Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo hosted Sen. Erwin Tulfo to seek national funding for the proposed redevelopment of Peñafrancia Avenue, part of the city’s push for safer, more walkable and pedestrian-friendly streets. Tulfo pledged to help secure funding, although no amount, funding source or construction timetable was disclosed.
“We presented to him our dream of making our streets more walkable. He promised to help us get funding for the Peñafrancia Avenue Redevelopment Project… We are very grateful,” Robredo said.
The proposed redevelopment aims to address a long-standing weakness in Naga’s transport system. The city’s land-use plan identifies its historic urban core as having narrow roads and sidewalks that discourage walking, while weak infrastructure and limited support for walking and cycling continue to hinder sustainable transportation.
Robredo has made pedestrian mobility a key part of her efforts to ease congestion and improve public spaces. The city has been studying wider sidewalks, dedicated bicycle lanes and a river esplanade that would connect downtown Naga to the Peñafrancia Basilica without requiring pedestrians to pass through heavily congested roads.
Tulfo said close coordination between the Senate and local governments is essential to ensure national budget allocations are translated into infrastructure projects that directly benefit communities.
“Mahalaga po na matatag ang ugnayan ng Senado at ng ating mga local government units upang masiguro na ang mga pambansang budget ay nagiging aktwal na proyekto na pakikinabangan ng bawat mamamayan,” Tulfo said.
The meeting gives Robredo’s walkability initiative a potential pathway to national funding, although the Peñafrancia Avenue redevelopment remains in the proposal stage pending detailed plans, a finalized budget and an implementation timeline.
Tulfo’s visit to Robredo’s political bailiwick has renewed speculation about a possible alliance between the two ahead of the 2028 national elections.
