Senatorial candidate and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos believes that there's a serious flaws in how road safety is being handled.
“These are symptoms of a systemic failure in how we approach road safety in this country,” Abalos said in a statement over the weekend.
The Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial bet's remarks came on the heels of two separate vehicular crashes that claimed multiple lives.
On May 1, a passenger bus plowed into several vehicles at the SCTEx toll plaza in Tarlac City, killing 10 people, including children, and injuring over two dozen more. Just days later, on May 4, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into passengers waiting at the departure entrance of NAIA Terminal 1, leaving two dead and four others injured.
Abalos expressed grief over the recent string of deadly road accidents and called for urgent, comprehensive reforms to improve road safety across the country.
Data from the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group show that in 2024 alone, roughly 31,000 road crashes were recorded, leading to nearly 2,750 deaths and involving over 47,000 vehicles.
Abalos, who was recently named by a group of motorcycle riders as a road safety ambassador, vowed to push for legislation that will make roads and thoroughfares safe.
He said he will support proposals for higher penalties for speeding, drunk driving, and overloading, and the fast-tracked construction of marked pedestrian crossings, motorcycle lanes, and overpasses in high-traffic areas.
Citing his tenure as MMDA chairman, Abalos pointed to the success of installing emergency lay-by bays along EDSA, which provide motorcyclists safe shelter during heavy rains and have helped reduce accident rates.
He called on motorists to take responsibility as well: “Vigilance behind the wheel and respect for our laws are shared responsibilities that save lives.”
Abalos, a lawyer, also urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to incorporate road safety modules into the senior high school curriculum.
“Every young Filipino must learn the fundamentals of defensive driving, hazard recognition, and emergency response before getting behind the wheel,” he said.