FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
!w.,1ol;Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2936 
'11 
/\UG11 
P5:56 
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY 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 modes 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. 
{J~~.~ 
PIA S. CA ET ANO 
Se 
tor 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
51tQnoRegular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2936 
"11 
AUG 11 
P5:56 
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AND ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION 
AND OTHER 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: 
I 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -The Act shall be known as the "Sustainable Transportation 
2 
Actof2011." 
3 
4 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. -
In conformity with the provIsions of the 
5 
Constitution to promote the general welfare and social justice in all phases of national 
6 
development, to protect and advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and 
7 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, and to conserve and 
8 
develop the patrimony of the nation, the State hereby adopts the following policies 
9 
relative to the transportation system in our country, whether public or private: 
10 
11 
a.) The State shall promote a shift towards a safe, collective, efficient, non-
12 
congestive, non-pollutive, and healthful locomotion and transportation system 
13 
that includes non-motorized transport; 
14 
b.) The State shall increase mobility options of the general public and promote the 
15 
use of alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking and the use of 
16 
public transportation; 
17 
c.) The State shall properly plan and establish facilities and infrastructures that will 
18 
respond to this paradigm shift in the transportation system; and 
19 
d.) The State shall establish its plans and programs in conformity with the overall 
20 
national land use plan as well as the local comprehensive land use plans. 
21 
22 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall have their respective 
23 
meanings: 
24 
25 
a.) "Bicycle" refers to a device that a person may ride that is propelled by human 
26 
power and has two tandem wheels at least one of which is more than 14 inches 
27 
in diameter. 
28 
b.) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle or any vehicle propelled by any 
29 
power other than muscular power. The term does not include an electric bicycle. 
30 
c.) "Public transportation" means a shared passenger transportation service which is 
31 
available for use by the general public. These include buses, trams, trains, rapid 
32 
transit and ferries. 
33 
d.) "Walkways" means a paved path for pedestrians alongside streets. 
34 
e.) "Sustainable transport" means any means of transport with low impact on the 
35 
environment, accessible, safe, environment-friendly, and affordable. It includes 
36 
walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vehicles, carpooling, 
2 


1 
and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-
2 
saving and promote healthy lifestyles. 
3 
f.) "Travel demand management" (TDM) means a set of tools to offer people better 
4 
travel information and opportunities and help people choose to reduce their need 
5 
to travel especially by car. 
6 
7 
SECTION 1./. Sustainable Transport Action Plan. - The Department of Transportation 
8 
and Communication (DOTC), in coordination with the National Economic Development 
9 
Authority (NEDA), shall come up with a Sustainable Transport Action Plan which aims to 
10 
provide a roadmap for national and local transportation system to be adhered to at all 
11 
levels throughout the country. The Sustainable Transport Action Plan shall include 
12 
strategies relating to parking, public transport, cycling, walking and transport 
13 
infrastructure, and will set out the actions required to achieve the mode shift target over 
14 
a certain period of time as identified by DOTC and NEDA. 
15 
16 
SECTION 5. Installation of Walkways. - Adequate sidewalk areas must be maintained 
17 
on all roads as walkways to allow safe pedestrian passage and for the safe and 
18 
convenient use of wheelchairs, strollers and similar instruments. For primary and 
19 
secondary roads, there shall be allotted three (3) meters for the sidewalks. If there is no 
20 
space allocated for such and the implementation will prove difficult, in lieu thereof, an 
21 
elevated footbridge must be installed. This shall be provided by the local government 
22 
unit (LGU) concerned within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
23 
24 
SECTION (,.. Public Transportation. - The DOTC shall provide guidelines that will 
25 
promote a shift towards public transportation as a primary mobility option to the general 
26 
public, within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. Better public 
27 
transportation initiatives shall be studied and implemented in an effort to reduce the 
28 
impact of the declining oil economy on our environment and financial markets as well as 
29 
help reduce energy costs, pollution and even urban poverty. 
30 
31 
SECTION,. 
Commissioning of a "Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System." -
The 
32 
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) shall, within twelve (12) 
33 
months from the effectivity of this Act, come up with a study commissioning the creation 
34 
of a Bus Rapid Transit System which will organize buses into one efficient long-distance 
35 
transportation system with coordinated schedules, rates, routes, and pick-up and drop-
36 
off points. The LGU and the private sector, including but not limited to mall owners and 
37 
bus companies, can be tapped in order to put up or use existing facilities such as parks, 
38 
parking lots, and bus depots that will serve as large collective transportation terminals 
39 
where people can park their cars and bikes and take the buses to their destinations. 
40 
41 
SECTION 8. Establishment of a Water Ferry System. - As much as practicable, the 
42 
national agencies and water regulatory bodies in charge of a water body led by the 
43 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the 
44 
DOTC, shall explore the establishment of a ferry system in navigable bodies of water 
45 
which may be operated by the said authority or bidded out to a private contractor. The 
46 
possibility of interconnecting said waterways shall also be considered. 
47 
48 
SECTION 0,. Travel Demand Management Programs. - The DOTC, in coordination 
49 
with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education 
50 
(DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and one representative each from the 
51 
civil society, transport sector and the youth, shall come up with guidelines on travel 
52 
demand management programs that will reduce the volume of cars and motorized 
53 
transport in the roads as well as enhance and encourage students and workers to use 
54 
the public transport system. These shall include, but is not limited to, the following: 
55 
56 
a.) carpool, van pool, or car-share projects; 
57 
b.) congestion pricing measures; 
3 


