Mandaluyong city: The United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for road safety has expressed full support for the Philippine government's ongoing campaign to promote road safety. Special Envoy Jean Todt, who visited the Philippines from September 8 to 11, highlighted the critical need for robust collaboration and deeper actions to combat the rising number of road crash fatalities in the country and across Asia.
According to Philippines News Agency, Todt emphasized during a press conference in Mandaluyong City that the number of road accident victims in the Philippines has surged by approximately 60 percent between 2011 and 2024. He assured that the UN is committed to contributing to the development of the Philippines, urging governments to implement strong strategies, policies, and laws while fostering cooperation among key sectors such as health and transport.
Todt proposed several measures, including mandating the purchase of two UN-standard helmets with the sale of two-wheeled vehicles, which he described as a potential "game-changer." He also stressed the importance of strictly enforcing traffic laws, particularly speed limits, to significantly reduce road fatalities. The Department of Health (DOH) reported that approximately 12,000 Filipinos die annually due to road accidents.
During his visit, Todt engaged with government officials, civil society, and industry players like Angkas, Grab, JoyRide, Lalamove, and MoveIt. These firms jointly pledged to improve road safety in the Philippines. Additionally, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa announced a new policy excluding road violators admitted to public hospitals from the government's zero balance billing policy to encourage stricter compliance with traffic laws.
The United Nations reports that the Asia Pacific region accounts for over 60 percent of the world's 1.2 million annual road deaths, with nearly 700,000 fatalities each year. Road crashes are the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 29, with motorcyclists comprising the largest proportion of fatalities.
World leaders have committed to halving road deaths by 2030, and while progress is off-track, Todt acknowledged that countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam have made significant strides in reducing road deaths. The Philippine government aims to cut road traffic deaths by 35 percent by 2028 under its updated Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP), supported by the UN, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Currently, the UN Philippines, through UNICEF and WHO, is assisting the PRSAP in developing interventions related to road safety management, safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash responses.
