If you’ve ever commuted through EDSA Kamuning, you’ve probably seen at least once the infamous Kamuning footbridge. Dubbed by netizens as “Mt. Kamuning” and “Stairway to Heaven”, the footbridge has gone viral in 2019 for its ridiculously tall design. Now, it has once again gone viral — but this time, with an international audience and not exactly for a good reason.

Dutch diplomat tweets

Last Sunday, Consul General Dirk Janssen of the Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco shared a photo of the Kamuning footbridge, captioned with a brief yet striking comment. “There is no better way to make it clear to pedestrians that they don’t matter,” a rough translation of his tweet read.

No hay mejor manera de dejar claro a los peatones que no importan. pic.twitter.com/Qq37ep2YLu

— Dirk Janssen (@dirkjanjanssen) June 25, 2022

‘Is this edited?’

One netizen even had to ask if the photo was edited or not. Pinoys had the unfortunate duty to tell him it’s real. “An atrocity,” a netizen called the footbridge, while another said it looked like a “roller coaster because of its steep slope.”

Philippines. is this edited?

— bonito flakes (@1020Hiraya) June 26, 2022

Parece una “montaña rusa” por la gran pendiente de subida y bajada de las escaleras, que dejan fuera de uso para las personas de movilidad reducida

— Eugenio (@Eugenio63098874) June 26, 2022

Similar structures around the world

Other netizens from all over the world showed their city’s own version of the Kamuning footbridge. And unfortunately, there’s a lot.

Saludos desde Guadalajara, México. Acá cruzar una avenida muy transitada sólo tiene esta manera larga y fatigosa. pic.twitter.com/LsjjrXlg4C

— Hache (@JorgeDeMotorola) June 26, 2022

This footbridge is located in Mexico, but does it look familiar? Yes, it looks like that one footbridge with a really looong ramp along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

En Talcahuano, Chile, tuvimos algo parecido por mucho tiempo. Lo sacaron despues del terremoto de 2010 pic.twitter.com/Fh4eAK2Lor

— Simon Bruna 🇫🇮 (@waterminder) June 27, 2022

Chile also had a similar footbridge, which was only taken down after an earthquake in 2010.

Filipinos chime in

As the tweet gained more attention from an international audience, Filipinos also took notice of the tweet. “Transport policymakers in the Philippines are heartless and have no regard for pedestrian and commuter rights, much less for human rights,” said statistician Peter Cayton. Meanwhile, Citizen Budget Tracker coordinator and WeSolve Foundation organizer Ken Abante called the attention of several government units, including the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Metro Manila LGUs.

The sad thing:

This was during the pre-pandemic period.

— Peter Cayton, the Stats Guy (@PJACaytonPhD) June 26, 2022

The Kamuning footbridge

Located between the GMA-Kamuning and Quezon Avenue MRT stations, the infamous footbridge cost PHP 10 million to construct. It attracted a lot of criticism when it was first unveiled, with Filipinos immediately pointing out how its design and structure were not conducive for public use.

It already went viral so many times

Many memes and edits also came out. A pair of mountain hikers even put on full gear and climbed the so-called Mt. Kamuning.

MMDA’s initial response

After going viral, MMDA defended the footbridge but also admitted that it is not for everyone’s use. “It’s not designed for [people with disabilities] or seniors. This is only designed sa mga healthy,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia told CNN Philippines back in 2018.

Redesigned

In 2019, the footbridge was redesigned and reconstructed to add landing areas and allow pedestrians some time to rest. Still, it measures about 9 meters or 30 feet high, which is equal to a three-storey building.

Thoughts on this infamous footbridge? Comment down below!

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