METRO Manila residents, whether commuter, motorist or simply pedestrian, will attest to the extraordinary risk that they are subjected to in everyday life — while driving, or crossing a street, walking in the sidewalks, and even while sleeping in the comfort of their homes. The danger comes invariably from moving vehicles.
With more vehicles using the roads this Christmas season and more people going out to do personal business because of the coming holidays, violent engagements in the streets among vehicles may be expected. But it looks like people in the National Capital Region (NCR) are overdoing it.
The rash of road accidents in the last couple of days is all but concerning. Consider this:
‘… the Metro Manila Development Authority has called on motorcyclist groups, organizations of truckers and haulers, and road safety advocates to a meeting to thresh out the problems on the road.’
On December 5, a cargo truck reportedly lost its brakes while negotiating a steep portion of the Katipunan flyover in Quezon City. The truck hit a van, several cars and motorcycles in the area. Four motorists died in this accident, including Antolin Irinco, a young delivery rider who was just eking out a living in his motorcycle. More than 30 other persons were injured. The truck driver was arrested by police hiding in his own home hours after the accident. He is now facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries, and multiple damage to property.
Last December 6, another “karambola” of vehicles occurred in the Skyway at-grade in Parañaque City, also involving a truck. One motorist died in that incident, while six others were injured and hospitalized.
The following day, December 7, an old 18-wheeler carrying a cargo of copra from the coconut-producing province of Quezon also plowed through a line of motorcycles, tricycles and cars along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City.
Finally on December 9, an SUV hit the concrete barrier on United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila before bumping several motorcycles and cars in this busy road in the heart of Manila. Six persons were hurt in this incident, including the SUV driver.
And to think that this list includes only recent incidents. Last month, another truck carrying several tons of rice tilted on its side and its cargo fell on several motorcycles and their riders, burying them to their deaths.
While these are just the recent mishaps, a perusal of accident statistics proves that the situation is indeed alarming. In the NCR alone, 562 persons died in road accidents in 2023. There were 165,609 vehicles involved in various kinds of accidents which totaled 85,954 last year.
Fifty-two died in accidents involving trucks and motorcycles; 42 died in car-motorcycle mishaps, and 31 pedestrians died in car collisions.
In view of all these, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has called on motorcyclist groups, organizations of truckers and haulers, and road safety advocates to a meeting to thresh out the problems on the road. Consider this as only the start of a long journey to untangle the problems of land transportation in the country.
