President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a new law declaring the third Sunday of November every year as a National Day of Remembrance for road crash victims, survivors and their families in a bid to promote road safety.
The President signed Republic Act 11468 on Jan. 23, which requires nationwide activities to “raise the awareness of the people on the causes, consequences, and costs of road deaths and injuries” and to “promote road safety through a collaborative platform that brings together various stakeholders.”
Under the law, the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, to implement commemorative ceremonies for road crash victims and survivors, as well as their families.
Local government units were likewise encouraged to promote road safety through awareness campaigns, special blood donation, inter-faith and inter-religious activities, and recognition for those who saved lives and supported victims of road crash.
The government shall also launch and maintain a government website or a social media platform dedicated to road safety awareness, including a database registry of road crash victims, as stated in the law.
The DOTr is also mandated to conduct multi-sectoral conferences focusing on how to improve trauma care system and emotional support programs for victims, survivors, and their families, as well as legal response on road incidents.
The Transportation department is also expected to improve road safety response to prevent road crash accidents.
The number of road crash deaths in the Philippines has never dipped below 8,000 since 2010, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
On a global scale, 1.25 million people around the world die annually due to road crashes.
The Metro Manila Development Authority also recorded 101,428 road accidents in Metro Manila in 2018 alone.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines National Center for Transport Studies said that each road accident costs up to P3.47 million.