THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday rolled out the agency’s Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) that aims to reduce road fatalities in the metropolis by 35 percent by 2028.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes presented the plan to participants in the one-day Metro Manila Road Safety Summit 2025.
“The initiative forms part of the MMDA’s commitment to addressing the alarming number of road crashes and fatalities in the region by highlighting the urgent need for improved road user behavior, enhanced road infrastructure, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and policies. It is likewise in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socio-economic agenda, which pushes for the safety of all road users,” Artes told Summit participants.
Artes said he recognized the daily dangers in the streets, including motorists who flagrantly disregard laws and basic human decency, such as being distracted and driving while under the influence of alcohol.
He said the plan was developed through technical assistance from the World Health Organization and the Policy Center and is aligned with the Department of Transportation’s Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2028, which aims to reduce by 35 percent the road fatalities in Metro Manila by 2028.
“Specifically, the plan aims to address the pressing road safety issues and create safer, more inclusive roads by using data-driven approaches to identify and analyze blackspots in the region,” Artes said.
The MMDA chief said the plan has five pillars, namely, road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response.
Data from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) showed that there were an estimated 4,450 road traffic fatalities over the past decade, with an average of 445 deaths per year from 2013 to 2023.
Artes said during this period, there were 1,011,786 reported road crashes in the metropolis, 81 percent of which resulted in property damage, 19 percent in non-fatal injuries, and 0.44 percent in fatalities.
Among these fatalities, 51 percent were drivers, 36 percent were pedestrians, and 13 percent were passengers.
Data presented by the Department of Health in 2024 showed that 12,000 Filipinos die yearly nationwide due to road crashes, a figure, the department said, which has steadily increased in the last decade.
From 7,938 deaths in 2011, the number increased to 11,096 deaths in 2021, with males representing 84 percent of the fatalities.
Last month, MMDA Traffic Education Division Chief Edison “Bong” Nebrija said road safety is a shared responsibility and called on motorists to be responsible and obey traffic rules.
Nebrija made the appeal after the deadly smash-up involving a bus of transport company Solid North Transit Inc., which left 10 people dead, including six children, and injured 37 others in May.
Investigation showed the Solid North bus hit a vehicle in a queue at the Tarlac City toll plaza of the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, leading to a series of crashes involving three other vehicles.
Nebrija said most road crashes are due to the driver’s misbehavior and not following traffic rules.
Dr. Eunyong Ko, acting WHO Representative to Manila, described the MMRSAP as a “landmark moment” as it is Metro Manila’s first comprehensive and locally driven roadmap for road safety.
The official commended the MMDA and the 17 Metro Manila local government units for developing the plan.
The WHO provided technical assistance for the formulation of the action plan.
“The plan addresses the persistent challenges that people in Metro Manila face every day. It sends a strong message that road safety is not just a transport concern – it is a public health priority and critical development goal,” the WHO official said.
The official said the WHO will work alongside the MMDA, LGUs and other government agencies to help turn the vision of reducing road crash fatalities by 35 percent by 2028 “into real results.”
‘HARASSMENT’
Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday branded as “harassment” the threat of GV Florida Inc. to file legal charges against a citizen who uploaded a video showing buses from the firm speeding, suspected of racing along a national highway.
Dizon, in an online briefing with Malacanang reporters, said the government is prepared to provide legal assistance to the citizen who uploaded the video should the bus firm proceed with the legal complaint.
“Absolutely, harassment iyan ‘no, klarong-klaro. In fact, inutusan ko na iyong ang LTFRB na talagang sabihan ang GV Florida, na kung ipu-pursue niya iyong kaso against iyong kababayan na natin na nag-upload and talagang makakabangga niya ang buong DOTr at ang buong gobyerno dito (Absolutely, that’s harassment, it’s very clear. In fact, I’ve already ordered the LTFRB to tell GV Florida, that if they pursue the case against the one who uploaded it, they will really clash with the entire DOTr and the entire government),” he said.
He added that the message of President Marcos is clear – that he wants the traveling public to always be safe.
Dizon also encouraged the public to continue reporting any abuse or harassment from the transport sector.
“Hindi natin papayagan ito na gawin against our concerns citizens na ang gusto lang naman ay mag-report ng pang-aabuso para maging safe ang ating mga kababayan (we will not allow this kind of action against our concerns citizens who only want to report the abuse committed to ensure the safety of others),” he added.
The uploaded video showed that buses of GV Florida were speeding and suspected of racing on a highway in Cagayan.
This resulted in the suspension of the franchises of 15 GV Florida Transport Inc. units serving the Santa Ana-Sampaloc and Baguio-Apayao routes for 30 days starting June 11. – With Jocelyn Reyes
