The committee on appropriations’ budget deliberation for the 2025 proposed budget for the Department of Transportation on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. (Screenshot from the House of Representative/Youtube)
MANILA, Philippines — The allocated budget to fund bike lanes under the proposed national budget is insufficient, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.
In the budget deliberations of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday, Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel pointed out the difference between the proposed budget of the agency from its budget allocation in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
The lawmaker first asked the transportation department if the current bike lanes in the country are enough and just require maintenance.
Jesus Ferdinand Ortega, the Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure, answered that they are targeting to build more bike lanes in 2025.
“We would like to target 260 kilometers more for 2025. Unfortunately, ang binigay na budget (the budget given) for us is to maintain the present,” Ortega answered.
READ: DOTr stresses proper bike lane enforcement
“So definitely we will be asking the Congress na madagdagan po for us (to increase the fund) to achieve the objective to have around more than 2,000 total bike lanes nationwide,” he added.
Manuel then asked Ortega how much they would need to reach the 2,000-kilometer dedicated bike lanes.
The department said last May that they are targeting to expand bike lanes in major cities and municipalities in the country by 2028. They have also allotted P5 billion to fund active transport projects, including the creation of 2,400-kilometer protected and dedicated bike lanes nationwide.
“Ang total budget po na hiningi namin for 2025 is P2.595 billion for us to achieve not only ‘yong additional bike lanes but also to upgrade ‘yong existing at saka maglalagay po kami ng certain end of reap cycling facilities, et cetera,” Ortega answered.
(The total budget that we asked for 2025 is P2.595 billion for us to achieve not only the additional bike lanes but also to upgrade the existing ones and to establish certain end of reap cycling facilities, et cetera.)
The lawmaker proceeded to ask how much the allotted budget is under the NEP, to which Ortega said that they were given P60 million to fund the project.
“Napakalaking difference nito. At para sa atin, kung gusto natin maging kongkreto yung vision natin na ipromote ‘yung public transport, hindi makakasapat na ganito lang ‘yong budget para do’n sa bike lanes,” Manuel noted.
(This is a huge difference. And for us, if we want to have a concrete vision to promote public transport, this is not enough for the bike lanes.)
Based on the progress report presented in the budget deliberation, approximately 812 kilometers were established for bike lanes, while 422.34 kilometers were maintained and upgraded as of July 31.
The establishment of bike lanes is under the agency’s Active Transport Program to promote cycling as an active alternative mode of transportation.
Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the program was allotted a P1 billion fund to construct and maintain bike lanes in the country.
READ: P1 billion in 2024 budget for more bike lanes, facilities