The government is pivoting its approach to road safety from a car-centric model to one that is focused on commuters and pedestrians, Department of Transportation (DOTr) acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said Wednesday.
Speaking during the NLEX Transport Conference, Lopez announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had instructed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to actively make the shift to ensure the safety of all road users.
“Road safety advocacy remains [the government’s] top priority. As the President said, roads should be safe for all road users—not just motorists, but especially pedestrians, PWDs, senior citizens, pregnant women, and cyclists,” Lopez said.
The DOTr is coordinating with various government agencies to develop policies, including the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2028, which acts as the blueprint for the country’s road safety initiatives.
This plan, along with the National Transport Policy and Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, accords pedestrians the highest priority in the hierarchy of all road users.
“That means, those who use non-motorized transportation such as bicycles, and walking as a form of transportation, should have more rights on the road,” Lopez said.
