Filipino Commuters' Rights and Welfare Act of 2025

wear did: TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JUL -2 P4:12 First Regular Session SENATE S. No. _ 9 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JV EJERCITO AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMUTER-CENTERED POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR TRANSPORTATION POLICY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE "If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places." - Frank Kent! Transportation mobility is a basic human right?. The ability of our citizens to move freely and efficiently is an indispensable facet of a free society and enables our citizens to grow the economy, and to access essential public services such as education and healthcare. In its current state, the transportation system in the Greater Manila Area, composed of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces of Rizal, Cavite Bulacan and Laguna is overwhelmingly dominated by automobiles. This "automobilization" has profoundly affected and deterred national development and is a direct contributor to the severe traffic crisis that has plagued the National Capital Region and its surrounding provinces.3 ' Kent, F. (2005). Streets are People Places. Project for Public Spaces. 2 United Nations General Assembly. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 3 National Economic and Development Authority-Region 4A (2023). CALABARZON Regional Development Plan 2023-2028.

The economic and human development repercussions of such a car-centric paradigm are staggering with Metro Manila consistently ranking as having the worst traffic in the world.' In 2017, a study made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) estimated at 3.5 billion per day or 1.27 trillion annually, and might increase to 5.4 billion pesos by 2035 if no substantial policy solutions are initiated. The same issues of transport congestion are also starting to dramatically emerge in our other metropolitan areas such as Baguio, Cebu and Davao which has a direct effect of stifling and paralyzing economic progress across the nation. 5 Charting a new path forward necessitates transformative and bold policy solutions that fundamentally challenges the prevailing car-centric paradigm in our country. Through the enactment of this measure, we are poised to establish a policy framework that not only recognizes the fundamental right of Filipino commuters, but expands and champions it. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO 4 Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (2024). Traffic Congestion in Metro Manila 5 The Philippine Star. (2018). Traffic making Philippine cities uninhabitable.

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JUL -2 P4:12 SENATE S. No. _ _ 9 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JV EJERCITO AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMUTER-CENTERED POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR TRANSPORTATION POLICY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Filipino

Commuters' Rights and Welfare Act of 2025".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to guarantee safe,

convenient, reliable, affordable and dignified mobility for all. Recognizing this as a 7 fundamental human need vital for accessing freedoms, work, and essential public services. To uphold this, the State commits resources to protect commuters, ensure universal mobility across age, physical ability, gender, or economic standing, safeguard the commuting public's welfare in transport decisions, and strengthen citizen participation.

Sec. 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Active Transport" - refers to non-motorized means of travel, including walking or using a bicycle. (b) "Activity Center"- refers to a place in a city or municipality where people gather regularly for work, worship, education, social events, trade, exercise, leisure or other common interests and purposes.

(c) "Advance Notice"- refers to the provision of early information regarding any consultations with stakeholders, for which the period from the announcement or delivery of the invitation to the consultation event will be a minimum of 10 working days. (d) "Commuter" - refers to a person that needs to travel from one place to another, often using a combination of transportation modes to get to his/her destination. (e) "Greenway"- refers to a road, street, or path with ample greenery and shade where private motorized transport is not allowed, that also serves as recreational space or a public park, in order to welcome and encourage environmentally sustainable transportation modes, especially walking and cycling. (f) "High-Volume Transport Corridor"- refers to walkways, paths, roads, bridges, streets or mass transportation terminals where the flow of people is at least 2,000 persons per hour per direction during peak travel periods. (g) "Micromobility" - refers to travel using electronic or non-motorized vehicles weighing not more than 100 kg. (h) "Mobility" - refers to the ability of a person to travel from one place to another to conduct daily and extraordinary activities and business. (i) "Mobility Infrastructure" - refers to physical facilities, such as foot paths, bicycle lanes, roads, PUV loading/unloading bays, PUV terminals, and public transport systems, that support and enhance a person's mobility. (j) "Private Motorized Transport"- refers to motorized vehicles weighing more than 100 kg. (k) "Public Transport' - refers to public sector and franchised private sector services that transport people over land or water, including jeepneys, UVs, buses, minibuses, railways, ferries, taxis and tricycles. (l) "Urbanized Municipality"- refers to a municipality in the Philippines where the aggregate area in the municipality zoned as residential, commercial or industrial exceeds 40% of the total land area of the municipality.

