DBM allots P705 milliona for bike program

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration has earmarked P705 million to provide sustainable and active mobility in the country’s overall transportation system via the Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has signed the issuance of the Special Allotment Release Order to the Department of Transportation to cover the implementation of the program in metropolitan areas.

The program aims to embed sustainable and active mobility in the country’s overall transportation system through the construction of protected bike lanes, procurement of bike racks, improvement of end-of-trip cycling infrastructure, construction of safe and accessible pedestrian pathways and sidewalks and upgrading of existing pop-up bike lanes into permanent bike lanes.

It will also focus on reducing road congestion and carbon emissions in metropolitan areas, improving overall public health through better air quality and promoting indirect economic benefits such as better quality of life, transportation cost savings and time savings.

“Achieving an improved transportation system toward a better quality of life for all Filipinos calls for a multisectoral approach. President Marcos was very particular when he directed us to provide the necessary budgetary support to the transport sector, as we see this as one aspect of the solution,” Pangandaman said.