BY CHITO CHAVEZ
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday asked the local government units (LGUs) to construct protected biking lanes and walking paths in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
With the current health crisis the country is facing, the public’s mobility was restricted due to the limited number of public transport allowed on the streets.
For this, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año urged the public to consider other alternative modes of mobility like walking and biking.
Año said the DILG signed Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2020-0001 with the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) “to address the limited transportation options for essential travel and curtail transmissions in public transportation.”
The DILG chief noted the JAO urges the national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs to construct protected bicycle lanes and walking paths and supportive infrastructure like bicycle racks and changing rooms to encourage walking and cycling.
He added the JAO also provides minimum public health standards for active transport users, such as the use of face masks and physical distancing.
Stressing his point, Año explained that public mass transportation “has become vulnerable to coronavirus transmission despite the health protocols in place which is why walking and biking must be encouraged for they present less contact among the populace leading to less opportunities for infection”.
“Data from the ground show that the public transport system can be a breeding ground for COVID-19 transmission,” said Año.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya said that active transport is a welcome addition and a supplementary mode of transportation, which, according to him “hits many birds with one stone.” (Chito Chavez)
