DOTr exec: Bike lanes in NCR, Cebu, Davao to be finished this June

An official from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday said the more than 500 kilometers of bike lanes being constructed in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao are targeted to be finished this month.

This was bared by Assistant Secretary Steve Pastor during the motu proprio investigation of the House committee on transportation on the alleged delay in the construction of the protected bicycle lanes.

Pastor said a total of P1.3 billion was allotted for the improvement of pedestrian as well as bicycle lanes under Bayanihan 2.

Of this total number, P1.1 billion was allotted for the bike lanes while the remaining P200 million was allocated for the bike sharing stations, Pastor added.

Samar Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento, panel chairperson, asked Pastor about the DOTr's target date on the completion of these bicycle lanes.

"Magkakaiba po, para po sa Cebu, matatapos na po ito by June 15, para po sa Davao, ganoon din po sa June 15... Para po sa National Capital Region, June 30 po," Pastor said.

(It varies. In Cebu, bicycle lanes will be finished by June 15, same as in Davao. For NCR, it will be finished on June 30.)

Pastor said the target bike lane network length in the above-mentioned areas are as follows:

• Metro Manila - 338.53 kilometers
• Metro Cebu - 129.65 kilometers
• Metro Davao - 54.51 kilometers.

House Minority Leader Joseph Stepen Paduano asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) if this target date is really feasible, especially in Metro Manila.

DPWH-NCR director Eric Ayapana answered in the affirmative.

Meanwhile, members of the said committee will conduct an actual site inspection of the bike lanes in Metro Manila. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News