ILOILO City – The primary causes of fatal road crashes in Western Visayas are drunk driving and, in the case of motorcycle riders, the failure to wear helmets, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Still, the agency reported that road traffic deaths in the region have shown a notable decline over the past four years.
From 2019 to 2022, the region witnessed a steady reduction in traffic-related fatalities per 100,000 population, with rates falling from 8.34% in 2019 to 7% in 2022, DOH data showed.
Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH regional director, credits this downward trend to the implementation of targeted road safety campaigns, which include the installation of safety signs near schools and malls, multi-sectoral meetings, and comprehensive road safety management courses.
But “we have a high percentage of drunk driving incidents discussed recently with the Highway Patrol Group and the Philippine National Police,” said Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, Local Health Support Division Chief of DOH-6.
Additionally, many accidents involve motorcycle-riding individuals not wearing helmets properly, said Sta. Lucia.
“Instead of on their heads, they wear them on their elbows,” she lamented.
In response, DOH-6 has intensified its campaigns urging motorists, especially those on two-wheel vehicles, to wear helmets and seat belts.
The lack of seat belt use among four-wheel vehicle drivers has also been a focus of recent safety campaigns.
Suba-an cited the collaboration between DOH and various agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units (LGUs), and regional / provincial / municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.
Despite the absence of a regional Department of Transportation (DOTr) office, he said the coordination among DOH, LTO, LTFRB, LGUs, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices has been pivotal in enforcing road safety mandates.
Since 2016, an alliance led by the DOH has been active in consolidating efforts from various road safety pillars such as DPWH, LTO, and LTFRB to enhance emergency road crash responses.
DOH’s role extends to Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services, while LTO focuses on the modernization of vehicles, and LTFRB acts as the regulatory body. These efforts have led to the development of protocols and guidelines that significantly improve on-site life-saving measures before victims are transported to hospitals.
Additionally, DOH-6 has localized the Johns Hopkins Public Health Road Safety Course to train partner agencies, which has gradually reduced road accidents in the region since its introduction.
Before this initiative, Western Visayas consistently ranked among the top three regions in the country for road crashes according to the Online National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ONEISS) of the DOH.
Under the current administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., there is a renewed focus on campaigning for road safety, particularly for two-wheel vehicles. LGUs in the region are encouraged to enforce ordinances rigorously, focusing on helmet and seatbelt usage and anti-distractive driving laws.
“We have the policy, advocacy, capability building, and network for road safety,” added Sta. Lucia, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of DOH-6’s road safety initiatives./PN
