Despite extensive road safety campaigns, the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas Center for Health and Development reported that drunk drivers and helmetless motorcyclists continue to lead road related fatalities in the region.
The region has seen a decrease in traffic-related deaths per 100,000 population, from 8.34 percent in 2019 to 7 percent in 2022.
DOH Western Visayas Director Dr. Adriano Suba-an, attributed this decline to robust road safety campaigns, including the installation of safety signs near malls and schools, multi-sectoral meetings, and comprehensive road safety management courses.
Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, Local Health Support Division Chief of DOH-Western Visayas, underlined the high percentage of drunk driving incidents in the region, as reported by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
Additionally, there is a significant number of motorcycle accidents involving riders who do not wear helmets properly.
“Instead of on their heads, they wear them on their elbows,” Sta. Lucia remarked.
In response, the DOH urged motorists to wear helmets and seatbelts, emphasizing these measures in their campaigns.
Suba-an coordinated with various government agencies, such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units (LGUs), and regional, provincial, and municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, to bolster road safety efforts.
Since 2016, the DOH has collaborated with DPWH, LTO, and LTFRB to enhance emergency road crash responses. The DOH Western Visayas has also localized the Johns Hopkins Public Health Road Safety Course to gradually reduce road accidents.
Prior to these campaigns and programs, Western Visayas was among the top three regions in the country for road crashes, according to the DOH’s Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS).
The agency assures that it will intensify its road safety campaigns, particularly focusing on two-wheel vehicles. Furthermore, the DOH encourages local government units to enforce strict ordinances related to helmet and seatbelt usage and anti-distracted driving laws.
