ILOILO – At least 4,677 vehicular accidents were recorded across Iloilo Province in the first nine months of 2026, prompting provincial health authorities to warn motorists against reckless driving and disregard for traffic regulations.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) raised the alarm over the high number of road crashes from January to September.
Emphasizing that irresponsible driving continues to put motorists, passengers and pedestrians at risk, IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon appealed for the strict observance of traffic rules, speed limits and road safety measures.
Many accidents can be prevented through responsible driving, she stressed.
Although the latest figure is lower than the 5,195 accidents recorded during the same period in 2025, the continued frequency of road crashes remains a serious public safety concern.
Last year’s accidents claimed 167 lives and left 384 people with major injuries and 2,057 others with minor injuries.
Quiñon emphasized that traffic enforcers are deployed not merely to apprehend violators and impose penalties but to maintain orderly traffic flow, enforce regulations and protect road users.
“Dumdumon naton nga ang pagsunod sa traffic rules indi lang obligasyon naton kundi isa ini ka responsibilidad para sa kaayuhan naton tanan,” Quiñon said.
The IPHO identified speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving as major causes of road accidents based on 2025 records.
Santa Barbara town recorded the highest number of accidents last year with 561 cases, followed by Oton with 489 and Pototan with 394.
Motorcycles were involved in 3,224 accidents, while cars, multicabs and vans accounted for 3,057 recorded vehicle involvements.
Santa Barbara also topped the list of motorcycle accident hotspots with 428 cases, followed by Pavia with 321 and Oton with 273.
Quiñon urged motorcycle riders to wear helmets, motorists to use seatbelts, and all drivers to obey speed limits, traffic signs and signals.
She also reminded motorcycle riders to observe the two-person limit, while drivers of slow-moving vehicles, including e-bikes, should keep to the right lane.
Pedestrians were likewise advised to use designated crossings, while motorists must give way to people crossing pedestrian lanes.
The health official stressed that road safety requires personal discipline and responsible decisions from everyone using public roads.
“Sa kada pagbiyahe, pilion gid naton nga ang pagiging safe kay ang aton kabuhi mas importante pa sa aton destination,” Quiñon reminded motorists.
The IPHO reiterated that protecting lives must take precedence over speed and convenience, warning that even a moment of recklessness on the road can have irreversible consequences./PN