ARTICLE II RIGHTS OF COMMUTERS

Sec. 4. Right to Adequate and Responsive Public Transportation and Mobility

Services. - The State shall ensure that adequate public transportation services are services and available to meet the needs of its citizens. Public transportation infrastructure plans and programs should be prepared and updated on an annual basis in order to satisfy the evolving mobility requirements in our communities, especially in urban areas. It will be the responsibility of metropolitan authorities and local government units to measure, analyze and update the mobility requirements in each locality and to develop plans and programs to address the mobility requirements of their citizens. The State shall ensure that: (a) Every town and municipality will have a community-wide network of safe sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and roads to enable travel around the city entirely by foot, bicycle or by other forms of light mobility; (b) Public transport services are available within a 500-meter walk from any residence or activity center in a city; (c) Public Transport services are connected to another public service within a 300-meter walk to promote seamless connectivity; (d) Public Transport services are in sufficient quantity and frequency so that commuter waiting time at stops and terminals do not exceed 10 minutes during peak demand periods; (e) Public Transport is accorded priority in the use of road space and traffic signal operation so that it is able to traverse 15 kilometers within 1 hour, including all scheduled stops; (f) Public Transport services are supported by properly equipped, adequately- sized and well-maintained terminals and stops, with attention to the safety and comfort of commuters; (g) Every road with a speed limit of over 20 kph and under 60 kph shall feature dedicated pedestrian infrastructure, in the form of an unobstructed walking path of at least 2.5 meters wide in each direction;

• • (h) Every road with a speed limit of under 60 kph shall feature dedicated bike lanes which are wide enough to comfortably accommodate at least two bikes side by side; (i) Transport services are inclusive, so that they are accessible to persons of all ages and abilities. Public Transport infrastructure and vehicles shall be designed and implemented so that persons with disabilities or special needs are not excluded from their use. i) In all renovations of existing infrastructure or construction of new infrastructure, preserving or improving the travel time impact on Public Transport, bicycles, and pedestrians shall be prioritized over preserving or improving travel time impact on private motorized transport. The State Shall generally avoid the implementation of projects that produce a positive impact on the travel time of users of private motorized modes at large expense to Public Transport, bicycles, and pedestrians.

Sec. 5. Right to Safe, Convenient and Affordable Public Transport Services. -

The State shall ensure that Public Transport services are safe, dignified, convenient, comfortable and reliable, while remaining affordable to the general public. Concessional or discounted fares shall be offered for disadvantaged or special groups (i.e., students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, poor households). The State shall provide subsidies to compensate for discounts offered to special or disadvantaged groups. The State shall reward the use of Public Transport via financial and non- financial incentives to promote the frequent use of Public Transport. The State shall ensure that it is more economical for commuters to use Public Transport more frequently rather than less frequently. The State shall apply financial and non-financial disincentives to reduce the use of private motorized transport. Funding earned from such disincentives must be utilized for funding of Mobility Infrastructure in favor of Active Transport and Public Transport. The State shall ensure that it is more economical for commuters to use Active Transport or Public Transport more frequently than to use private motorized transport.

During periods when transportation services are deficient, the State shall employ alternative approaches for enabling additional mobility options for its citizens, including through the use of public resources to fill temporary gaps in services, such as through government-owned vehicles or through the government charter or lease of private vehicles. The State will promote safe and efficient driving behavior by Public Transport 7 drivers through mandatory trainings and more stringent licensing. All Public Transport 8 vehicles will be required to install electronic vehicle tracking devices and CCTVs that will enable concerned authorities to conduct real-time monitoring of vehicle location, 10 vehicle speed, and driver status. Dangerous on-street competition and behavior among Public Transport drivers shall be eliminated through the removal of any incentive for drivers that is related to ridership or fare revenue. Streets must be designed in accordance with international best practices in road safety design to reduce the occurrence of dangerous driving behavior.

