Manila Coalition Wins $12B for Buses, Bikes Over Cars

When COVID lockdowns stopped Manila's buses in 2020, 1.9 million people suddenly couldn't get to work or put food on their tables.

That crisis revealed something stunning. For decades, 98% of transportation funding in the Philippines went to infrastructure for the 6% of people who owned cars. Everyone else was left behind.

A group of citizens decided enough was already too much. Move As One formed during the pandemic, bringing together 77,000 people across 142 groups representing cyclists, pedestrians, transit workers, and people with disabilities. They all shared one demand: transportation for the people who actually use it.

National coordinator Rycel Bendaña gave everyone a platform to connect and hear each other's struggles. The coalition became loud, persistent, and impossible to ignore.

They knocked on doors. They cold-called officials. They testified before the House and Senate. They built relationships inside city hall, one conversation at a time.

The strategy worked beyond anyone's wildest expectations. Over six years, Move As One influenced decisions affecting $946 million in immediate funding and $12 billion in medium and long-term transportation investments.

Manila now has a pedestrian boulevard along the Pasig River. The historic Intramuros district became a car-free zone. The city's main highway, EDSA, got dedicated bus routes with covered stations and safe pedestrian access.

Across the Philippines, more than 800 miles of bike lanes now connect neighborhoods in several cities. Transit workers who once lived paycheck to paycheck have structured routes and reliable income.

The Philippine Department of Transportation calls Move As One their "Swiss Army Knife." Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor admits the coalition provides everything his department needs to plan and execute projects effectively.

The Ripple Effect

The coalition's success caught international attention. The World Resources Institute selected Move As One as a finalist for the 2025-2026 Ross Center Prize for Cities, which celebrates initiatives creating healthier urban spaces.

Their model shows other cities worldwide that citizen voices can redirect billions toward inclusive infrastructure. When 77,000 people speak with one voice, governments listen and budgets shift.

What started as a pandemic crisis response became a blueprint for transportation justice that's inspiring movements across Asia and beyond.