Press Release | 02 December 2020
The Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presented to the public the general plans for implementing active transport in the coming year 2021. The plans are pursuant to the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2020-0001, Guidelines on the Proper Use and Promotion of Active Transport During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic, jointly signed by the aforementioned agencies.
During the DOH Media Forum on December 02, Secretary Francisco Duque expressed the DOH’s commitment to continuously promote active lifestyle in schools, workplaces, and communities. He stated that in order to create the culture and sustain the interventions being done, it is critical that the public are knowledgeable, motivated, and capacitated to practice a healthy lifestyle, starting with active transport.
The Health Chief also emphasized that active transport can help prevent transmission of COVID-19. “With active transport, physical distancing is better carried out by the individual. They no longer have to line up and ride the public transportation vehicles with other passengers. The risk for COVID-19 transmission is also less in open air,” said Sec. Duque.
When asked about the Bayanihan 2 or the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, which provides funding for active transport, DPHW Spokesperson Anna Mae Lamentillo said that they are expecting over Php 1 Billion budget allocation for bicycle lane development projects in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.
“As early as now, we are incorporating bicycle lane design considerations in some of the DPHW’s ongoing big-ticket infrastructure projects such as the Boracay Circumferential Road, Laguna Lake Highway, and other key locations in the country,” added Lamentillo.
Further, DOTr Assistant Secretary Atty. Steve Pastor announced that a bike sharing program will be implemented by the DOTr in 2021, with a total of 702 bicycle units accessible in 28 stations within Metro Manila.
For his part, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya committed to handhold Local Government Units (LGU) in their implementation of active transport activities, and provide them with the necessary tools and assistance including a template ordinance and technical capacity.
In addition, the DILG also committed to set-up and facilitate a mechanism for functional coordination between LGUs and the JAO agencies. “We want the LGUs to more easily connect with DOTr, DPWH, and DOH to ensure that concerns can be properly addressed, and to ensure that bicycle lane network projects are seamless and standard across LGUs,” explained USec. Malaya.
To support the promotion of related activities in LGUs, the DOH has developed the Health Promotion Playbook for Active Transport. The Playbook consists of implementation plans and ready-to-use tools which LGUs can readily implement at the community level. The Playbook for Active Transport may be accessed at the following link: bit.ly/