Sec. 6. Right to Infrastructure for Pedestrians, Cyclists and Persons with

Disabilities. - The State shall accord priority to the development of adequate sidewalks and networks of bicycle lanes that encourage Active Transport and that provide safe and direct access to priority destinations such as housing, education, and business centers as well as Public Transport nodes. The State shall ensure that all Public Transport stops are accessible to persons with disabilities and impaired movement. The State shall ensure that ease of access 22 by pedestrians especially at Public Transport stops and government facilities is prioritized over mobility of private motorized transport. The State shall ensure that safe and adequate walking and cycling infrastructure is incorporated in the design and implementation of road transport projects at national and local government levels. The State shall ensure that the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of every city includes the development of a city-wide network of safe sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and roads lanes to enable travel around the city entirely by foot, bicycle or by other forms of light mobility. The State shall ensure that travel by walking or cycling is no less direct to destinations than travel by private motorized transport. No commuter shall be made to travel above or below street level to cross any street or intersection if it is possible

1 to implement an at-grade crossing. No commuter, when traveling by walking or 2 cycling, shall be made to diverge from his or her route of travel if a commuter traveling 3 by private motorized vehicle would have enjoyed a more direct trip. The State shall require all government offices and buildings to have shower facilities for the use of commuters. If these buildings receive citizens in the delivery of front-line services, these shower facilities must be open to the public. The State shall 7 offer incentives to private sector for the provision of shower facilities in their offices 8 and buildings. In Philippine cities and urbanized municipalities, the State shall ensure that the infrastructure of each barangay includes: (a) Safe foot paths or sidewalks, free of obstructions, well-protected from automobiles, compliant with unlversal design guidelines, and accessible by pregnant women, elderly, and persons with strollers or wheelchairs; (b) Networks of greenways to encourage active transport modes (walking and cycling) (c) Proper lighting on all roads and footpaths to allow safe travel even after dark; (d) Tactile paving on sidewalks of high-volume transport corridors for the benefit of pedestrians who are blind; (e) Bicycle racks in every transportation hub or terminal and in every commercial, community and activity center. Such racks shall be provided at street level if possible, and at most one level above or below the street; and (f) Safe intersections and pedestrian crossings such as provision of raised pedestrian platforms, highly visible advance warning signages, adequate street lighting, mid crossing refuges, traffic calming for motorized vehicles and curb outstands to reduce road pavement crossing width. The State shall not require parking for cars to be built in any buildings, and shall encourage commercial development and the built environment to accommodate non-car travel. The State shall promote light mobility by requiring that buildings provide bicycle racks that can accommodate 10% of the anticipated users of any building.

The State shall adopt the Vision Zero in road safety and ensure that road crashes are eliminated particularly those of vulnerable road users. The State shall implement a comprehensive road safety program and will allocate funding to implement activities under the five pillars of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan namely Road Safety Management, Safer Roads, Safer Vehicles, Safer Road Users, and Post-Crash Response. The State must also create a National Road Safety Unit under the Department of Transportation and must also implement a national road crash 8 database for road safety planning.

Sec. 7. Right to a Fair Share of Pubiic Road Space. - The State will ensure that

public road space is used in a manner that delivers the greatest socio-economic benefit. The State shall ensure that safety of road users, especially non-motorized and vulnerable users, shall be prioritized over the mobility of motorized modes of transport. The State shall employ treatments to the design, engineering and operation of road infrastructure in order to achieve the goal of road safety and access for non-motorized and vulnerable users. Because roads are a scarce public asset, the State shall ensure that road space is prioritized for modes of travel (e.g., public transport, walking, cycling, etc.) that move more people and maximize the productivity and social benefit of the public asset. The planning and design of roads must prioritize the needs of pedestrians, micromobility users, and Public Transport users above the needs of private motor vehicles. Public Transport shall have priority use of road space over private motor vehicles. The State will ensure that there is no private appropriation of public road space and foot paths for parking, commerce or other activities that will restrict public use of, or access to, the road.

