NEGROS Occidental – The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, in partnership with Project CARES, joined the global commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Crash Victims and Survivors on Sunday, November 16, honoring lives lost and reaffirming commitments to safer roads.
Held at the Provincial Capitol Park, the event gathered representatives from various sectors and began with a prayer and the blessing of the Road Safety Marker. This was followed by a Holy Mass and a candle-lighting ceremony at the memorial tree led by Fr. Rayman Asoy.
Provincial Health Office Head Dr. Girlie Pinongan delivered a message on behalf of the health sector, alongside calls for action from youth representative Kevin Gaitan of the Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute, Inc.; Nove Mejica of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and Col. Victor Lapitan of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Brigade.
Supportive messages were also shared by Maxima Madera of the Association of Negros Producers, Police Major Wilfredo Benoman Jr. of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Philippine Nurses Association representative Cyrus Alcala, and Joan Fedelina Briones of the Negrense Deaf Federation.
Speakers underscored that road crashes are preventable, stressing the need for strict compliance with road safety measures—an advocacy aligned with the United Nations’ Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries while promoting safe and equitable mobility.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members Marxlene De La Cruz (1st District) and Richard Sablan (3rd District), representing Vice Governor Joeben Alonso and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, reaffirmed the province’s commitment to strengthening road safety initiatives alongside Project CARES and multi-sector partners.
Project CARES’ Mae Cueva led the ceremonial handover of the Global Plan for Road Safety, reinforcing Negros Occidental’s support for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
The ceremony concluded with participants singing “Save Lives” as families of road crash victims held candles in remembrance, survivors embraced in solidarity, and members of the Negrense Deaf Federation expressed their support for ongoing road safety efforts.
The activity was organized by the Provincial Planning and Development Office and Project CARES, a UN Road Safety–accredited local non-government organization./PN
