THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it would intensify enforcement of road safety laws nationwide amid a growing number of road crash fatalities involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Transportation Senior Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said road safety remains an urgent concern that requires a coordinated response from government agencies.
”One life lost is too much. We need to stop it,” Pastor said at the 2026 Road Safety Summit earlier this week.
He added that the DOTr, together with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, is implementing measures under the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023–2028, which include a review of the driver’s licensing system to ensure that only qualified and responsible motorists are allowed to operate vehicles, as well as stricter enforcement of safety and maintenance standards for public utility vehicles.
Pastor said the agency is working with lawmakers to secure legislative backing and adequate funding for road safety programs.
”We have also worked to obtain legislative support from our partners in the Senate and the House of Representatives so that road safety-related policies will receive sufficient funding and be properly implemented,” he said.
The PRSAP 2023–2028 serves as the country’s road map for improving road safety and aligns with the Global Plan for the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety. The plan is anchored on five pillars: road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users and post-crash response.
LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the agency has already adopted stricter enforcement measures and expanded digitalization initiatives to improve monitoring, compliance and accountability in the transport sector.
”We will continue to strengthen our road safety initiatives through sustained enforcement operations, intensified anti-colorum and anti-road rage efforts, and stronger action against reckless and dangerous driving,” Lacanilao said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed its support for the Philippines’ road safety initiatives.
WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Eunyoung Ko said the United Nations and WHO remain committed to assisting the government and its partners in promoting safer, healthier, more inclusive and sustainable mobility systems.
”The United Nations system and WHO remain committed to supporting the Government of the Philippines and all partners in addressing safer, healthier, more inclusive and more sustainable mobility systems for all,” Ko said.
The summit brought together government officials, transport stakeholders and road safety advocates to discuss strategies for reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries across the country.
