Below is the Move As One Coalition’s statement on the National Expenditure Program 2027 and what it means for Filipino commuters.
WHAT about the 94 percent? The Move As One Coalition decries the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) 2027 for failing to serve the mobility needs of the carless supermajority of Filipinos: 94 percent of Filipinos do not own cars and 94 percent support the construction of safer and wider bicycle lanes and walkways as a proposed solution to transportation and traffic congestion problems (From a Pulse Asia Survey, May 23–26, 2026) — particularly as the growing number of cars on Philippine roads continues to exacerbate congestion.This failure to invest in and prioritize infrastructure for walking and cycling is fundamentally at odds with the Marcos administration’s own stated goals. The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028 states that “pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users.”However, instead of prioritizing public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, NEP 2027 proposes the following:– zero budget allocation for the EDSA Busway, which had a budget of P88.7 million in 2026.– zero budget allocation for service contracting, which had a P1-billion budget in 2026.– zero budget allocation for fuel subsidies to transport drivers, down from P2.5 billion in 2026.– drastic cuts in the Public Transport Modernization Program from P2.5 billion in fiscal year 2026 to P176.8 million in 2027.– a reduction in the active transport budget from P105.38 million in 2026 to P33.8 million in 2027.– zero budget allocation for road safety.As the proposed budget undergoes congressional scrutiny and deliberations before it is enacted into law, the Coalition asks President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and all members of the 20th Congress: What about the 94 percent?The ongoing oil crisis brought about by the war in the Middle East has shown how decades of underinvestment in road-based public transport and active transport have left our public transport system vulnerable and significantly burdened the majority of Filipinos who take public transport, walk and bike.A rapid rise in transport costs caused the Philippines’ inflation rate to spike to 4.1 percent in March 2026, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Transport inflation surged from -0.3 percent in February 2026 to 9.9 percent in March 2026, due to the oil crisis.The Coalition urges President Marcos Jr. and the members of the 20th Congress to take the 2027 NEP as an opportunity to make good on the administration’s commitment at the start of its term in 2023 — one that remains unfulfilled to this day — to invest sufficient funds in public transport, active mobility, and transport reforms and build a transportation system that is more responsive to the needs of the majority and more resilient to future crises.Focusing on the needs of the 94 percent for safer and wider bicycle lanes and walkways and efficient public transportation will save millions of Filipinos precious time — time that they currently lose navigating unsafe roads, long commutes and unreliable transport — as they travel to work, school, health centers and places of worship or leisure. Investing in people-centered mobility is an investment in quality of life and well-being: it can reduce daily stress and the risks of getting around, expand access to opportunities and essential services, and give Filipinos more time to live, work, rest and participate in their communities.Promoting active travel and public transport has both health and environmental benefits. When Filipinos have access to high-quality public transportation, they will drive less and rely more on public transit, walking and cycling. This will reduce road crashes and pollution emissions and increase physical fitness and mental health. This will also reduce traffic congestion, which cost the Philippine economy an estimated P3.5 billion per day in 2017 — a cost projected to increase to P5.4 billion per day by 2035 if nothing is done to improve our transport system.Lastly, the Coalition urges President Marcos Jr. to keep the promises he made during his recent State of the Nation Address:– “Sa nasaksihan nating pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo, maraming kababayan natin ang umaasa sa pampublikong sasakyan. Kaya pinagtutuunan natin nang mabuti ang ating mga tren, mga busway, transport hub, at integrated terminal...”– “Kaya hinihiling ko ang suporta ng buong industriya upang mapabilis na natin sa lalong madaling panahon ang ating minimithing modernisasyon ng mga pampublikong sasakyan. Tiyakin natin na magiging makatao, magaan, at makatarungan ang pagpapatupad nito.”– “Binuhay natin ang Service Contracting Program para sa pampublikong bus at mga jeep. Sa ilalim ng sistemang ito, ang kwalipikadong operator o driver ay nakakakuha ng karagdagang kita sa bawat kilometrong tinakbo sa pagserbisyo ng mga pasahero.”Robert Y. Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate.
