Notice to Sue

126 members of the Philippine Bar......

There are some heavyweights there. I see Sigfrid Fortun is on the list.

http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/documents/notice-to-sue-final-notice-to-sue-july-102c-2013.pdf

SHARE THE ROAD | Citizens' group seeks Writ of Kalikasan for clean air, equitable road space

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/...-kalikasan-for-clean-air-equitable-road-space

Only 1% of Filipinos own cars. But look, all of the roads are given to them. The 99% have to make do with the sliver of sidewalk and bike lanes made available to them. And even these are often used as parking spaces by car owners.


The petition is to be filed to the Supreme Court on Monday, February 17.

Its a very good and valid point as we have all endured the dangers of walking down the road where there is no path, dodging the potholes and ditches.

I hope something comes of the proposed bill. I thought that the percentage of car owners would be much higher, I'm surprised its only 2%

I thought that as the roads in Manila are indeed choked up with them. But seemingly there are just so many that do not have their own car.

Car drivers can only drive 6 days a week there, is that correct? I seem to remember hiring a driver for the family car to go on a trip and we couldn't go on a certain day.

I know they have the same sort of thing going in other countries I've been to.

I believe so. We hired a minibus and driver every day when in Luzon and he changed minibus on the one day to fit in with that. Its the registration plate and not the driver they go by, apparently.

I thought that was the case, something to consider when going on trips there etc.

"MANILA, Philippines—Environmental crusader Antonio Oposa is to spearhead the planned filing on Monday of a petition asking the Supreme Court to issue a “writ of kalikasan (nature)” that would require the government to implement, devise and implement a road-sharing scheme for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

He said the petition has the full backing of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which is one of the respondents.

The petition, to be filed on behalf of the “carless people of the Philippines,” asks the government to devote half of all roads to “organized, collective, clean and affordable transportation system,” and the other half for covered sidewalks, all-weather bike lanes and urban gardens.

The objective is to reduce traffic, air pollution, and heat-trapping gases from emissions by motor vehicles, Oposa told a briefing at the Lung Center of the Philippines on Wednesday."



Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/577491...it-of-kalikasan-on-use-of-roads#ixzz2tLG7tMaa
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I wonder if anything will come of it, if I was a betting man I'd bet against it but you never know. I think better road management would be a good start, bus and jeepney lanes, a lot of congestion seems to originate from buses and jeepneys stopping then people having to walk around them.

This has been done before in the Supreme Court in the Philippines. There's an established track record with this approach. Sigfrid Fortun is known for his success also and he is one of the legal team.

It is a form of road management and getting people out of cars and into public transport. These guys want to improve the quality of life out there for themselves and their children and fellow filipinos.

And so say all of us.

Anything that makes for a better safer road system has got to be good news for the people of the Phils and us visitors. I never feel totally safe walking down the roads, I'm always frightened someone will run into me because they are so transfixed on how white my legs are and run into me.

I expect like most of us I try to walk against the flow of traffic if at all possible, especially at night.

The complaint appears to be that where there is pavement it can be too small or cars are parked up on it. And then there is the added question of cyclists. Then the need to deal with the sheer volume of nasties emanating from the vehicles using the roads.

I recall seeing school kids walking down the road as there wasnt effective pavement and holding up the traffic.

Then there is the business of crossing the road as a pedestrian.

In the established developements where it would not be possible to add pavement or cycle lanes then pedestrianisation is being suggested. I believe this is being looked at and implemented in IloIlo. Bypasses and circular or circumferential roads are being planned in too.

There seems to be a frustration amongst commuters and other road users that it takes far longer to get from A to B by car or jeepney, in some areas than is necessary. The wider scope on all of this would address that too. Slow moving traffic does indeed bring extra pollution. If it is moving a bit faster and augmented by clean public transport then cleaner air is there for everyone.

There will always be a trade off with any change. The traders could move to the pedestrianised areas though.

Some car users want to walk or cycle but cant.

This is a viewpoint that is held by many.


Can bicycles and cars ever truly share PHL roads?
While bicycle-friendly roads have proven to be a life-giving shot in the arm for other countries' congested highways, many Pinoys are asking: Is there still such a hope for our country's own sclerotic streets?
Metropolitan Pinoys can no longer turn a blind eye to the country's congested and polluted highways. But a petition to issue a "Writ of Kalikasan" for road use in the Philippines proposes road sharing to hit these two birds with one stone.
Transforming parts of our roads into all-weather bicycle lanes, covered sidewalks, and trams will encourage less use of private cars, “force the government to improve public transportation”, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr., who spearheads the initiative.
The petition is to be filed to the Supreme Court on Monday, February 17.
“Pag hinati mo yung kalsada, yung mga may kotse, hahanap ng paraan para di na sila gumamit ng sasakyan,” Oposa said in a press briefing on Wednesday at the Lung Center of the Philippines.
Mandated by law
This move, Oposa added, is already mandated by law under Executive Order (EO) No. 774, Section 9 where the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) was tasked to “lead a Task Group to reform the transportation sector”.
“The new paradigm in the movement of men and things must follow a simple principle: 'Those who have less in wheels must have more in road.' For this purpose, the system shall favour non-motorized locomotion and collective transportation system (walking, bicycling, and the man-powered mini-train),”the EO said.
According to data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, only around 800,000 Filipinos own private vehicles. Oposa cited World Bank data showing that only two percent of the country's population own non-motorized vehicles. However, majority of the roads are dedicated to this minority.
Also, at least 50% of global greenhouse gases are from transportation, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
DOTC, DENR involvement
Among the respondents of the writ are the Office of the President, the DOTC, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – all of whom Oposa says he is collaborating with.
"We are one of the respondents, but we are supporting this effort," said DENR Environmental Management Bureau Director Mitch Cuna in a separate interview with reporters.
"This is the direction that we would like to take. If we lower the number of vehicles in the streets, then this would be a great help."
Cuna also said that the DENR and the EMB are ready to respond to the Writ of Kalikasan should it be approved by the Supreme Court.
"Under the law, ang mobile sources po, is not under the DENR. That is under the DOTC, particularly the (Land Transportation Office). Ang amin po are ang stationary sources - iyon po yung mga factories," he explained.
Oposa also said that he has been talking to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino.
On Monday, the Writ of Kalikasan will be filed in the Supreme Court through the Share the Road Movement. They will also file the proposed Share the Roads Law at the Senate. — TJD, GMA News

Notice that DENR are one of the respondents but are supporting the cause.

That road in the photo doesnt really look like a main artery. Busy side street? Or side street used as a main artery that shouldnt be?
Pedestrianisation would naturally be selective. More appropriate in some areas than others.