Better road infrastructure sought

MANILA, Philippines — Road infrastructure should be inclusive to cyclists and pedestrians, according to environmental group 350 Pilipinas.

Through the “Workers’ Bike Bus” initiative, cyclists yesterday traveled for 10 kilometers from Quezon City to Pasig.

“Ahead of President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address, we are demanding that policymakers fund our freedom by investing in interconnected infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in the national budget,” Amber Garma, national coordinator for the Mobility Awards, said.

This year’s budget for active transport plummeted to P105 million from P2 billion in 2022, a 94-percent crash, Garma said.

Active transport is a vital economic shield against volatile energy prices and gridlock, advocates said.

“Workers cannot be free if they are forced to spend half their day trapped in traffic and half their paycheck on rising fuel costs,” Garma said.