In a commitment to improve road safety in the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the Philippines’ participation in the upcoming Ministerial Conference for Road Safety in Morocco.
On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, at a courtesy call in Malacañang to review the Philippines' progress on road safety and discuss future initiatives aimed at meeting the 2021-2030 Decade of Action for Road Safety goals.
“We welcomed UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, back to Manila to discuss the progress we’ve made and the steps ahead to enhance road safety across the Philippines, aligning with the 2021-2030 Decade of Action for Road Safety Goals,” President Marcos said in a statement.
“In a Bagong Pilipinas, our roads are built to connect and protect, bringing people together safely. We are committed to making our roads safer for all Filipinos, and the Philippines will proudly join the global dialogue at the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Morocco,” he added.
Marcos underscored the pressing need to curb road accidents nationwide, particularly those involving motorcycles, given the estimated 15 million Filipino riders across the country.
“They have the highest percentage of accidents both fatal and non-fatal. It’s really on the two wheels. So, it’s really that we are very concerned about,” said Marcos.
Todt proposed the creation of a task force, comprising members from the education, health, public, and private sectors, to collaborate with the UN on road safety initiatives.
Additionally, a recommendation was made to produce more durable helmets to enhance rider safety.
Marcos mentioned that collaboration with the private sector is essential, with government backing to help ensure a stable market.
He suggested that the government could provide financial support to help reduce helmet costs, motivating riders to wear those that meet the necessary safety standards.
