Advocates Urge Mandatory Inspection
The Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) and various road safety advocates are urgently calling for mandatory brake testing for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) following the revelation that nearly half of those inspected nationwide failed safety standards. The call was the central theme of a media roundtable discussion held in light of the upcoming World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Drawing from VICOAP’s nationwide data collected between January and September 2025, the organization disclosed an alarming figure: 47.3% of all inspected PUVs failed to meet basic brake safety standards. Furthermore, findings from the WRNumero Surveys for Good (S4G) 2025 were presented, indicating that 8 in 10 Filipinos fear road accidents. Notably, lower-income commuters, who are most reliant on public transport, expressed the strongest concerns about road safety.
VICOAP’s primary recommendation is the drafting or refining of existing policies to mandate brake testing for PUVs. This proposal aligns with the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Road Safety Action Plan, which targets a 35% reduction in traffic-related deaths by 2028.
The discussion brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Philippine Advocates for Road Safety, e-Sakay, De La Salle University, and WRNumero, to explore necessary data-driven reforms. The forum concluded with a unified plea for immediate action and greater collaboration among policymakers, transport operators, and the public.