Sec. 8. Right to Breathe Clean Air During Travel. - The State shall take measures

27 to ensure that commuters are able to travel using Public Transport or active transport (walking or cycling) without compromising their health. The State shall ensure that all Public Transport vehicles comply with the emission standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and/or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), whichever is more stringent.

• The State shall provide programs which reduce the volume of motorized vehicles to reduce vehicle-related pollution emissions. The State shall also provide facilities and programs which support and incentivize the use of cleaner alternative fuels. Recognizing that non-exhaust emissions make up a significant portion of total pollutant emissions and that the levels of such emissions are dependent on vehicle weight, the State shall provide programs that encourage the reduction of average vehicle weight and encourage citizens to commute using cycling or other lighter 8 vehicles. The State will measure air quality along the major transport corridors in all cities and provide this information to the public in real time. When air quality exceeds safe levels according to internationally-accepted standards, particularly from the World Health Organization, the State will activate emergency procedures with the aim of reducing the exposure of the public, especially the young and the elderly, to unclean air.

Sec. 9. Right to Information for Efficient and Convenient Travel. - The State will

provide timely and adequate information so that commuters are able to make good travel plans and choices about modes and routes. The State shall make publicly available information on all Public Transport services, including route maps, fares, schedules, and real time vehicle location and availability, for the convenience of commuters. The State shall ensure that such information is prominently displayed at all stops of public transport services and at other locations deemed necessary or 22 beneficial to commuters. The State will establish technical standards and regulations for the display of street maps at strategic locations In each neighborhood, for the reference of residents and visitors. The State will ensure that, at all ports, airports, and terminals, a 24-hour information/assistance counter will be available to serve the needs of travelers. The State shall establish a National Transport Data and Planning Center (NTDPC) which will collect and process the mobility data for evidence-based transport planning which can quickly adapt to the evolving mobility requirements in our communities. The NTDPC shall ensure that data in aid of policy and research on mobility be open and be made available to the public. These kinds of data include

reliable and accurate road crash data in http://roadsafety.gov.ph, air pollution levels, and Public Transport routes and travel time information, among others.

Sec. 10. Right to Special Attention During Service Breakdowns and to

4 Compensation for Deficiencies in Service. - The State shall ensure that, in case of a breakdown in a Public Transport service, passengers will be entitled to receive from 6 the transport operator a full refund of the fare and assistance in securing onward 7 journeys. Stranded passengers should be informed in a timely manner about how they will be redirected to their final destination. If onward journeys are unavailable for more than one (1) hour, the transport operator should provide food, water, and access to a waiting area with restrooms and ventilation. Any student or employee should not be penalized for arriving late by their school or employer if the reason for their tardiness was a disruption in a Public Transport service.

Sec. 11. Right to Representation and Participation. - The State shall ensure that

the welfare and interest of commuters are considered in all decision-making related 16 to mobility and transportation services. To this end, commuters have a right to 17 advance notice and information on any proposed policy, regulation, project or service at locai or national level that affect their mobility, including full details on how they will be affected by the proposed initiative. Affected commuters have a right to provide their comments and suggestions of the proposed initiative. Affected commuters must receive a response to such comments from the concerned public official within 20 working days. If a public consultation will be held regarding any initiative affecting the mobility of commuters, the consultation meeting shall be held at a time, even on a weekend or after office hours, and at a convenient and accessible venue that will maximize the participation and feedback from affected commuters. In parallel commuter feedback shall be solicited through social media and other channels for information exchange.

