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50% OF ROAD SPACE MUST BE FOR PEOPLE – PANGILINAN

Senator Kiko Pangilinan strongly encouraged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar to prioritize the construction of bike lanes and pedestrian lanes during the DPWH budget hearing at the Senate recently.

Pangilinan said the pandemic showed the need to balance road space for private vehicles and public transport, pedestrians as well as the so-called active transport infrastructure like bicycle lanes.

“Some groups and organizations are really pushing for a balanced road space since our bias has always been toward private vehicles which are causing congestion and more pollution.”

“The active transport infrastructure such as protected cycling lanes, wider walk lanes, PWD-inclusive infra, and better land infrastructure are priority pandemic responses. Some groups and organizations are really pushing for a balanced road space since our bias has always been toward private vehicles which are causing congestion and more pollution,” the veteran legislator said.

“There are road systems that have included bike lanes such as the Boracay Circumferential Road, the Laguna Lake Highway, the Bacolod Economic Highway, and EDSA.”

In response, Villar said that the DPWH is coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) for the implementation of the bike lanes. The public works chief also said that there are road systems that have included bike lanes such as the Boracay Circumferential Road, the Laguna Lake Highway, the Bacolod Economic Highway, and EDSA.

“At least 50% of road space should be allotted to mass public transport, pedestrians, and light mobility devices,” the seasoned lawmaker reiterated.

At the same time, the senator commended the DPWH for its initiative to construct and rehabilitate accessibility facilities and for allotting a P560-million budget for this project.

He also recommended the installation of access facilities for public schools for their inclusivity efforts.

“You represent the new generation of public servants and hopefully that new generation representation will truly include a more balanced infrastructure that will address precisely these needs,” Pangilinan concluded.

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