Jonathan Frederic De Santos

This photo shows motorcycle riders using bike lanes in EDSA. MMDA's Facebook page

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773561693339edsa.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="This photo shows motorcycle riders using bike lanes in EDSA. MMDA&#x27;s Facebook page"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This photo shows motorcycle riders using bike lanes in EDSA. MMDA&#x27;s Facebook page</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Failure to maintain bicycle lanes and restrictions on e-bikes and e-trikes are among the car-centric government policies that have left Filipinos with fewer options in the face of rising fuel prices, a transportation reform advocacy group said.</p><p>The war in the Middle East sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran sent pump prices up this week, with fuel seen to cost up to P22 per liter more next week.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/14/fuel-prices-set-for-another-sharp-increase-some-drivers-consider-halting-operations-2325"><strong>Fuel prices set for another sharp increase; some drivers consider halting operations<br/></strong></a></div><p>This has prompted government to call on the public to conserve fuel by carpooling, cycling and commuting.</p><p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday said it would maintain essential defense operations but use video conferencing and other measures &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/14/afp-to-conserve-fuel-but-essential-security-operations-to-continue-1414">just like during the COVID[-19] times.</a>&quot;</p><p>But, according to Make It Safer Movement — MISMO — transportation options have actually regressed since the pandemic, when many relied on cycling and walking to get around.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/amidst-middle-east-conflict-sara-duterte-appeals-to-ban-motorcades-vehicle-caravans-1438"><strong>Amidst Middle East conflict, Sara Duterte appeals to ban motorcades, vehicle caravans<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROTECTED BIKE LANES DISAPPEAR IN METRO MANILA, E-BIKES BANNED</strong></div><p>&quot;Many of our active transport infrastructure has been dismantled, either through our leaders backpedaling on it, or just simply that procurement takes a long time,&quot; MISMO Coordinator Alyssa Belda told ABS-CBN News in an online exchange.</p><p>Some local governments, like in San Juan City, have removed their protected bicycle lanes to give way to cars. Barriers and plant boxes in other areas have been damaged or destroyed by motor vehicles and have yet to be replaced. </p><p>&quot;Either way, both are failures to Filipino commuters and taxpayers,&quot; Belda said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/1/-magbisikleta-mmda-s-torre-supports-bike-to-work-calls-for-shared-streets-1046"><strong>‘Magbisikleta’: MMDA&#x27;s Torre supports &#x27;bike to work&#x27;, calls for shared streets<br/></strong></a></div><p>The Land Transportation Office and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have also <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/4/several-e-trike-drivers-apprehended-for-violating-road-ban-in-metro-manila-1857">cracked down on Light Electric Vehicles</a> — e-bikes and e-trikes — over road safety concerns. </p><p>&quot;Hilaw na hilaw ang patakaran na ito (That is such a half-baked policy),&quot; Belda said, adding the LTO has yet to clarify how LEVs are to be classified and which ones will be allowed on which roads.</p><p>In contrast, the government promotes electric vehicles, which are exempted from Metro Manila&#x27;s number-coding scheme as an incentive for their use.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/6/21/what-cyclists-motorists-say-on-mmda-s-proposed-shared-bike-lane-on-commonwealth-ave-2326"><strong>What cyclists, motorists say on MMDA’s proposed shared bike lane on Commonwealth Avenue</strong></a></div><p>The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 says pedestrians, commuters, and cyclists are of highest priority, but Belda said that prioritization &quot;has to be felt from their offices to the grassroots.<strong>&quot;<br/></strong></p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmakeitsafermovement%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02Eejwpd7eWHv4hWVZrYZA4vnFp2YKxLCMcEYuBFah7FrndpyaNVcbzev5CaUPmiXcl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="688" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><strong>CAR-CENTRIC POLICY</strong></div><p>Owning and driving a car is an aspiration for many in the Philippines and many of the country&#x27;s policies — from removing bike lanes to building pedestrian overpasses instead of crosswalks —  favor motorists.</p><p>&quot;Of course, may notion pa rin ang mga tao (Of course, there is still a notion) that those who own cars are the people who run our economies; but that is simply not true,&quot; Belda said.</p><p>She added that policy should not pit commuters against motorists or motorcycle users against cyclists since all should share the road.</p><p>&quot;Our policymakers should know by now that when we prioritize the 94% of Filipino households that do not own cars, even the 6% of car-owning households benefit,&quot; she said, referring to cleaner air and more efficient road spaces for commuters and motorists.</p><p>Belda acknowledged that &quot;policies and maybe even our attitudes towards cycling have improved since the pandemic&quot; through the initiatives of civil society organizations.</p><p>Among the gains are potential passage of a free bike parking ordinance in Muntinlupa City and support in Quezon City and Iloilo City for active mobility, which includes cycling, push scooters, walking and LEVs.</p><p>&quot;We are also in the process of creating the Active Transport Strategic Master Plan. Cities and private developers have started car-free streets during Sundays. I think there is significant progress there, and a lot of people benefit from it.&quot;</p><p>But, Belda acknowledged, that is not enough.</p><p>&quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/5/marcos-inspects-new-kamuning-footbridge-edsa-busway-station-1032">Demolishing the infamous Mount Kamuning</a> to give way for a smaller footbridge with elevators is progress, but should be within a context of eventually reclaiming EDSA for people,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT DO?</strong></div><p>MISMO says the government needs to give people more transportation options whether or not there is a fuel crisis.</p><p>Part of doing that is ending the crackdown on LEVs and allowing more Public Utility Jeepneys back on the road.</p><p>&quot;Mahalaga na mapanatili ang mga traditional jeepney habang hinahakbangan ang transition na ito,&quot; she said. &quot;Dapat rin mas frequent ang intervals ng mga tren.&quot;</p><p>(It is important that traditional jeepneys remain on the road during the transition to modernization. Trains should also travel at shorter intervals)</p><p>Government offices and health facilities should also put up bike parking and bike sheds to incentivize the use of bicycles. Putting up facilities like lockers, showers, and repair stations will also help with that.</p><p>The MMDA has put up repair stations along EDSA and has recently unveiled public showers at its Pasig City headquarters. </p><p>But its new general manager, former national police chief Nicolas Torre III, has also said that facilities like showers are needed more than protected bike lanes are.</p><p>Belda said that the rise in the use of bicycles and other forms of active transport during the COVID-19 pandemic was a response to a lack of options, a situation that rising pump prices could lead to.</p><p>&quot;Kapag dumarami na ang siklista sa daan habang walang safe infrastructure, active mobility funding, at enforcement, mas dumarami rin ang exposed sa road danger,&quot; she said.</p><p>(When there are more cyclists on the road while there is no safe infrastructure, active mobility funding, or enforcement, that means more are exposed to road danger)</p><p>She said that by encouraging cycling without supporting policies and infrastructure, &quot;our government leaders are knowingly putting Filipinos in danger.&quot; </p>

<p>"Many of our active transport infrastructure has been dismantled, either through our leaders backpedaling on it, or just simply that procurement takes a long time," MISMO Coordinator Alyssa Belda told ABS-CBN News in an online exchange.</p>

"Many of our active transport infrastructure has been dismantled, either through our leaders backpedaling on it, or just simply that procurement takes a long time," MISMO Coordinator Alyssa Belda told ABS-CBN News in an online exchange.

Support for bikes, active mobility lacking as pump prices make driving painful

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Support for bikes, active mobility lacking as pump prices make driving painful

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 15, 2026 04:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Bike lanes

Bicycles

Road Safety

Active Mobility

Transportation

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