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SIXTEENTH CONGHESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 21j 
'13 
,JUL --1 
A 9 :33 
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Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
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EXPLANATOHY NOTE 
Transport plays a significant role in spurring economic development and 
reducing poverty. Transport is a vital part of most of the activities, goods, and 
services required to support and improve people's lives. At the same time, 
however, it also consumes resources and imposes negative side effects. Carbon 
monoxide, a type of toxic gas emitted by cars and other motor vehicles, is largely 
responsible for the smog and air pollution in the country as well as respiratory 
diseases, headaches and other ailments. The fuel used to run cars and motor 
vehicles is costing the Philippines more than One Billion Pesos a day. Our 
dependency on imported fossil fuels has a multiplier effect in the prices of or 
basic commodities, goods and services. The heavy reliance on 
motor 
vehicles/cars promotes an unhealthy lifestyle as the public has become 
sedentary, refusing to walk or bike even short distances. In practically all of the 
major cities of the country, this is causing terrible traffic congestion, unnecessary 
stress, and even countless accidents resulting in loss of life and limb. 
It is high time that we revisit this way of thinking and lifestyle or else our 
environment and health continue to suffer. There has to be a balance that will 
enable people's transport needs to be met in a way that neither harms them nor 
depletes resources. There are different available mobility options that our 
government can explore in order to serve our people's changing transport needs, 
declog the streets and improve our efficiency as a nation - walking, cycling, use 
of public transportation, etc. The government must provide for the creation of a 
safe, convenient, inexpensive, collective, efficient, non-congestive, non-pollutive, 
and healthful locomotion and transportation system for the benefit of the Filipino 
people. 


This bill seeks to develop sustainable and alternative rnodes of 
transportation in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen energy 
consumption, use precious urban area efficiently, reduce time and travel costs as 
well as promote an active lifestyle. It mandates the Department of Transportation 
and Communication (DOTC), in coordination with the National Economic 
Development Authority (NEDA), to develop a plan that will encourage this mode 
shift and promote programs and infrastructure that will pave the way for the same. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
S. CAYETANO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
AN ACT 
'11 
JUL·· 
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AND ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION 
AND OHlER MOBILITY OPTIONS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, INCREASE 
EFFICIENCY, REDUCE CONGESTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE HEALTH 
IMPACTS IN OUR SOCIETY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Shalt Title. -The Act shall be known as the "Sustainable Transportation 
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Act of 2011." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. -
In conformity with the provIsions of the 
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Constitution to promote the general welfare and social justice in all phases of national 
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development, 10 prolect and advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and 
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healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and to co~serve and 
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develop Ihe patrimony of the nalion, tile State hereby adopts the following pOlicies 
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relative to the transportation system in our country, whether public or private: 
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a.) The State shall promote a shift towards a safe, collective, efficient, non-
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congestive, non'-pollutive, and healthful locomotion and transportation system 
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that includes non-motorized transport; 
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b.) The State shall increase mobility options of the general public and promote the 
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use of alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking and the use of 
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public transportation; 
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c.) The State shall properly plan and establish facilities and infrastructures that will 
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respond to this paradigm shift in the transportation system; and 
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d.) The State shall establish its plans and programs in conformity with the overall 
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national land use plan as well as the local comprehensive land use plans, 
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SECTION 3. De.finition of Terms. - The following terms shall have their respective 
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meanings: 
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a.) "Bicycle" refers 10 a device that a person may ride that is propelled by human 
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power and has two tandem wheels at least one of which is more than 14 inches 
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in diameter. 
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b.) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle or any vehicle propelled by any 
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power ollwr than muscular power. The term does not include an electric bicycle. 
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c.) "Public transportation" means a shared passenger transporlation service which is 
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available for use by the general public. These include buses, trams, trains, rapid 
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transit and ferries. 
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d.) "Walkways" means a paved path for pedestrians alongside streets. 
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e,) "Sustainable transport" means any means of transport with low impact on the 
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environment, accessible, safe, environment-friendly, and affordable. It includes 
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walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vel1icles, carpooling, 
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and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-
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saving and promote healthy lifestyles. 
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f.) "Travel demand management" (TOM) means a set of tools to offer people better 
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travel information and opportunities and help people choose to reduce their need 
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to travel especially by car. 
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SEC'nON II. Sustainable Tl'ansport Action Plan. - The Department of Transportation 
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and Communication (DOTC), in coordination with the National Economic Development 
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Authority (NEDA), shall come up with a Sustainable Transport Action Plan which aims to 
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provide a roadmap for national and local transportation system to be adhered to at all 
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levels throughout the country. The Sustainable Transport Action Plan shall include 
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strategies relating to parking, public transport, cycling, walking and transport 
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infrastructure, and will set out the actions required to achieve the mode shift target over 
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a certain period oftime as identified by DOTC and NEDA 
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SECTION J. Install~ltion of Walkways. - Adequate sidewalk areas must be maintained 
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on all roads as wall<ways to allow safe pedestrian passage and for the safe and 
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convenient use of wlleelcllairs, strollers and similar instruments. For primary and 
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secondary roads, tllere shall be allotted IIlree (3) meters for the sidewalks. If there is no 
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space allocated for sucll and tile implementation will prove difficult, in lieu thereof, an 
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elevated footbridge must be installed. This shall be provided by the local government 
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IInit (I_GU) concerned witllin six (6) months from the effectivity of til is Act. 
