The Quezon City government launched on Monday, Oct. 6, a new initiative to strengthen and advance its road safety programs. 

The initiative is a collaboration with public interest law group ImagineLaw, and forms part of the local government unit's (LGU) ongoing efforts to make city roads safer for everyone.

The project is part of the LGU’s commitment to the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 74 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as injuries.

Attending the kick-off meeting were officials from the city government  and representatives from ImagineLaw and global health organization Vital Strategies.

In 2020, the Quezon City Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD) recorded a total of 1,841 vehicular crashes in the city, resulting in 12 fatalities and 638 injuries. Additionally, 57 pedestrians were involved in road crashes, affecting their mobility and livelihood.

“This partnership is very important to us in addressing the challenge of road crashes and injuries in the city and in making our roads safer for all road users, especially pedestrians, cyclists, and vulnerable groups,” 

 Mayor Joy Belmonte said. 

With the increasing number of road users and vehicles in the city, local officials underscored the need for effective road safety policies and enforcement to achieve zero deaths on the roads.

Under the collaboration, the parties committed to work together to ensure the implementation of the city’s existing road safety ordinance through improved road crash data management, safer road design, stricter enforcement of speed limits and other traffic laws, and post-crash response.

“We are excited to be working again with Quezon City towards the full implementation of the Quezon City Road Safety Code,” Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw said. 

Globally, NCDs and injuries are responsible for more than 80% of all deaths. With the majority of the world’s population now living in cities, local governments are in a unique position to reduce preventable deaths by implementing proven health and safety policies.

“By 2050, it’s estimated that around two of every three people will call urban areas home. We commend Quezon City and the commitment of today’s local leaders to advancing initiatives that help lay the foundation for healthier, safer communities,” said Farhad Ali, deputy regional director for the Partnership for Healthy Cities at Vital Strategies.

Quezon City joined the Partnership for Healthy Cities in 2017. Among its previous achievements was the development and adoption of the city’s calorie-labeling ordinance in 2024—the first of its kind in Southeast Asia—also supported by ImagineLaw.