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Active Transport Policies of the National Government of the Philippines: Move As One Coalition Briefer as of 16 February 2021

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Abstract

This briefer outlines key guidelines from 10 national government policies and budget documents to support walking, cycling, and active transport in the Philippines. This briefer was written by members of Move As One Coalition, a broad coalition of more than 140 organizations and 77,000 individual petition signatories fighting for a safe, humane, and inclusive public transport system in the Philippines.
Active Transport Policies in Philippines
Move As One Coalition Briefer as of 16 February 2021
This briefer outlines key guidelines from 10 national government policies and budget documents to support
walking, cycling, and active transport in the Philippines.
1. IATF Resolution No. 69, Letter C, page 2 (click to view) - 7 September 2020
Under IATF Resolution No. 69 issued last 7 September 2020, the national government identified active
transport infrastructure (protected cycling lanes, wider walkways, PWD-inclusive at-grade crossings,
and shaded pedestrian infrastructure) and better land transport infrastructure (PUV-only lanes) as
priority pandemic response measures for public transport.
2. DOH-DOTr-DILG-DPWH Joint Administrative Order 2020-01: “Guidelines on the Proper Use and
Promotion of Active Transport During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic” (JAO on Active Transport,
Summary, FAQs) - 20 August 2020
Under Joint Administrative Order 2020-01 entitled “Guidelines on the Proper Use and Promotion of
Active Transport During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic” jointly issued by the Department of Interior
and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Health (DOH) and
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on August 20, 2020, all agencies have agreed to
promote active transport. The DPWH, in particular, has committed to allocate, install/construct
protected bicycle lanes and walking paths on national roads and bridges under its jurisdiction.
3. DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-100: “Guidelines for the Establishment of a Network of Cycling Lanes
and Walking Paths to Support People’s Mobility” (click to view) - 17 July 2020
The Department of the Interior and Local Government issued DILG Memorandum Circular 2020-100,
which provides “Guidelines for the Establishment of a Network of Cycling Lanes and Walking Paths to
Support People’s Mobility”.
4. National Transport Policy adopted by the NEDA Board - Unanimously approved 14 December 2018
(click to view)
The National Economic and Development Authority Board had also previously adopted the National
Transport Policy. Section 24.1 says that “LGUs and national agencies shall accord highest priority to the
development of proper sidewalks and networks of bicycle lanes that will encourage active transport and
provide safe and direct access to priority destinations such as housing, education, health, and business
centers as well as public transport nodes.” .
5. DOH Active Transport Playbook (click to view) - August 2020
The Department of Health has also issued the Active Transport Playbook, which sets out the public
health standards and detailed implementation plans for active transport, along with its health benefits,
scientific basis, costs of the bike lane materials, given previous experience in mobilization.
6. DPWH Department Order 88-2020 (click to view) - 29 September 2020
Sets design standards for bicycle facilities on roads and bridges, signed 29 September 2020.
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7. Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2) - 11 September 2020
Under Section 10g2.3, Provides for P1.316 billion in budget “to develop accessible sidewalks and protected
bicycle lanes, procurement of bicycles and related safety equipment for bicycle distribution, sharing and
lending programs, and procurement bicycle racks.”
8. DPWH Special Provision 23 under GAA 2021. Inclusion of Active Transportation Facilities in all Road
and Bridge Projects. - Passed December 2020
All projects pertaining to the construction, preventive maintenance, rehabilitation, reconstruction,
upgrading, off-carriageway improvement, widening and/or paving of primary, secondary, tertiary,
bypass and diversion roads, and the construction, widening, or replacement of bridges, shall be so
designed and implemented as to include protected lanes for pedestrians, and bicycles/light mobility
vehicles, in accordance with Executive Order No. 774, s. 2008, NEDA Board Resolution No. 5, s. 2017, and
all applicable guidelines issued by the executive branch on promoting active transportation. Pedestrian
crossings shall by default be at-grade for the inclusion of persons with disability, senior citizens,
pregnant women, children with strollers, tourists with luggage, and parents with children, consistent
with public health and safety regulations. [emphasis supplied]
9. DBM Local Budget Circular No. 133. Implementing P350 million in assistance to cities for green open
spaces and active transport infrastructure under GAA 2021. (click to view) - 19 January 2021
The GAA 2021 allocates P350 million under the Assistance to Cities under the Local Government Support
Fund. 20 cities in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao get P17.5 million each. Applications until 30 June 2021.
10. 2021 National Budget Provisions for Road-Based Active and Public Transport: Our 2021 budget has the
potential to make the largest dent in mobility services in history, but we need to implement these
programs ASAP.
- We have P12.85 B in direct budgets for active transport and service contracting. (More info)
- All DPWH road and bridge projects in 2021 (~P275 B) should, by law, have active transport facilities.
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Ref
Program / Activity / Project
Source
Budget
A
Service Contracting
B2 + GAA 2021
8,580,000,000
B
Assistance to Critically Impacted Sectors in Transportation
B2
2,604,000,000
C
Active Transport Infrastructure Program
B2 + GAA 2021
1,463,887,000
D
Bike Share
B2
202,113,000
E
Tourism Roads
B2 + GAA 2021
17,763,321,000
F
Road and Bridge Programs
where DPWH Special Provision 23 on active transport may apply
GAA 2021
257,304,985,000
Summary
Road-Based Mobility Budget under Bayanihan 2 and 2021 Budget
A+B+C+D
Direct Budget for Road-Based Transport (confirmed sources)
B2 + GAA 2021
12,850,000,000
E
Indirect Budget under Tourism Roads (unconfirmed)
B2 + GAA 2021
17,763,321,000
F
Indirect Budget under DPWH Special Provision 23 (unconfirmed)
GAA 2021
257,304,985,000
A+B+C+D+E+F
Total Possible Road-Based Mobility Budget in 2021 (unconfirmed)
GAA 2021
287,918,306,000
Does NOT yet include: Farm to Market Roads, Disaster Funds, Gov’t Corp Funds
Acronyms
DBM Department of Budget and Management
DILG Department of the Interior and Local Government
DOH Department of Health
DOTr Department of Transportation
DPWH Department of Public Works and Highways
IATF Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases
PWD Persons with Disability
PUV Public Utility Vehicles
About Move As One Coalition
Move As One is a broad coalition of more than 140 organizations and 77,000 individual petition signatories fighting
for a safe, humane, and inclusive public transport system in the Philippines.
For more details, visit:
Our Facebook page: fb.com/MoveAsOneCoalition
Our Twitter page: twitter.com/MoveAsOnePH
Our Advocate Guide: http://bit.ly/MoveAsOneAdvocate
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