Published Jun 28, 2025 12:05 am
The launch of the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024–2028 marks a turning point in how our cities respond to the worsening road crash crisis. Introduced during the Metro Manila Road Safety Summit 2025 held Thursday, the MMRSAP is a comprehensive, locally driven, and data-informed roadmap for reducing road traffic injuries and deaths.
The timing of this action plan could not be more urgent. In recent weeks alone, disturbing road crashes have made headlines and gone viral. Just two days ago, a dump truck reportedly lost its brakes, resulting in a 10-vehicle collision that injured nine people along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo. Earlier this month, a senior high school graduate —reportedly intoxicated—crashed into another vehicle in Tagaytay, killing three people, including a pregnant woman.
These are not isolated events. From 2013 to 2023, the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) recorded over one million road crashes in the region. On average, 445 people have been killed by road accidents every year, with thousands more injured. According to MMDA data, Metro Manila logs nearly 93,000 crashes per year—numbers that represent real people, real losses, and real tragedies that ripple across families and communities.
Recognizing the need for urgent, coordinated action, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in partnership with all 17 Metro Manila local government units, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Transportation, developed the MMRSAP. Its goal is ambitious yet necessary — a 35 percent reduction in road fatalities by 2028.
The MMRSAP revolves around five key pillars: One, road safety management to improve governance, leadership, and coordination across sectors. Two, safer roads that will be created by road design, signage, lighting, and infrastructure upgrades to prevent accidents. Three, safer vehicles through stricter inspections and regulations to ensure that vehicles meet safety standards. Four, safer road users through education, law enforcement, and behavior change. And five, post-crash response enhanced by emergency care, data systems, and support for victims and families.
The action plan is not a stand-alone effort. It aligns with the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028 and supports President Marcos’ broader socio-economic agenda, which emphasizes the safety and well-being of all Filipinos.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes acknowledged the depth of the challenge, citing reckless driving, distracted motorists, and “kamote” behavior as daily dangers on the road. But he also stressed a collective duty: “Each loss is not just a number. They represent real people whose lives we vow to protect. We owe it to our people to act now.”
Beyond the plan itself, Metro Manila has rolled out support programs, including the Motorcycle Riding Academy, Children’s Road Safety Park, traffic infrastructure improvements, solar-powered streetlights, and specialized training for traffic enforcers. These must be strengthened further.
However, even the best-designed plan will fail without strong implementation. Road safety depends on the synergy of the “three E’s” — Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. All stakeholders—drivers, commuters, policymakers, private sector partners—must commit to sustained effort and accountability.
The MMRSAP is not just a document; it should be a promise. It must not gather dust. It must be revisited, refined, and realized with urgency and seriousness.
Let the names of those lost in past crashes be our reason to stay vigilant. Let every accident avoided be proof that we are doing better. Road safety is not a luxury. It is a right—and it is time we treat it as such.
