THE declaration in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 that "pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users" is a significant transportation policy statement. Giving priority to active transport (walking and cycling) makes good sense considering the evolving travel needs and behavior of urban Filipinos. All of us are pedestrians, and a significant number are choosing to walk or cycle for essential trips (getting to jobs, social services and markets).
Transportation was a major contributor to inflation last year. With higher oil prices, the cost of using a private motor vehicle has nearly doubled and public transport fares have also risen sharply. Motorcycle taxis and transport network vehicles like Grab have become unaffordable for many. Record-high inflation has also meant that Filipinos have less money to spend on transportation. Reducing transportation costs is therefore a key objective of the Marcos administration and this is included in its 8-point economic agenda.
Continue reading with one of these options:
Ad-free access
P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
- Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
- Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)