SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to include bike lanes, sidewalks and rain shelters in major road projects as lawmakers scrutinize the agency’s proposed 2027 budget.
Cayetano made the call during a Senate hearing on the DPWH budget, saying that such facilities should be built into new infrastructure projects to make roads safer and more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders.
“There are three things I’d like to push: bike lanes, sidewalks, and rain shelters. All major new road developments should have these. It would also be better if there were public restrooms,” he said.
Cayetano highlighted the lack of rain shelters for motorcycle riders, who are often forced to look for cover during sudden downpours.
“The problem for motorcycle riders is that when it rains heavily, they have nowhere to take shelter,” he said.
He said designated rain shelters could also prevent motorists from stopping along road shoulders or other unsafe areas during bad weather.
Cayetano said the DPWH should treat such facilities as part of the basic design of major infrastructure projects rather than adding them after construction.
He also called for public restrooms to be considered in the planning of major road developments, particularly projects expected to serve large numbers of commuters and motorists.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito earlier said lawmakers had initially reviewed 1,256 DPWH projects and found 155 projects worth P8.2 billion with incomplete or noncompliant documentation.
The review is part of the Senate’s broader examination of DPWH spending following controversies surrounding alleged irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Lawmakers have also pushed the agency to strengthen project monitoring, documentation and planning, including geotagging and other measures to verify project implementation.
