Bayanihan sa Daan: Share The Road Movement

Bayanihan Sa Daan Meeting (L-R: Byron Villegas of United Folding Bikers, James Orlanda of Speed Magazine, Rhoel Fernandez of spin.ph/Summit Publishing, Allan Enriquez of RunningFreeManila.com, Patrick Joson of Fondo Manila/Multisport Magazine, Atty. Tony Oposa, Founder of Bayanihan sa Daan, Charie Villa of Tao Po Organization, Vangge Giorgetti of Tao Po Foundation, Sachiko Numano of Bayanihan sa Daan, Elen Basug, Merva Arapo and Ian Cruz of Environmental Management Bureau, DENR)

We’ve been dealing with congested roads leading to a lot of wasted time and energy.  There are no quick fix solutions at hand but a change of mindset and cooperation can be a start to a better Philippines.  Aside from unbearable traffic conditions, we also have to deal with pollution.  Bayanihan sa Daan is multi-sectoral group that promotes the Road Sharing principle among various means of transportation to have a more comfortable transport system, clean air and a healthier lifestyle.

It’s Time for a Change

Bayanihan sa Daan Movement

Let’s start with a story from Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr, who heads the Bayanihan sa Daan movement.

There was a kid who was walking to school when he was almost side swept by a car. He promised himself that one day, he will own his own car. He grew up to become a rich and successful businessman. One day, he suddenly collapsed and he was diagnosed of ‘lifestyle’ diseases and the doctor recommended him to walk every day but when he tried, he could not even find a single sidewalk and the streets are full with vehicles and he cannot even go out because of pollution.

It’s a simple story but it covers so many things we need to resolve from the roads that is overflowing with vehicles to the lack of pedestrian lanes to the lifestyle problems we get from a sedentary lifestyle and pollution.  Bayanihan sa Daan hopes to be part of the solution to all those problems and it starts with community involvement.

Let us try to make a new perspective. Let us start a movement. On September 27, in Pasig City (Exact location TBA) will be the beginning of a nationwide movement for the Bayanihan sa Daan. We can even start our part in our neighborhood, or simply tag along friends run or bike and post it online to show your support. Let’s promote alternative means of transportation whether it’s cycling, running or walking.  A lifestyle shift will not only decongest the road but it will also keep us healthier.  Please read about Bayanihan sa Daan movement below:

Bayanihan sa Daan

‘Bayanihan’ comes from two beautiful Filipino words:

• Bayan – community and cooperation;
• bayani – hero.

Bayanihan meaning ‘cooperative heroism.’

It is a movement of the Filipino People, headed by Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr, one of the most well renowned Environmental Lawyer in the Philippines, with the support of the MMDA, Office of the President, DOTC, DPWH, DENR, DILG, DSWD, DOH, etc. and Civil Society groups, Clean Air Asia, Philippine Medical Association, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Partnership for Clean Air, Cycling Organizations and others,

Bayanihan sa Daan’s Mission

1. Clean Air

• To improve the air quality of urban centers and to reduce the discharge of climate-disrupting gases , which causes Non-communicable disease (NCD)

2. Public Transportation

• To make public transportation safe, reliable, efficient, and convenient

3. Walk and Bike

• To give proper spaces for non-motorized transport for people who want to walk or bike and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

What is the Road Sharing principle?

The principle of Bayanihan sa Daan (Road Sharing) is that roads are meant to move people, not motor vehicles. The motor vehicles are equipment that can move people over long distances and must be used in a manner that is safe, efficient, convenient and reliable.

Simply put, it is the just sharing of roads, properly organizing busses, private vehicles and the allocation of bike lanes and wider, more useable pedestrian lanes.

“ Those who have less in wheels should have more in roads”

What is the goal of the Movement?

The Main goal of the movement is for a cleaner more breathable air and to reduce cases of Non – Communicable disease, by educating people to shift to a healthier lifestyle by biking or walking more. Also to fix, current traffic situation, by making public transportation more efficient, easy and reliable for commuters. Doing so should lessen the people’s reliability on private transportation. Concurrently, the movement aims to enable people to have the option to walk or bike, by providing wider sidewalks and bike lanes.