NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1290
14.,,
of till’ ^:v. ffarp
*22 SEP -7 P1 :27
RliCEiVlD U
(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 19, 331, 393 and 472)
Prepared jointly by the Committees on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation 
and Futures Thinking; Public Works; and Finance with Senators Cayetano (P.), Poe, 
Ejercito, Ejercito Estrada, Revilla Jr., and Angara as authors thereof
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING ACTIVE TRANSPORT BY ESTABLISHING A SAFE 
PATHWAYS NETWORK OF BICYCLE LANES, WALKWAYS AND SLOW 
STREETS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Waikabie and
2 
Bikeabie Communities Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution mandates the State to
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protect and advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and healthful
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ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature, to protect and promote
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the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
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The State recognizes the urgent need to safeguard the public's health during
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the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by promoting physical distancing. It acknowledges
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that the current transportation system compromises the safety of health workers,
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other essential workers, and commuters.
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The State also affirms the need for infrastructure and a change in mindset to
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encourage and accommodate sustainable and healthy modes of active transport
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such as walking, biking, and the use of other non-motorized vehicles and to provide
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safe and convenient pathways for commuters. It further acknowledges the need to


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provide quick solutions to long-standing mobility issues brought to light by this
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pandemic and that may arise again in other emergency situations.
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Prioritizing active transport will result in reduced carbon emissions, reduced
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road congestion, less use of energy and resources, as well as less dependence on
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oil, lightening the impact of oil price shocks. It will also provide multiple health
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benefits and enhance the quality of life.
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These are also in line with the State's commitment to the Sustainable
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Development Goals (SDGs), in particular: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being);
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SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and
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Infrastructure); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); SDG 13 (Climate
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Action); and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, these terms are
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defined as follows:
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a. Active transport refers to physical activity undertaken as a means of
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transport, such as walking or cycling and the use of other non-
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motorized vehicles;
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b. Eiectric personai mobiiity devices refer to any electric motorized
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device exclusively used for transporting an individual. This includes
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electric bicycles and electric kick scooters, excluding motorcycles,
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tricycles, and other similar modes of transport;
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c. End-of-trip faciiities refer to facilities that cater to active transport
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users needs at their destinations, which may include shower and
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changing rooms, short- and long-term bicycle parking, bicycle repair
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stations, and lockers, among others;
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d. Non-motorized vehicies refer to all forms of transportation that do not
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rely on an engine or motor for movement, including, but not limited
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to, bicycles and small wheeled non-motorized transport, such as
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skateboards, push scooters, and handcarts; and
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e. Siow streets refer to local roads providing safe and convenient access
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and use by restricting motor vehicle access, use, or speed limits on
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certain days or hours in the day, or any combination of such measures
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as may be determined by the concerned local government unit (LGU),


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and prioritizing access and use by pedestrians, cyclists, and other
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non-motorized vehicle users.
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Sec. 4. Safe Pathways Network. - Within twelve (12) months from the
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effectivity of this Act, the Safe Pathways Network shall be established for the use of
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active transport: Provided,, That the use of electric personal mobility devices may be
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allowed subject to the guidelines set by the LGUs, in consultation with the
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Department of Transportation (DOTr).
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The Safe Pathways Network shall consist of the following:
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a. Bicycle lanes. LGUs, in consultation with the DOTr and the
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Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), shall identify and
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create a network of bicycle lanes, which may be temporary or
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permanent in nature. The temporary lanes alternatively known as
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pop-up lanes shall be set up, whenever necessary, including during
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emergency situations: Provided, That along national roads in Metro
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Manila, the DOTr, in coordination with the DPWH and the Metro
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Manila Development 
Authority (MMDA), shall be the lead
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implementing agency.
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Pop-up bicycle lanes may be marked with removable tapes and
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mobile signs, which can easily be placed and removed as necessary.
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Other physical barriers may also be used.
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The bicycle lanes shall, as much as practicable, directly connect
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users to essential destinations, such as medical facilities, public and
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private facilities frequented by people, schools, and other similar
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places that may be identified. Motorcycles, tricycles, and other similar
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modes of transport, whether powered by fossil fuel or electricity, are
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prohibited from using the bicycle lanes unless otherwise designed for
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sharing with such modes of transport; and
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b. Walkways. Walkways shall be designated or constructed for the use of
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pedestrians, including the use of strollers and other children's mobility
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equipment. Walkways may also be shared with non-motorized
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vehicles and electric personal mobility devices, subject to the


