PBBM vows roads built to connect, protect Pinoys
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged on Thursday to making the country’s roads safer for all Filipinos, announcing that the Philippines will participate in the upcoming Ministerial Conference for Road Safety in Morocco.
“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.
The President earlier received Todt at a Palace courtesy call, following the April 2023 visit to discuss the Philippines’ progress on road safety and future actions needed to achieve the 2021-2030 Decade of Action for Road Safety Goals.
He appreciated meeting Todt in the Philippines, highlighting the urgency of reducing road crashes in the country, particularly those involving motorcycles.
The UN envoy, who has been traveling to advocate for road safety, could guide the Philippines on making its roads safer, he noted.
“I’m happy to meet you because I have been watching you over the years… and because we have safety concerns especially for motorbikes. We have approximately 15 million Filipino riders in the country,” the President told Todt.
“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,” he said.
The President agreed to Todt’s proposal to establish a task force – members to be drawn from the sectors of education, health, and both public and private entities — to work alongside the UN on road safety initiatives.
Regarding Todt’s recommendation for producing more durable helmets to ensure riders’ safety, the President said collaboration with the private sector would be essential, with government support in place to ensure a stable market.
This initiative could potentially involve government subsidies to reduce costs, encouraging riders to use helmets that meet safety standards, he added.
The Philippines’ cooperation with the United Nations Development System is outlined in the Philippines’ 2024-2028 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
The UNSDCF serves as a strategic framework for UN’s collaboration with the Philippines, aimed at supporting national development priorities, including the country’s transition to upper middle-income economy status and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. PCO
