Solons press DPWH to complete construction of NCR bike lanes by June

Lawmakers on Wednesday grilled Department of Public Works and Highways officials if the timeline on the construction of bicycle lanes across the country will be followed.

In a Committee on Transportation hearing, House Minority leader Joseph Stephen Paduano specifically questioned the construction of bicycle lanes in the National Capital Region, noting that only 4% of the bicycle lanes across the metro have been completed.

"Timetable ng NCR for these 338 bike lanes is June? With more than 300 kilometers ang di pa natapos sa NCR, four percent lang ngayon completion rate ng NCR then tatapusin nila by June?" Paduano said.

Committee on Transportation chairperson Edgar Mary Sarmiento shared the same sentiment: "Tinatanong niya parang imposible yata na ang 300 kilometro ay matatapos po sa Hunyo kasi Marso na ngayon... ibig sabihin Abril, Mayo, three months from now matatapos niyo 'yung 300 kilometers?"  

In response, Judy Cordon, assistant director of DPWH-NCR, said only 13.8% of the bicycle lanes have been completed because they have done a series of consultations with other concerned agencies.

She vowed before the panel that the agency would do its best to finish the construction in three months.

"I can only speak for NCR, 13.8% lang po ang completion namin for now because we have series of consultation, with DOTr also with LGU and MMDA. Recently, we have finalized and in fact we will be going out for another inspection with MMDA to finalize the location of these bike lanes," she said.

Cordon also said they have to finish the bicycle lanes because the funds given to them were only until June.

Paduano, however, said the completion of the project should not be based on the funds provided to the agency.

"Ang tanong kaya niyo ba o hindi kasi naman after June 30, sabihin niyo di namin natapos dahil 'yung pondo natapos na din," Paduano said.

Sarmiento's committee has approved the proposed measures seeking the creation of the bicycle lanes.

Sarmiento, meanwhile, instructed the DPWH as well as the Department of Transportation to submit the specifics of the 522 kilometers of bicycle lanes that will be constructed in NCR, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

The lawmaker also said an inspection on those lanes finished, especially in Metro Manila, would be done by next week.  —KBK, GMA News