ONE of the glaring deficiencies of the House-approved version of the 2027 budget is the measly P33.9 million allocated for active transport infrastructure, or the safe pathways for walking and cycling, plus bike-sharing schemes.
This insignificant amount is a far cry from the original Department of Transportation request of P1.13 billion. In my view, this is still insufficient compared with the urgent need for better sidewalks and bike lanes. Let me explain why.
One of the best investments the government can make at this time is active transport infrastructure — so that walking and cycling become safe and attractive travel options for all Filipinos.
Today, headline inflation, as measured by the Philippine Statistics Authority, is at 7.2 percent year on year as of September 2026 — and rising. When we break down the different components of household spending, transportation expenditure experienced the largest increase at 14.6 percent.
Because of the higher cost of transportation, Filipinos have less money to spend on food, on health care, on clothing and other necessities.
With increased expenditures, families are left with less money to save and invest. Jobs are foregone when travel costs are no longer reasonable. Students drop out of school when they no longer can afford the journey to their classes. The poorest Filipinos already spend 20 percent or more of their household income on transportation.
Because high fuel prices are likely to continue into 2027, one of the best responses from the government is to create safe and reliable travel options that are low-cost or zero-cost — walking and cycling.
Many of our cities are relatively compact. A person can walk about 5 to 6 kilometers in an hour; on a bicycle, a person could cover 10 to 15 kilometers within an hour.
During rush hour, in most cities, Filipinos could get home sooner by walking or cycling and spare themselves the lengthy drive or commute. Many Filipinos are already walking or cycling — but millions more could do the same if infrastructure for active transport were of higher quality.
Today, some argue that very few Filipinos want to walk or use bicycles because of our weather — too hot or too wet — therefore implying that sidewalks or bike lanes would not be good investments. I disagree. Infrastructure dictates behavior.
Countries with the same weather, but with far better active transport infrastructure, report much higher daily physical activity.
For example, in a 2017 study published in Nature, which measured walking activity using smartphones, Singaporeans facing similar heat and humidity were found to take 42 percent more steps (5,674 steps) daily compared with Filipinos (4,008 steps).
Today, there are many more Filipinos on bicycles, some out of choice and some out of necessity. We need to keep them safe. In the absence of protected bike lanes, they would be vulnerable to collisions with cars or motorcycles.
Sidewalks exist and are accepted as valuable whether anyone uses them or not. They are viewed as essential because they provide a safe pathway whenever people need to use them. We need to think of bicycle lanes the same way. In fact, when sidewalks are obstructed, bicycle lanes offer an option for persons who cannot access the sidewalk, including those in wheelchairs. Sidewalks and bike lanes save lives.
Most Philippine sidewalks and bike lanes, however, are not of good quality. Many bike lanes are too narrow or lack protective barriers to keep cars and motorcycles out. Many suffer from uneven or potholed surfaces and are peppered with hazards and obstacles. Most bike lanes lack continuity or end abruptly, leaving the cyclist exposed to high risk when crossing intersections or when the bike lanes end.
The absence of end-of-trip facilities is another deterrent. At destinations, there may be no place to park a bicycle safely. Ideally, there should be conveniently located bike racks that are well-lit and within the range of security cameras and personnel. At places of work, showers and lockers would enable employees to freshen up after a bike ride.
Many Filipinos say that they would also be on a bicycle if only bike lanes were of good quality and if there were secure parking at destinations. Their motivation is clear. Avoiding or reducing transportation costs could increase household disposable income by 20 percent or more. This would place more food on the table, enable better health care and education, and allow leisure and recreational options that would otherwise not be affordable. And then, there are the health benefits of a more active and less sedentary lifestyle.
The 2027 General Appropriations Act needs a meaningful budget for active transport. It would change millions of lives for the better.
Robert Y. Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate.
