“Road sharing” day on March 30 – Oposa

CEBU, Philippines - March 30 will mark the government support for less motorized vehicles along the roads throughout the country, a Cebuano environmentalist said yesterday.

Lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. broke the news to fellow eco-warriors in a February 19 e-mail thread, saying the date which is a Sunday will be declared as National Road Sharing Day.

“Just got off the phone with the Secretary of Public Highways, one of the enlightened respondents. March 30, Sunday, will be declared the national roads sharing day. Yahooooooool!” wrote an ecstatic Oposa.

Two days prior, a group of environmental advocates filed a Writ of Kalikasan and Writ of Continuing Mandamus before the Supreme Court, seeking for the division of roads in half – one shall be shared by motorized and the other for non-motorized vehicles.

“Petitioners bring this suit as citizens, taxpayers and representatives of many other persons similarly situated but who are too numerous to be brought to this court. All of them stand to be injured by respondents’ unlawful neglect of the principle that “Those who have less in wheels must have more in the road” (Road Sharing Principle) as directed by law.  As a result of such neglect, respondents violate the Filipino people’s basic human rights to health, to equal protection of the laws, and to their right to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of Nature,” the petition read.

Identified as petitioners were Victoria Segovia, Ruel Lago, Clariesse Jami Chan, representing the Carless People of the Philippines; Gabriel Anastacio represented by his mother Grace Anastacio, Dennis Orlando Sangalang represented by his mother May Alili Sangalang.

Maria Paulina Castañeda represented by her mother Atricia Ann Castañeda is said to represent the Children of  the Philippines and Children of the Future; and Renato Pineda, Jr., Aron Kerr Menguito, May Alili Sangalang, and Glynda Bathan Baterina, representing Car-Owners “who would rather not have cars if good public transportation were safe, convenient, accessible, available, and reliable.”

Recipients of the petition included the Climate Change Commission, represented by its Chairman, Pres. Benigno Aquino III, and its commissioners Mary Ann Lucille Sering, Heherson Alvarez and Nadarev Sano.

Also included as recipients of the petition were Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), represented by Secretary Honorable Joseph Abaya; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and The Road Board, represented by Secretary Rogelio Singson; Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), represented by Secretary Manuel Roxas.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), represented by Secretary Ramon Paje was also included as recipients of the petition, along with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), represented by Secretary Florencio Abad; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) represented by its Chairman, Francis Tolentino; Department of Agriculture (DA) represented by Secretary Proceso Alcala; and John Does, representing as yet unnamed local government units and their respective local chief executives, juridical entities, and natural persons who fail or refuse to implement the law or cooperate in the implementation of the law.

Meanwhile, local environment officials welcomed the issuance of Writ of Kalikasan on road sharing as a welcome initiative.

“This is a very good opportunity to further improve the sound and effective implementation of  the Philippine Clean Air Act (PCCA) of 1999 or Republic Act Number 8749 while we continue to pursue the quality of air we breathe,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said in a statement. —/JRS (FREEMAN)