1 
guidelines set by the LGUs and taking into account the safety of
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pedestrians.
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c. Slow streets. To complement the network of bicycle lanes, LGUs shall
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create a designated network of people-oriented slow streets, which
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may be temporary 
or permanent, that will provide safe 
and
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convenient access and use of specific local roads. Speed limits, access
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on certain days or hours in the day by motorized vehicles 
in slow
8 
streets, or any combination of such measures shall be determined by
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the concerned LGU. Motor vehicles of residents, delivery and trash
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collection vehicles servicing the area of 
the slow streets, and
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emergency services 
shall have access to slow streets subject to
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restrictions to be imposed by the LGU.
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Slow streets shall be clearly marked with signage specifying the
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restrictions. LGUs shall identify priority areas for implementation
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within their jurisdiction. The DOTr and DPWH may provide assistance
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in the identification of slow streets.
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Sec. 5. Institutional Facilities Pathways Priority. - LGUs shall coordinate with
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public and private institutions within their jurisdiction frequented by the public, such
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as but not limited to healthcare facilities and institutions, schools, churches, and
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government offices, to establish bicycle lanes, walkways and slow streets that can
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connect and provide safe access for the employees, customers and clients of such
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institutions as well as the general public, and to encourage the establishment of
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end-of-trip facilities within such institutions.
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Special attention shall be given towards the safety of healthcare workers and
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patients who use active transport to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
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Sec. 6. Traffic Laws, Rules and Regulations. — All users of non-motorized
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vehicles and electric personal mobility devices shall obey traffic laws, rules and
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regulations and shall be subject to existing penalties for violation.
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The LGUs, in consultation with the DOTr and other appropriate agencies,
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shall issue ordinances for the safe use of bicycle lanes and the use of non-
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motorized vehicles and electric personal mobility devices.


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Sec. 7. Bicycle Racks and other End-of-Trip Facilities. — All public places,
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government offices, schools, places of work, mass transit and public utility vehicle
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terminals, and commercial establishments, including but not limited to malls, banks,
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and hospitals, shall provide, as far as practicable, secure bicycle or multi-use racks
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and other end-of-trip facilities, as needed.
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Sec. 8. Role of Public and Private Sectors. - Both the public and private
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sectors shall promote active transport as a sustainable and healthy means of
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transportation and develop the Safe Pathways Network as provided under Section 4
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of this Act, by putting up the necessary infrastructure facilities and programs.
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Further, the said sectors shall also provide, as far as practicable, additional support,
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benefits, subsidies, and training that will promote active transport.
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LGUs shall incorporate the creation of the Safe Pathways Network and their
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corresponding infrastructure in their local development plans.
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Sec. 9. Information and Education Campaign. - The DOTr, in coordination
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with other government agencies and the private sector, shall establish an
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information and education campaign on the importance of a shift to a sustainable
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and healthy mode of transportation, and the establishment and use of the Safe
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Pathways Network. The campaign shall be designed for all present and potential
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active transport users, traffic enforcers, motorists, non-motorized vehicle and
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electric personal mobility device users, the commuting public, and the community in
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general.
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Sec. 10. Design and Construction of Permanent Bicycle Lanes and Walkways.
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- Permanent bicycle lanes and walkways shall be designated or constructed with
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safety as the paramount concern. As much as practicable, permanent bicycle lanes
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and walkways shall be physically separated from the main road through physical
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barriers, or shall be elevated or otherwise constructed separately from the main
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road.
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In areas where the physical separation of bicycle lanes and walkways Is not
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possible, the roads shall be adapted, as far as practicable, for shared use with
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active transport users. Painted road markers may also be used for roads with
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limited space.


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The DPWH, in coordination with the DOTr and LGUs, shall revise its manuals
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and guidelines for road design and construction to include non-motorized vehicles
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and electric personal mobility devices in the allocation of road space on national
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and local roads, and to promote the safety of active transport and electric personal
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mobility device users.
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Sec. 11. Sources of Funding. - The funds necessary for the implementation
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of this Act shall be sourced from the amounts set aside by LGUs for infrastructure
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projects within their jurisdiction, as well as from the appropriations of the DOTr and
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DPWH under the General Appropriations Act, and the Special Road Fund from the
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Motor Vehicle User's Charge as provided under Republic Act No. 8794, as amended.
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Sec. 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
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affected thereby.
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Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
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regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,