Give us our share of the road

Fed up with smoke belching cars, traffic gridlock, and never-ending fuel price hikes, a group of lawyers issued a “Notice to Sue to Implement Road Sharing” in the country.

This move cooked up by inimitable Cebuano lawyer for the environment Antonio Oposa Jr. is an eye-opener.

The notice to sue, signed by 26 lawyers and backed by 28 renowned international environmental lawyers, cited the need to correct a social injustice.

An injustice that is based on the fact that for every 100 Filipinos, only two own or drive cars to go from point A to B. But this two percent virtually have exclusive access and control of the country’s roads.

The lawyers in issuing the notice to sue is reminding the government (including the local government in Cebu) of the policy that calls for the transformation of the road system to favor efficient public transportation and non-motorized transportation such as walking and bicycling (Executive Order 774, Sec. 9 and Administrative Order 254).

The wisdom of giving access to 98 percent of Filipinos to proper sidewalks, bicycle lanes and good public transportation system is not debatable.

The right to travel as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1986 Constitution covers all and not just for those who can afford to own cars or have access to drive one.

The Notice to Sue also stated that air pollution coming from motor vehicles is tantamount to ecological homicide and already touches on the right to life.

A recent study by the University of San Carlos indicates that 70 percent of air pollution – in the form of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides – in Cebu City are from mobile sources.

Ecological groups in Cebu City have long advocated for dedicated bike lanes in city roads. Sadly, the proposal has been sleeping in the City Hall.

Perhaps, the most expensive in the road sharing advocacy is the establishment of a good mass transportation system. In Cebu, proposals for modern mass transport system – be it Bus Rapid Transit or Light Railway Transit or both – are long overdue.

Funding for the establishment of good public transportation system should not be a problem. If corruption is plugged and political will mustered, it is doable.

With the notice to sue, expectations are high for Cebu will lead the way in institutionalizing road sharing.