DOTr seeks P1 billion budget for bike, pedestrian lanes

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June 2, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seeking P1 billion in funds to expand bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways as the energy crisis prompts more Filipinos to leave their cars behind.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor told reporters that the DOTr is requesting Congress for up to P1 billion in budget for active transport projects next year.

The proposed budget would be 10 times bigger than the P105.38 million allocation for active transport under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Pastor said there is a need for the DOTr to build more bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Apart from this, the agency is putting up public utility vehicle (PUV) stops complete with facilities like free WiFi and solar roofs.

Last year, when the proposed budget was turned over to Congress, the active transport segment was allotted only P69.38 million.

The DOTr requested Congress to elevate it to as much as P2 billion, but it was increased by just P36 million due to funding deficiencies.

“Through the years, we have received funding that was enough to cover active transport projects, [but] this year it was cut to P105 million only,” Pastor said.

“This is the budget that we hope the legislative branch of government would raise next year, so we can expand further our projects,” he added.

Pastor said the DOTr has gone beyond the traditional active transport projects. Prior to this, the agency is focused on setting up bike lanes to protect cyclists from the risks of sharing the same spaces as motorists.

Since then, the DOTr has also funded the expansion of pedestrian pathways to push Filipinos to walk near their destinations. Further, the agency has financed the construction of PUV stops to shield commuters from weather extremities while they wait for a ride.

Recently, active transport projects like bike lanes have supported Filipinos who are cutting down on their car use to save fuel in a time when petroleum prices are spiking.

To date, the DOTr has built at least 1,100 kilometers of bike lanes nationwide, still less than half of its target stretch of 2,400 kilometers by 2028.