(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima is proposing the creation of a Philippine Road Safety Institute that will improve road safety in the country.
In filing Senate Bill No. 85, De Lima noted a report from the World Health Organization that said that pedestrians make up 19 percent of road deaths in the Philippines.
She also cited data from the Department of Transportation that said that fatalities due to road crashes increased by almost 14.6 percent each year.
“With this data, it is estimated that by 2020, about 300,000 will die annually due to road mishap without any intervention,” De Lima said.
Under the bill, the PRSI shall collect data pertinent to road safety, develop road safety policy framework, recommend legislation and promulgate the necessary rules and orders, and standards to be adopted by government agencies, among others.
It shall also regularly provide technical advice on road safety in support of government programs and initiatives.
“Road safety is a problem in the country, especially in highly-urbanized areas. It is considered a public health issue, having contributed significantly to the mortality rate,” she said.
