By Jae Mamorbor

The EDSA Walk, conceived by Mr. Lito De Veterbo, aimed to shed light on the daily struggles faced by the public, especially pedestrians, as they navigate the urban jungle of Manila.

Alongside Liz Vizcarra and Sir Lito, the three of us embarked on a grueling 42-KM and 12-hour journey, commencing from EDSA Shrine, journeying to Monumento in Caloocan, traversing Rizal Avenue to reach Luneta Park, and then onward to the Mall of Asia (MOA) before returning to EDSA Shrine.

This expedition offered us a firsthand glimpse into the challenges pedestrians endure daily. We encountered countless potholes, intimidating tunnels, roads without pedestrian lanes, sidewalks crowded with vendors, and pathways that were virtually impassable.

And, regrettably, we also encountered drivers who felt entitled to prioritize their passage over pedestrians (see photos below).

In light of these hardships, my newfound respect for the everyday heroes who brave not only the elements but also the hazards of Metro Manila has grown immensely.

The streets of Metro Manila do not confine themselves to just BGC or Makati; rather, they constitute an urban jungle where the struggle for survival is the standard. It is my sincere hope that our government will invest significantly in the enhancement of pedestrian infrastructure, recognizing that pedestrians are the backbone of our economy.

𝘼𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙥 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜-𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙬𝙖. 𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙝𝙤, 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙠𝙖 𝙥𝙖 𝙨𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙤.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Coach Rex Remitio and Ms. Daniza Fernandez of CNN Philippines for bringing our story to the public’s attention. Your support is deeply appreciated.🙏😊🥹

#EDSAWalk #PedestrianRights #UrbanJungle

Copyright notice: This article was originally published on Facebook by Jae Mamorbor. Follow this link to read the original article: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/JAT7DYbETbpYLL4D/?mibextid=oFDknk

Walk Philippines’ note: The EDSA Walk was completed on October 7, 2023.

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