When the idea of a Road Revolution was born in a madman’s mind some 10 years ago, it was simply that: a mad, ridiculous, and totally revolutionary and impossible idea. Never was it ever imagined that such an idea would see the light of day in a world stuck in the inertia of the collective insanity of cars and motor vehicles. When I started explaining this in my lectures here and abroad, I could sense that many in the audience squirmed in their seats perhaps in the thought it was too radical, if not downright stupid, and that I was wasting their time even talking about it. It simply seemed impossible…”
This was an email of internationally-renowned environment lawyer, Foundation University alumnus, Dr. Antonio “Tony” Oposa when I informed him that a “Perdices Promenade” ordinance was filed and scheduled for public hearing by the Dumaguete City Council. He said he was awed by what we were doing in Dumaguete in response to the Road Revolution.
Last June 12, the Road Revolution was successfully launched in Cebu City, with the closure of the three-kilometer Osmeña Ave. from motor vehicles for 12 hours.
“We thank the City of Cebu for its support in the initiative to give the people of Cebu a taste of the freedom of open space, clean air, and a restored sense of community. The closure of the Osmeña Blvd. last June 12 was nothing less than historic. It was the first time that the Filipinos in general, and the Cebuanos in particular, started the spark of a mind-shift in the use of public space and of the road and transportation system. We especially call on the young people whose minds are still open and un-encrusted by the bad habits of the present system. Please make your voices heard through the electronic, social, and conventional media. The needed change will happen in your generation and because of your efforts. When the people lead, especially the young who make up the bulk of the voters, the leaders will follow,” Oposa said.
A Huey Newton quotes “(A) revolution has always been in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution. And so, it is with the Road Revolution as it takes place in Dumaguete City, and the rest of the country.
Sept. 2, 2011 marked the stirrings of a youth participation in the Road Revolution in Dumaguete when some 100 students from FU attended the public hearing on the proposed Perdices Promenade ordinance which called for the closing of the main street at the City’s commercial district from motor vehicle on weekends.
The FU students filled the session hall including the corridors, and included college student-leaders, a high school girl and an elementary school boy who spoke their sentiments in favor of the ordinance. The participation of these young people was cited by the presiding Vice Mayor as the first by students in the deliberations of the City Council.
Opposing them was a contingent of prominent business leaders.
Also in attendance in the public hearing was a student from St. Paul University Dumaguete, Zephanie Danieles, coordinator of the Negros Oriental for 350.org. She said a request for the closure of Perdices St on Sept 24 to celebrate with other 188 countries an event called Moving Planet was submitted to the Office of the Mayor. She said if a permit will be issued for the use of the street from 12 noon to midnight, the occasion could serve to test the practicality and feasibility of the proposed Perdices Promenade ordinance.
Meanwhile, on Sept 11, a briefing of student leaders was held at the James Herring audio visual room to discuss a proposed ambitious project to be initiated by the FU Student Government calling for the formation of a province-wide organization to be called the Negros Oriental Youth for Walkable Communities.
The vision and mission of this organization is to promote the adoption of public policy that will encourage pedestrian-based lifestyle among Negrenses, and the use of such policy in urban planning and development. The campaign motto of the youth organization is “Embrace the Freedom of Space”.
Elsewhere in Metro Manila, a similar stirring of youth involvement in the Road Revolution is noted. When it was reported that the DPWH was going to construct a 22-km elevated highway over historic EDSA which will cost P1 billion per kilometer, this particular news item was emailed to Dr. Oposa by his son, a senior in the UP College of Law, with the cryptic message: “Remember your theory for Cebu?”
Dr. Oposa said he was going to ask the UP Office of Legal Aid, De La Salle U, Ateneo, U of San Carlos, Foundation U, Sillman University to file a case against DPWH to “stop this madness” with a Petition for Writ of Kalikasan against the DPWH and the Office of the President for mandamus.
