Recovering stolen sidewalks: The lowest-hanging fruit

ARE there measures that can deliver mobility improvements for millions of Filipinos without the need for a large budget or lengthy preparatory work? Much can be accomplished by simply ensuring that the most impactful laws and regulations are strictly enforced.

A recent example is Executive Order (EO) 41, issued on September 25, that suspended the collection of "pass-through" fees on public roads by local governments, reducing the cost of moving goods and produce. Similar instructions have been issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) since 2006 but these were largely unheeded. If EO 41 is implemented without exception, it would make a difference to consumers, logistics providers and producers — eliminating a questionable cost at a time of high inflation.