Vloggers Advocate for Walkable Streets
A group of vloggers is calling on the government to create safer and more “walkable” sidewalks across Metro Manila to ensure pedestrian safety. Known as the “Chinito Walkers” and composed of students from De La Salle University (DLSU), the group shared their experiences walking through different parts of the city as part of a campaign to highlight the challenges of navigating Manila on foot—a campaign that started simply as a fun project.
The movement gained traction after one of their videos, showing a walk from DLSU to their homes instead of waiting in long LRT lines, went viral on TikTok. One member, Irvin Ong, also known online as “JetNekko,” admitted that the experience opened their eyes to how difficult it really is to walk in Metro Manila. Their journey revealed numerous obstacles, from blocked sidewalks by parked motorcycles and tricycles to piles of human and animal waste, which they jokingly referred to as “land mines.”
The group also highlighted areas they call “danger zones,” where pedestrians must remain alert due to heavy traffic encroaching on sidewalks. On Osmeña Highway, they encountered sidewalks littered with stones, broken glass, and other hazards, emphasizing how unsafe these walkways can be, especially for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
After nearly two kilometers of walking, the Chinito Walkers realized that pedestrian safety is often overlooked in urban planning and sidewalk construction. Their viral videos, including one six-kilometer walk from DLSU Taft Avenue to their homes near Bambang, Manila, aim to raise awareness and push for government action.
The group hopes their advocacy will inspire authorities to prioritize pedestrian safety in future road construction and sidewalk improvements, making Metro Manila a safer and more accessible city for everyone who walks.
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