DOH wants stricter policies on road safety amid spike in crashes

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Wednesday pushed for safer streets and roads in the country as he raised concerns over the increasing number of deaths and injuries from road accidents. 

“Ang studies namin up to [based on our studies, there’s up to] 25% increase every year for the past 10 years. About 11,000 deaths every year [due to road accidents]. And majority of those that died are young people between 15 to 29 years old,” Herbosa said during the 2025 Road Safety Summit.

“And majority, 70% or 73%, ay dahil sa two-wheeler motor vehicle. So, ‘yung motorsiklo po ang number one cause. Pagka-tingnan niyo kung ano ‘yun, usually, head injury (ang rason). Kaya napakahalaga talaga magsuot ng helmet kapag naka-motor,” he added.

(The majority who died, about 70% or 73%, are due to two-wheeler motor vehicles. So, motorcycles are the number one cause, leading to head injury. That's why it's really important to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.)

With this, Herbosa said that he is pushing for the amendments in existing policies related to road safety. 

Among them are putting speed limits on certain roads, installing an anti-lock braking system on motorcycles, and implementing an effective engineering design for public utility vehicles.

He also said that the Motorcycle Helmet Act should be strictly enforced, especially in provinces, considering that most road accidents involve motorcycles.

“Nakakita kayo ng naka-helmet sa probinsya? Wala. Pero ‘yung probinsya, ‘yun ‘yung walang CT scan, ‘yun ‘yung walang MRI, ‘yun ‘yung walang neurosurgeon. Ibabato mo pa siya sa city. By the time dumating ‘yung head injury sa amin, patay na,” the Health chief explained.

(Have you seen anyone wearing a helmet in the province? None. But in the province, there are no CT scans, no MRIs, no neurosurgeons. You still have to bring the patient to the city. By the time the patients with head injuries come to us, they’re already dead.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News