ILOILO City – A student’s death after being struck by a police ambulance at a marked pedestrian lane along Sen. Benigno Aquino Sr. Avenue in Jaro district has prompted the city government to push for urgent reforms in road safety infrastructure and driver education.
Alarmed by the fatal crash in Barangay Dungon B, Jaro where a government vehicle ironically became the instrument of tragedy, city officials are eyeing the relocation of high-risk pedestrian lanes and demanding immediate interventions from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
These include the installation of rumble strips, “Ped Xing” signs, reflective road markers, and other visibility aids to alert drivers before approaching crosswalks.
“This incident is a painful reminder that our pedestrian lanes are not just road markings — they are supposed to protect lives,” said retired police colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, head of both the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and the Iloilo City Traffic and Transport Management Office (ICTTMO).
Garbanzos said the city has begun inspecting major crosswalks along critical roads such as the Sen. Benigno Aquino Sr. Avenue (also known as Diversion Road), with a focus on areas frequently used by students and senior citizens. The goal is to determine which pedestrian lanes need to be relocated to safer zones and how current infrastructure can be improved to increase driver awareness.
The city is also reinforcing its road safety campaign through public education.
“Infrastructure must work hand in hand with discipline,” Garbanzos said, stressing that social media, radio, and news outlets will be used to remind motorists of their legal obligation to yield to pedestrians.
Under Land Transportation Office (LTO) regulations, motorists who fail to stop at marked pedestrian lanes may be fined up to P1,000 and required to attend road safety seminars. Repeat violations or cases resulting in serious injury or death can lead to license suspension or criminal charges.
“Drivers should not treat the road as their personal highway,” Garbanzos warned. “Especially now during the rainy season, defensive driving should be non-negotiable.”
The city is expected to submit its full set of recommendations on pedestrian safety upgrades to the Sangguniang Panlungsod and DPWH in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the PSTMO is encouraging barangays and residents to report damaged or poorly located pedestrian lanes to prevent further tragedies./PN
