THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said the government aims to reduce road crash fatalities in the metropolis by 35 percent by 2028 through the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024-2028.
The plan was a product of a three-day stakeholders meeting attended by MMDA officials, representatives from Metro Manila’s 17 local government units, as well as other government agencies that ended yesterday.
MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning OIC Atty. Victor Pablo Trinidad said the MMRSAP 2024-2028 will serve as the framework for the region’s road safety efforts.
“Inspired by our discussions and dialogue, we are poised to forge ahead in crafting a comprehensive action plan that will pave the way for safer and more efficient road systems in Metro Manila. Together, we have the power to effect positive change and create a safer environment for motorists, pedestrians, and commuters alike,” Trinidad, who represented MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes, told the gathering, which is part of the celebration of the Philippine Road Safety Month.
Data from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) revealed an alarming rate of approximately 92,583 road crashes annually over the past few years, resulting in an average of 410 deaths each year.
Among the fatalities, 51 percent were drivers, 36 percent were pedestrians, and 13 percent were passengers.
Data presented by the Department of Health early this year showed that 12,000 Filipinos die yearly nationwide due to road crashes, a figure that 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.
“These statistics emphasize the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures to protect all road users and reduce the number of preventable deaths,” Trinidad said.
The MMRSAP, according to the MMDA will emphasize five pillars of road safety, namely, road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response.
Department of Transportation Project Evaluation Officer Paulo Mejia underscored the region’s alignment with the objectives of the national road safety plan even as he reiterated the department’s commitment to enhancing transportation safety and mitigating road risks across Metro Manila and beyond.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. To address this public health issue, multisectoral actions ensuring sound road safety governance, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response care are imperative,” Mejia said.
World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Manila Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus said the MMRSAP “will provide a blueprint for evidence-based interventions to save lives and prevent serious injuries from road crashes in Metro Manila.”
Lawyer Yla Paras, the president of the non-government organization The Policy Center (TPC) said they would work towards an inclusive plan that ensures fairness, community involvement, and prioritizes everyone’s safety on the road.
The formulation of a road safety action plan for Metro Manila, according to the MMDA, is a component of Project 6: Traffic Safety and Education under the 5-Year Action Plan of the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan for Metro Manila funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The MMRSAP is supported by the DOTr, WHO, and TPC.
Also in attendance were technical experts from various agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Health, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, PNP-National Capital Region Police Office, PNP-Highway Patrol Group and the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies.
