By Pearl Gumapos
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade will be inaugurating three bike lanes this month in the National Capital Region, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao as part of the government’s goal to promote active transportation in the country.
The agency had partnered up with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and completed 497 kilometers (km) of pavement markings, physical separators, and road signages in the three metropolitan areas.
In NCR, the DOTr and DPWH completed 313 kms of pavement markings, physical separators, and road signages amounting to P801,830,479.93.
In Metro Cebu, the agencies completed the installation of 129 kms of pavement markings, physical separators, and road signages for P150 million.
In Metro Davao, the DOTr installed 55 kms of pavement markings, physical separators, and road signages amounting to P145,369,391.
The three projects amounted to a total of P1.09 billion under the Bayanihan Bike Lane Networks Project.
Sec. Tugade said in a Facebook post that the installation of pavement markings, physical separators, and road signages shows how committed the DOTr is in promoting active transportation and ensuring the safety of the pedestrians.
“In fulfilling the desire of the public, and commuters, the Department of Transportation has been implementing projects geared towards that end,” Tugade said.
“We intend to provide commuters with access to faster, and efficient means of mass transportation; and to open infrastructure for active transportation such as walking and cycling,” he added.
Under Republic Act. No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, the promotion of active transportation was strengthened by the declaration of the bicycle as an additional mode of transportation and the provision of funding to support the establishment of bike lane networks.
The DOTr and the DPWH, together with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier signed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2020-001 to delineate the roles of national and local government units on the promotion of Active Transportation. – rir
