LGUs urged to set up biking lanes, walking paths amid pandemic

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 31) — The Interior Department is encouraging local governments to construct protected biking lanes and walking paths to further encourage safe, alternative transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the public transport system "can be a breeding ground" for the spread of the highly contagious disease, and with the daily commute becoming more challenging with government restrictions on public transport, he encouraged Filipinos to consider biking or walking to work.

With this, the agency signed a joint administrative order with the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Works and Highways urging the construction of safe lanes and paths.

The order also encourages the establishment of supportive infrastructure like bicycle racks and changing rooms for the commuting public.

“The COVID-19 crisis is pushing us to be adaptive at itong paglalagay ng mga bike lane at walking path ay isang paraan ng pagtugon natin sa mga hamon ng pandemyang ito kaya sana ay makuha natin ang pakikiisa ng mga pamahalaaang lokal,” said Año.

[Translation: The COVID-19 crisis is pushing us to be adaptive and the construction of bike lanes and walking paths is one way to address the pandemic's challenge, which is why we hope to get the cooperation of local governments.]

Advocacy groups have been calling for the establishment of bike lanes in major thoroughfares, a call heeded by the Metro Manila Development Authority in June when it started the groundwork for the construction of the lanes along parts of EDSA.