Introduction

House Bill 5035, otherwise known as An Act Requiring All Pedestrian Overpasses to
be Made Climate Change Friendly and Providing Penalty for Violation Thereof was
introduced in the 16th Congress by Rep. Gavini Pancho of the 2 nd District of Bulacan.
The bill, to be known as the Pedestrian Overpass Act of 2014 mandates that all
pedestrian overpasses be properly constructed and maintained to guarantee the
safety and security of the public, particularly the pedestrians, and protect them
from hazards, accidents and inclement weather.

Major Premise
Every citizen of a state has the right to demand from its government an improved
quality of life which may include an efficient and effective road infrastructure
projects including pedestrian-friendly overpasses.

Minor Premise
Study shows that the Philippines is significantly underinvesting in physical
infrastructure with our public sector infrastructure budget is consistently below 3%
of the countrys gross domestic product (www.neda.gov.ph) and just like any other
infrastructure projects, there is a need to improve our pedestrian overpasses to
provide for the safety, convenience, visibility, shelter and shade, and an attractive
and clean environment for pedestrians.
There is a need to examine the quality and efficiency of our new and existing
infrastructure because of its actual contribution to economic development
particularly through improvement in the quality of life and its positive effects on
private sector output and productivity.
Not less than the Philippine Constitution provides that it is the policy of the State to
protect, promote and advance the rights of the people to health, to a balanced and
healthful ecology and to instill health consciousness among them (Secs. 15 and 16,
Article II, 1987 Constitution).

Conclusion
The bill, once it becomes a law, will require that all pedestrian overpasses that will
be constructed will have sufficient lighting with the average light intensity
measured at floor level to insure safety and protection of life and property, also
shade and shelter including its stairways to ensure that pedestrians would be
secured against displacement by wind forces, rain and exposure to heat of the sun,
and provides that railways and other safety features including appropriate signage,
visibility, angle of inclination of stairways, and barriers shall be included in the
design of all pedestrian overpasses. It also provides that all existing pedestrian
overpasses shall be modified and rehabilitated according to the requirement of this

Act. The enforcement of the provisions of the Act shall be the primary duty of the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units
(LGUs), in collaboration with the Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) of
Architecture and Environmental Planning.