointments and those attending university-sanctioned activities.
• University-wide or major institutional events.

VAWOWOW

Complementing VAROAM is VAWOWOW, a campus-wide wellness program that institutionalizes weekly physical activities.

Every Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 4:40 PM, students, faculty, and staff are invited to join Walk on Wednesday, which follows designated scenic routes across the VSU Main Campus.

The walk is followed by a 10–20 minute Zumba session at the Amphitheater Stage, facilitated by rotating offices assigned in advance by the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance (OVPAF) and the Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO). Monitoring stations with QR codes will be installed at the Upper Guard Post and Admin Amphitheater to log participants’ steps and demographic data.

Motorless days are not new to VSU. A similar practice was piloted years ago during the leadership of former president and ecologist Dr. Paciencia Po-Milan. While more limited in scope, that early effort paved the way for today’s broader and structured implementation.

The reintroduction of this practice through VAROAM and VAWOWOW adapts the university’s long-standing sustainability vision to current challenges in health, mobility, and environmental responsibility.

Carless/Motorless Wednesdays now become a weekly feature of campus life. For Viscans, this means walking and biking together, breathing cleaner air, and participating in activities that tie directly into the university’s identity as a green institution.

Through VAROAM and VAWOWOW, both under LINIS VSU and the Go Green Project, the university demonstrates how consistent practices within the campus can generate lasting impact to promote healthier habits while reducing its environmental footprint.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 3: Good Health and Well-Being;  SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 13: Climate Action; and SDG 15: Life on Land. 

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