1 
c.) programs to promote telecommuting; 
2 
d.) flexible work schedules, or satellite work centers; 
3 
e.) transport program for government employees; and 
4 
f.) intelligent transportation systems or other operational improvements that are 
5 
certified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to 
6 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
7 
8 
This shall be completed within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
9 
10 
SECTION frI. Designation of Bike Lanes. - A portion of the roadway or highway shall 
11 
be designated as "bike lanes" by the LGU having jurisdiction over such roadway or 
12 
highway, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 
13 
within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
14 
15 
The designated bike lanes shall be for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles. 
16 
These bike lanes shall not be obstructed by a parked or standing motor vehicle or other 
17 
stationary object. The bike lanes shall be made identifiable by striping with signing or 
18 
striping with pavement markings. 
19 
SECTION II. Provision of Bicycle Parking Spaces and Bike Racks. -
Bicycle 
20 
parking spaces and bike racks are hereby required to be provided by owners of 
21 
establishments that are: 
22 
a.) For non-residential use with gross floor area larger than 7,500 square feet; 
23 
b.) Multiple-family dwellings when 12 or more are provided on a lot; 
24 
c.) Public parking lots. 
25 
The DOTC shall establish guidelines on the minimum supply of bicycle parking spaces 
26 
in buildings and other facilities, taking into consideration the population of the short-term 
27 
or long-term dwellers in the area, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
28 
29 
SECTION '/2. Facilities. - The DOTC, in coordination with the DPWH and the LGUs 
30 
concerned, shall carry out an investment program that will encourage a mode shift to 
31 
sustainable transport within selected communities by providing safe and convenient 
32 
options to bicycle and walk for routine travel, and for other purposes. This shall be 
33 
completed within twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
34 
35 
SECTION IS. Education and Research Programs. - The DOTC shall conduct stUdies 
36 
and researches, and eventually supply information to the car-owning and -riding public 
37 
as well as commuters on aspects of sustainable transport that are relatively new. It shall 
38 
also provide technical assistance and other resources to government agencies and 
39 
private sector involved in the transport system. 
40 
41 
SECTION Ilf. Financing. - The DOTC, in coordination with the DENR, shall explore 
42 
the possibility of accessing a growing range of global environment funds in order to be 
43 
able to assist in the funding of sustainable public transport systems and less polluting 
44 
energy supplies. Public-private partnerships shall also be encouraged in the 
45 
development of transportation improvements. 
46 
47 
SECTION /5. Implementing Agency. - The DOTC shall be the main implementing 
48 
agency for this Act. 
49 
50 
SECTION 1(P. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be subsequently 
51 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity or the legality 
52 
of the other provisions not so declared. 
53 
4 


1 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
2 
rules and regulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with 
3 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed and modified accordingly. 
4 
5 
SECTION "1&. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
6 
in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
7 
8 
Approved, 
5