2022 Volume 9 Pages 122-134
Sustainability balances the economy, society, and environment with “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” as cited in the Brundtland Report. Research acknowledges there is no single definition of 'sustainability, and it is challenging to have it since the term is defined based on what is desirable, convenient, and measurable for the user group. This reasoning suggests there can be many definitions of sustainability, and this idea is not necessarily wrong. The concept of sustainability can and should be adapted to the local situation. Research also suggests differences in capacities of developing countries, which adds value to studying the case of developing countries.
This case study is focused on a conceptual framework to define and apply environmentally sustainable transportation (EST) to local public transport route planning in the Philippines. This research explores how EST can be applied to existing land-use and transport planning policies and clarifies its role in developing countries. The paper has two parts: first, it discusses the theory and concept of sustainability. Second, the methodology for creating a conceptual framework of EST is presented and the resulting images are explained with how they can be linked to the local public transport planning policy.
This research resulted in three images that show a way to define sustainable transport in the Philippines. The first image suggests a modification in the triple bottom line model by including resilience and institutional capacity. The second image clarifies elements of sustainable transportation and prioritizes safety as an essential factor that public transport systems should give more importance to. Lastly, the third image illustrates the linkages of EST with the Public Transport Modernization Program, which includes the policy on local public transport route planning. It also clarifies that EST thematic areas are related to the components of the Public Transport Modernization Program.