Sec. 12. Right to a Responsive Feedback and Grievance Mechanism. - The State

shall guarantee that all commuters will have access to efficient, transparent and responsive mechanisms for providing feedback, suggestions and grievances concerning public transportation services and infrastructure. The State shall ensure the:

(a) Establishment of Accessible Channels- The DOTr, in coordination with other relevant implementing agencies, shall establish and maintain easily accessible channels for the commuting public to submit their feedback, complaints and suggestions. These channels shall include a dedicated online portal that is user friendly and available 24/7, enabling submission in text, photos and videos, with real time tracking of submissions and a toll-free hotline for immediate reporting of urgent concerns. Physical desks and kiosks that are readily identifiable located at all major public transport terminals, interchanges, hubs, and high-volume transport corridors. These physical points shall ensure accessibility for commuters who may not have digital access. (b) Clear Response and Resolution Protocols- The DOTr shall develop and implement clear protocols for acknowledging, processing, and resolving all submitted feedback and grievances. These protocols shall include defined timeframes for initial response and complaint resolution, and an escalation process for unresolved issues. The privacy, and where appropriate, anonymity of complainants shall be ensured and protected, and mechanisms shall be in place to protect individuals reporting misconduct or safety violations. (c) Data Utilization for Improvement - All feedback and grievance data shall be systematically collected, categorized, and analyzed. The subsequent analysis made by the relevant agencies shall serve as basis for identifying systemic issues, which shall inform the necessary policy adjustments, evaluating the performance of public transport operators and implementing agencies, and guiding the continuous improvement in public transportation services and infrastructure. (d) Integration with National Transport Data and Planning: The data collected through this mechanism shall be integrated with the National Transport Data and Planning Center (NTDPC) to further enhance evidence-based transport planning and adapt to the fast-evolving mobility requirements of the commuting public. The NTDPC shall ensure that this relevant data, in aid of

policy and research efforts, is made openly available in an anonymized format. ARTICLE III INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS

Sec. 13. Establishment of the Office of Commuter Affairs. - An Office of

Commuter Affairs shall be established at the DOTr at the national level, as well as in all city and municipal government units. The Office of Commuter Affairs shall be under the direct supervision of an Assistant Secretary at the national level, and a city/municipal administrator at the local level.

Sec. 14. Functions and Responsibilities of the Office of Commuter Affairs - The

Office of Commuter Affairs shall be tasked to perform the following functions and responsibilities: (a) Coordinate with the respective government agencies dealing with road, rail, air, and maritime transportation policy to ensure safe, efficient and comfortable travel of commuters; (b) Operate Help Desks for the riding public; (c) Assist the commuters whenever the safety and efficiency of travel is compromised; (d) Undertake massive commuter education programs for the travelling public to know their rights and responsibilities; (e) Ensure legal assistance for commuters, when necessary; and (r) Ensure adequate representation of commuters in any public consultation that will impact on the welfare and interest of commuters.

Sec. 15. Implementing Agencies. - The DOTr, the Department of Public Works

and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DTI, and concerned local government units shall be the Implementing Agencies for this Act, with DOTr as the lead implementing agency with responsibility for coordinating and monitoring all implementation activities. The State shall ensure that the core concepts of this framework are integrated in the annual government budget process. The State shall ensure that compliance with

the provisions of this Act is included in the annual performance targets of all relevant national and local government agencies. The State shall ensure that the Implementing 3 Agencies will annually be allocated budget to strengthen organizational capacities and to sufficiently fund the establishment and operations of the NTDPC, the Office of Commuter Affairs, and other related offices. The State shall ensure that relevant technical standards, guidelines, and manuals of national and local agencies are amended to incorporate all requirements under this Act.

Sec. 16. Penal Provisions. - Any person or government agency who has found

10 to be in violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 12 (P500,000). If the offender is a public official, he/she shall be dismissed from government service, in addition to the penalties above stated.

Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be

declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,

memoranda, circulars and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,