DOTr inks pact to protect Filipino children from road accidents

MANILA: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other government agencies to protect Filipino children from road accidents.

Named the National Coalition for Child Road Traffic Injury Prevention or NC-CRTIP, the MOU was signed together with the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Council for the Welfare of Children, and the Metro Manila Development Authority.

The goal of the inter-agency and multisectoral NC-CRTIP is to strengthen collaboration among agencies and road safety stakeholders in protecting children from road crashes.

The MOU, which is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund here in the country is in line with the vision of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-28 or PRSAP.

“To address road safety, we have developed the PRSAP. This plan, together with the WHO (World Health Organization) global report on road safety, will guide us in implementing and monitoring efforts to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries in the Philippines,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.

The signing of the pact and the creation of the confederation was spurred by a report published by the WHO, which said that road crashes are the top killer of children and youth worldwide.

“The tragic tally of road crash deaths is heading in the right direction, downwards, but nowhere near fast enough. Road safety is a multisectoral concern. We should continue to work together to keep our roads safe,” noted WHO Representative to the Philippines Doctor Rui Paulo de Jesus.

According to public interest law group ImagineLaw — citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority — at least 1,670 Filipino children die due to road crashes annually.

“One child lost due to road crashes is one death too many,” ImagineLaw Executive Director Attorney Sophia San Luis stated.

“Political will is needed to address children’s death because of road crashes — from proper education and awareness among stakeholders to better infrastructure and improved road systems that protect vulnerable road users. Ang kalsadang ligtas sa bata ay ligtas sa lahat (a road safe for children is safe for all),” she added.

Photos from Imagine Law and Ruben Manahan IV

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