Cycling advocates scored a win after the Philippine Bicycle Act, a proposed bill that institutionalizes cycling as a form of transport, was approved at the House of Representatives committee level in December 2024.

But last month’s P940-million budget cut to active transport projects, which includes infrastructure for cycling and walking, casts doubt on the government’s vision for active transport in the country.

“I want to extend patience or basically I'm not particularly optimistic,” said Mary Modales of the Move as One Coalition, a transport advocacy group invited to the bill’s committee hearing. “We cannot expect that the bill will ripen into a law already.”

Roadmap for Cycling

The Philippine Bicycle Act was approved Dec. 4, 2024 in a joint hearing by the Committee on Transportation and Committee on Sustainable Development. If enacted, it would be the country’s first comprehensive law on cycling.

The bill mandates the development of a National Bicycle Program, a roadmap for the creation of bike networks at the local and national level.

Newly constructed roads will be required to have bike lanes, while existing roads must be augmented with bike lanes “whenever feasible,” according to the bill’s draft. These lanes must be obstruction-free and separated by barriers when possible.

The bill would also require all public places and establishments to have bike parking facilities. On some local and national roads, motor vehicles will be restricted either permanently or at set hours or days to promote non-motorized transport.

Unlike existing administrative orders on active transport, the law has more teeth, setting guidelines for budget appropriation and mandating instead of merely recommending new cycling infrastructure, said Modales. It could alleviate cyclists’ safety concerns, especially the lack of protected and unobstructed bike lanes on many roads.

Yet, advocates observe how the government has often deprioritized active transport in the past, questioning how quickly the bill could be enacted or whether it will be passed at all.

Misprioritized Transport

A search in the House of Representatives database reveals that similar bills on cycling have been filed for decades. But none have become law, reflecting how lawmakers have sidelined active transport.

This misprioritization is evident in this year’s measly P60-million active transport budget, a far cry from the P2.59 billion requested by the Department of Transportation and from last year’s P1-billion budget.

“Sobrang liit nito. When we talk about active transport kasi, hindi lang siya bike. So ano din siya, walking—yung mga pedestrian infrastructure,” emphasized Alyssa Belda of advocacy group Make It Safer Movement. “Alam naman natin na napakahirap maglakad dito sa Metro Manila or kahit sa probinsya.”

While the department’s Active Transport Project Office stated the remaining funds from last year will be used, it acknowledged the cut would hamper the expansion of bike networks, forcing the office to focus on maintenance and upgrading of existing bike lanes.

The government also tends to prioritize car-centric projects like road widening even if the majority of Filipinos cannot afford private cars, Modales highlighted. A 2023 Social Weather Stations survey found there are four times more bike-owning households in the country than car-owning ones.

Deprioritizing active transport is contrary to the Philippine Development Plan, the government’s guide for socioeconomic development, as the latest version says cycling and walking should be prioritized in the transport system.

Shift in Perspective

While the Bicycle Act will be a big step for active transport in the country, advocates acknowledge it is not a silver bullet to solving the country’s transport crisis.

Lawmakers must shift their car-centric perspectives to view cyclists and pedestrians as the most vulnerable members of the transport system, Modales asserted.

Advocates highlight the multitude of benefits active transport brings to societies. Switching from a car to a bike can save up to P800 in expenses and at least 15 minutes of travel time daily, while reducing pollution and promoting commuters’ health, according to transport group AltMobility. On top of this, it could also improve connectivity for commuters.

“Ang EDSA Carousel, kaya ka niyang dalhin pa-Monumento, 30 minutes ganyan. Pero kung imagine mo paano sumakay ng Monumento, andami ng footbridge. Kaya important din yung pag-integrate ng active transport sa ating public transport systems,” explained Belda.

Local projects promoting active transport such as Car-Free, Carefree Tomas Morato Day and volunteer-painted bike lanes in Maginhawa St. have already gained public support, showing how political will can translate to tangible projects.

With two more House readings and the Senate version of the bill pending, the Bicycle Act has a long way to go. But Modales believes that through the bill’s passage, advocates and the general public can exert greater pressure in campaigning for an efficient and safe transport system.

“We call for the government to become the leader in ensuring that the pedestrians and bike users are made safe and not considered a nuisance,” said Modales. ●