Around 40 members of the Foundation University community, led by Acting University President Dr. Eva Melon, filed a petition before the Barangay Council of Taclobo asking for bike lanes.
The action was timed with Earth Day socio-political and legal actions across 25 other local government units across the country to compel the present generation to take action on the impact of climate change.
The petition was addressed to Taclobo Barangay Captain Gregorio Suasin Jr. to act within 30 days as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991, through a little-known law called People’s Initiative.
Lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr., co-convenor of the national event, was elated to hear of the action of the Foundation University community. “Today, the youth of the Philippines, backed by their international supporters, have launched a peaceful revolution. A revolution of the mind waged with only the sword of reason, the firepower of the Law, and the violence of an idea whose time has come,” Oposa said.
The filing of the petitions formed part of the ground-level activities of the Road Sharing Movement which calls on the Philippine Government to transform the road and transportation system from the present car-based system to one that is fairer and more people-friendly.
The petition proposed respective local governments to pass an ordinance which calls for the sharing of the road space: At least one-half of roads will be used only for path-walks and bicycle lanes, and the other half for a good public transport system.
The team of youth leaders and their lawyers are also set to send out a Nationwide Notice to Sue to the Philippine Government addressed to the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the sole policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change.
Since its establishment in 2009, Oposa said the CCC has failed to pass any policy to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Oposa said that climate change is an issue of intergenerational justice and equity.
Frustrated by the failure of the present generation to take meaningful actions to address the climate crisis, Oposa said the youth are fired to assert their right to a safe and healthful future by using the power of the law.
