
Cabinet revamp a ‘golden opportunity' for inclusive road infra — mobility advocates
In a statement, Move As One said the President's move 'presents a golden opportunity for the government to shift away from services and infrastructure that favors the needs of the 6% of Filipinos who own private vehicles to the 94% who walk, ride public transportation, and pedal bicycles.'
Marcos earlier announced his sweeping call for his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations after his pronouncement that the results of Eleksyon 2025 showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government."
With this, the group said that a whole-of-government approach is needed to fulfill the significant transportation policy in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, that 'pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users.'
The group also expressed support for Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon amid the President's call for his alter egos to submit courtesy resignations.
'I and colleagues from the Move As One Coalition have been supportive of Sec. Dizon and his team at the DOTr because of their prioritization of public transportation and vulnerable road users who are in the vast majority. There needs to be a conscious reorientation and transformation of services and infrastructure to favor these groups in the population so that we can have more livable communities and more sustainable, inclusive and efficient mobility everywhere, including for owners of motor vehicles,' said Robert Siy Jr., a co-convenor of Move As One.
'This means providing safe and attractive travel options apart from using a private motor vehicle,' added Siy.
He said that the country needs its road and bridge infrastructure agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways, to also prioritize the travel of those without motor vehicles and to reflect this in the design and operations of all roads and bridges that they build as 'Filipinos are driven to car-dependency and motorcycle-dependency, which leaves all of us with ever-increasing heat, pollution and traffic on all our urban roads.' —Ted Cordero/RF, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
_2025_08_02_18_07_56.png&w=3840&q=100)

GMA Network
19 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos transfers Sulu to Region IX following SC decision on BARMM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has moved Sulu to Region IX, also known as the Zamboanga Peninsula, after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled last year that the province is not a part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Signed on July 30, Marcos' Executive Order 91 said there was an ''urgent need to effectively implement and address the impacts'' of the SC ruling, ''including the regional affiliation of the Province of Sulu, while continuing to ensure the uninterrupted governmental operations and delivery of essential government projects, programs, and activities within Sulu.'' He directed all national government agencies to include Sulu under Region IX for regional administration, development planning, investment programming and budgeting, and other relevant purposes. Marcos also established a technical working group (TWG) headed by the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management. The TWG's functions are to oversee and monitor the implementation of the SC decision, prepare and release a transition plan, address any issues or concerns arising from the SC ruling, request assistance from relevant agencies in implementing the EO, and submit an annual report to the Office of the President. Last September, the SC upheld the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), but it also declared that Sulu should not have been included in the BARMM. Sulu rejected the ratification of the BOL during the plebiscite in 2019. —VBL, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Marcos leads launch of estero cleanup program in Pasig
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the launch of Bayanihan sa Estero: Malinis na Estero Pamayanan Protektado program in Pasig City, August 2, 2025. Screenshot from RTVM video President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the launching of the Bayanihan sa Estero: Malinis na Estero Pamayanan Protektado program at the Ilugin River (Buli Creek) in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City. Under the program, activities such as unclogging Metro Manila's drainage laterals, dredging waterways, removing silt from drainage mains and eliminating accumulated solid waste are included. The aim is to reduce the impact of floods due to unusually heavy rains. The program is to be implemented in close coordination with national government agencies (NGAs) led by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs). Twenty-three esteros have been identified to be prioritized in the Bayanihan sa Estero: Malinis na Estero Pamayanan Protektado program, the Presidential Communications Office said. These 23 esteros were observed to have significant siltation, heavy solid waste buildup, poor flow conditions and vulnerability to recurrent flooding. During the launch on Saturday, Marcos observed the cleanup drive in Buli Creek. Water hyacinths were removed from the pond using a crane on a barge. Marcos also inspected the mobile recovery facility where water hyacinths by-products such as lily pots and charcoal briquettes and recyclable wastes collected from the river such as hollow blocks and plastic bricks are displayed. The President also interacted online with volunteers and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel who were conducting a simultaneous cleanup drive at Catmon Creek in Malabon City, Pinagsama Creek in Taguig City, Hagonoy Retarding Pond in Taguig City, and Tapayan Retarding Pond in Taytay, Rizal. "Currently, there are 273 identified rivers, tributaries, esteros and open canals in the metropolis that serve as primary channels for conveying stormwater and flood runoff across the National Capital Region (NCR)," the PCO said. —KG, GMA Integrated News

GMA Network
2 days ago
- GMA Network
AI use in PH classrooms must fit students' needs —solon
Some things must be considered first before artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated into the classrooms, said House Basic Education and Culture Committee chairperson Roman Romulo. While AI can be an effective learning tool, Romulo said that it's important for students to develop their critical thinking. 'May advantages siya, but before we implement it fully kailangan natin pagaralan kung ano yung tamang level at kung sino yung mga estudyante na kailangan natin bigyan ng AI. Kasi mayroon ng mga pagaaral, although preliminary po yun, may lumabas na pagaaral I think from schools in Boston na sinasabi nga nila hindi naman wholesale ibigay natin yung AI sa lahat o yung technology,' he said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Friday. (It has its benefits, but before we roll it out completely, we need to carefully consider the appropriate level and which students truly need AI. There are already studies, though preliminary, I think from schools in Boston, that suggest we shouldn't just give AI or the technology to everyone wholesale.) 'Kasi maganda pa rin na nadedevelop yung learner o yung bata yung traditional way of learning. Nahahasa din papunta siyang critical thinking, kailangan talaga pinagiisipan niya yung bawat bagay,' Romulo added. (It's still beneficial for learners and children to develop using traditional learning methods. This also sharpens their critical thinking skills, requiring them to genuinely ponder every detail.) The latest Philippine Statistics Authority study showed that more than 1 in 5 Filipinos aged 10 to 64 have difficulty comprehending what they read—despite being able to read, write, and compute. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the basic literacy rate — the share of people who can read, write, and compute — is 93.1%, but only 70.8% are considered functionally literate, meaning they can also comprehend. In his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted concerns in the education system, including literacy. 'May value talaga ang AI. Pero hindi siya pwedeng wholesale for now, one size does not fit all. Kailangan natin ma-tailor fit yung pagintroduce ng technology, pag-introduce ng AI depending po sa sitwasyon para responsible din yung paggamit ng mga developments na ito,' said Romulo. (AI truly has value. However, it can't be a wholesale solution for now; one size doesn't fit all. We need to tailor the introduction of this technology and AI depending on the situation, ensuring responsible use of these developments.) 'Pero naniniwala ako, the moment ma-full throttle at effective na ito na ginagawa ng DepEd natin, nakatutok na sa functional literacy, the computer technology will be used in the right way,' he added, referring to the Department of Education's ARAL Program which offers free tutorials and interventions to students struggling with reading, mathematics, and science. (But I believe the moment our DepEd fully and effectively implements this focus on functional literacy, computer technology will be used in the right way.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News