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SECTION ~. Pllblin Transportation. - The DOTe shall provide guidelines that will 
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promote a shift towards public transportation as a primary mobility option to the general 
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public, within twelve (12) montlls from the effectivity of this Act. Belter public 
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transportation initiatives shall be studied and implemented 111 an effort to reduce the 
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impact of the declining oil economy on our environment and financial markets as well as 
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help reduce energy costs, pollution and even urban poverty. 
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SECTION,. 
Commissioning of a "BIIS Rapid Transit (BRT) System." -
Tile 
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Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Shall, within twelve (12) 
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months from the effectivity of this Act, come up with a study commissioning the creation 
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of a Bus Rapid Transit System which will organize buses into one efficient long-distance 
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transportation system with coordinated schedules, rates, routes, and pick-up and drop-
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off points. The LGU and the private sector, including but not limited to mall owners and 
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bus companies, can be tapped in order to put up or use existing facilities such as parks, 
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parlling lots, and bus depots that will serve as large collective transportation terminals 
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where people can park their cars and bikes and take the buses to their destinations. 
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SECTION S. Establ'ishment of a Water Ferry System. - As much as practicable, the 
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national agencies and water regulatory bodies in charge of a water body led by the 
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the 
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DOTC, shall explore the establishment of a ferry system in navigable bodies of water 
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which may be operated by the said authority or bidded out to a private contractor. The 
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possibility of interconnecting said waterways shall also be considered. 
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SECTION "'. Trav,~1 Demand Management Programs. - The DOTC, in coordination 
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with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education 
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(DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTl) and one representative each from the 
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civil society, transport sector and the youth, shall come up with guidelines on travel 
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demand management programs that will reduce the volume of cars and motorized 
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transport in the roads as well as enhance and encourage students and workers to use 
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the public transport system. These shall include, but is not limited to, the following; 
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a,) carpool, vanpool, or car-share projects, 
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b.) congestion pricing measures; 
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c.) programs to promote telecommuting; 
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d.) flexible work schedules, or satellite work centers; 
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e.) transport pro!Jram for government employees; and 
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f.) intelligent transportation systems or oUler operational improvements that are 
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certified by Hre Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to 
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reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
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This shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION frI. Designation of Bike Lanes. - A portion of the roadway or highway sllall 
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be designated as "bike lanes" by the LGU having jurisdiction over such roadway or 
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highway, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 
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within six (6) month!! from the effectivity of this Act. 
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The designated bike lanes shall be for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles. 
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These bike lanes shall not be obstructed by a parked or standing motor vehicle or other 
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stationary object. The bike lanes shall be made identifiable by striping with signing or 
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striping with pavement markings. 
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SECTION /I. Provision of Bicycle Parking Spaces and Bike Racks. -
Bicycle 
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parking spaces and bille racks are hereby required to be provided by owners of 
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establishments that are: 
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a.) For non-residential use with gross floor area larger than 7.500 square feet; 
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b.) Multiple-family dwellings when 12 or more are provided on a lot; 
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c.) PubliC parking lots. 
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The DOTe shall establish guidelines on the minimum supply of bicycle parking spaces 
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in buildings and other facilities, taking into consideration the population of the short-term 
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or long-term dwellers in the area, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION '/2. Facilities. - The DOTe, in coordination with the DPWH and the LGUs 
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concerned, shall carry out an investment program that will encourage a mode shift to 
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sustainable transport within selected communities by providing safe and convenient 
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options to bicycle and walk for routine travel, and for other purposes. This shall be 
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completed within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 1:3. edut~ation and Research Programs. - The DOTe shall conduct studies 
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and researches, and evenlually supply information to the car-owning and -riding public 
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as well as commuters on aspects of sustainable transport that are relatively new. It shall 
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also provide technical assistance and other resources to government agencies and 
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private sector involved in the transport system. 
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SECTION til. FllIllllcitlg. - The DOTe, in coordination with the DENR, shall explore 
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the possibility of accessing a growing range of global environment funds In order to be 
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able to assist in the funding of sustainable public transport systems and less polluting 
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energy supplies. Public-private partnersl1ips shall also be encouraged in the 
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development of transportation improvements. 
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SECTION IS. Implementing Agency. - The DOTe shall be the main implementing 
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agency for this Act. 
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SECTION Jr.. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be subsequently 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity or the legality 
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of the other provisions not so declared. 
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SECTION I']. Repe'aling Cia lise. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
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rules and regulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with 
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the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed and modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 'IS. Effecltivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
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in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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Approvecl, 
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