Philippines

Country Summary

With more than 92 million people, the Philippines is the world’s 12th most populous country. Due to increasing motorization and urbanization, the country also faces growing traffic and road-safety problems. In the first half of 2009, deaths due to road crash increased 8.7 per cent from the year before according to the Department of Transport and Communications. In order to help stem the rise of road-related death and injury, the Philippines Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) was established in 2009 with the support of the Government of the Philippines, together with civil society groups and private companies. One year later, the achievements made for road safety are promising.

H2O

The pilot project launched in 2009, H20 (otherwise known as Helmets and Headlights Always On) expanded in 2010 to numerous cities around the country. The objective is to encourage safe behaviour of motorcycle users with helmets and visibility through an information campaign and enforcement.

Philippines ©paojus

Road Safety Education

The GRSP in Philippines also established the foundation for a pilot project that will kick off in March 2011, which focuses on road safety education in primary schools. With the support of the Philipinas Shell Foundation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authorities, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Department of Education, among others, flash cards were created for children. The pilot project will run for six months for grade-five students in a total of ten public schools, targeted because they are located in accident-prone areas. The GRSP in Philippines hopes that colourful flashcards which depict every day scenarios on the road will catch children's attention. "We also aim to help teachers find an effective method to bring road safety education into the classroom," explained Cynthia Reyes, Executive Advocacy Assistant for the Automobile Association Philippines and GRSP focal point.