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Advocates Philippines
MMDA Launches Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan At 2025 Summit: A United Push To Save Lives On the Road
Photo credit: MMDA
In a powerful call to action, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) unveiled the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024–2028 during the Metro Manila Road Safety Summit 2025, bringing together stakeholders from across sectors to confront the urgent challenges of traffic crashes and fatalities.
Held with the aim of enhancing road safety through collaboration and accountability, the summit emphasized the shared responsibility of government, private sector, and civil society in making the roads safer for every Filipino.
MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes underscored the gravity of the problem, noting that beyond the numbers, road crashes inflict long-term damage on families and communities. “These tragedies are not just statistics. They are real lives lost—mothers, fathers, children. And the cost, both emotional and economic, is simply too high,” he said.
Citing unsafe behaviors like distracted and intoxicated driving, and the notorious “kamote” driving culture, Artes emphasized that tackling these everyday risks requires not only stricter law enforcement but also a cultural shift in road user behavior. “We owe it to our people to act now,” he added.
The summit was a show of unified resolve, bringing together government agencies, Metro Manila’s 17 local government units (LGUs), transport groups, motorcycle riders, private organizations, and academic institutions. At the heart of the event was the MMRSAP, a locally driven roadmap developed with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Policy Center.
Structured around five key pillars—road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response—the MMRSAP is aligned with the national Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028, which aims to reduce fatalities by 35% by 2028.
Dr. Eunyong Ko, Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines, described the launch of the plan as a “landmark moment” for Metro Manila. “This plan sends a strong message that road safety is more than a transport issue—it’s a public health and development priority.”
Statistics from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) show the scale of the issue: between 2013 and 2023, over 1 million road crashes were reported, resulting in an estimated 4,450 fatalities—or an average of 445 deaths per year.
To support the MMRSAP’s goals, the MMDA also highlighted ongoing programs such as the Motorcycle Riding Academy, Children’s Road Safety Park, ladderized training for traffic enforcers, improved street lighting systems, and emergency response initiatives.
Atty. Camille Alcaraz of The Policy Center lauded the MMDA’s leadership, emphasizing that the action plan reflects “a collective resolve” across sectors. “The MMRSAP is not just a document—it is a living strategy built from consultations and grounded in real community needs,” she said.
The summit concluded with a symbolic but powerful gesture—stakeholders signing a Wall of Commitment, publicly pledging their support to the road safety cause.
In a city where roads often seem chaotic and dangerous, the MMDA’s push for a structured, data-driven, and collaborative approach could be a turning point. With the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan now in motion, all eyes are on how quickly and effectively these commitments will translate into safer streets—and saved lives.
Held with the aim of enhancing road safety through collaboration and accountability, the summit emphasized the shared responsibility of government, private sector, and civil society in making the roads safer for every Filipino.
MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes underscored the gravity of the problem, noting that beyond the numbers, road crashes inflict long-term damage on families and communities. “These tragedies are not just statistics. They are real lives lost—mothers, fathers, children. And the cost, both emotional and economic, is simply too high,” he said.
Citing unsafe behaviors like distracted and intoxicated driving, and the notorious “kamote” driving culture, Artes emphasized that tackling these everyday risks requires not only stricter law enforcement but also a cultural shift in road user behavior. “We owe it to our people to act now,” he added.
The summit was a show of unified resolve, bringing together government agencies, Metro Manila’s 17 local government units (LGUs), transport groups, motorcycle riders, private organizations, and academic institutions. At the heart of the event was the MMRSAP, a locally driven roadmap developed with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Policy Center.
Structured around five key pillars—road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response—the MMRSAP is aligned with the national Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028, which aims to reduce fatalities by 35% by 2028.
Dr. Eunyong Ko, Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines, described the launch of the plan as a “landmark moment” for Metro Manila. “This plan sends a strong message that road safety is more than a transport issue—it’s a public health and development priority.”
Statistics from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) show the scale of the issue: between 2013 and 2023, over 1 million road crashes were reported, resulting in an estimated 4,450 fatalities—or an average of 445 deaths per year.
To support the MMRSAP’s goals, the MMDA also highlighted ongoing programs such as the Motorcycle Riding Academy, Children’s Road Safety Park, ladderized training for traffic enforcers, improved street lighting systems, and emergency response initiatives.
Atty. Camille Alcaraz of The Policy Center lauded the MMDA’s leadership, emphasizing that the action plan reflects “a collective resolve” across sectors. “The MMRSAP is not just a document—it is a living strategy built from consultations and grounded in real community needs,” she said.
The summit concluded with a symbolic but powerful gesture—stakeholders signing a Wall of Commitment, publicly pledging their support to the road safety cause.
In a city where roads often seem chaotic and dangerous, the MMDA’s push for a structured, data-driven, and collaborative approach could be a turning point. With the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan now in motion, all eyes are on how quickly and effectively these commitments will translate into safer streets—and saved lives.
Jun 26, 2025
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