黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The rising number of children and young people killed in road crashes has had a 鈥渄isproportionate impact鈥� that has become 鈥減articularly alarming鈥� for Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

鈥淭his is not only a public health crisis. This is a human rights issue,鈥� Herbosa said in a speech at the 2025 Philippine Road Safety Summit on Wednesday.

Herbosa made this statement as local and national agencies and organizations had reported an increasing number of young victims in road accidents.

Herbosa added that he, as a trauma surgeon, conducted a study and consolidated 10 years鈥� worth of road crash data in the Philippines.

鈥淥f our crashes on the road, we have a 25.6 percent increase per year. 72 percent are males and majority of those that get injured are young children and young adults,鈥� he said.

READ: 38 PH kids die each day in road crashes

Leading cause of young deaths

鈥淎ccording to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29. The United Nations International Children鈥檚 Fund or UNICEF, has raised concerns about the increasing number of young victims, many as young as five years old, suffering life-altering injuries and losing their lives,鈥� he went on.

鈥淭he United Nations International Children鈥檚 Fund or UNICEF has raised concerns about the increasing number of young victims, many as young as five years old, suffering life-altering injuries and losing their lives,鈥� he added.

The DOH secretary further noted that most accidents occur at night, with around 25,000 to 296,000 injuries per year linked to drunk driving.

Unacceptable regression

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority data, Herbosa also said 12,241 road crash deaths were recorded in 2022, translating to a death rate of 11 per 100,000.

He pointed out that this is 鈥渕oving us further from the target of four per 100,000.鈥�

鈥淭he regression is unacceptable, and we must intensify our efforts to reverse this trend,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese statistics represent lives lost, families broken, and futures cut short.鈥�

READ: DOH: 703 road accidents recorded in 15 days

Given these alarming figures, Herbosa emphasized the need to prioritize children鈥檚 safety on the road.

鈥淩oad safety is not just a public health issue. It is essential for [the] sustainable development of the country,鈥� Herbosa said.

鈥淪afe roads allow our children to go to school, to play and access healthcare without fear. They strengthen economies, reduce hospital burdens, and build stronger communities,鈥� he added.

Prioritizing road safety

Recognizing the urgency, Herbosa said the DOH has made road safety one of its eight priority health outcomes.

鈥淥ur strategy includes strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration with government agencies, local government units, and civil society organizations, as well as integrating road safety policies at national and local levels,鈥� he said.

鈥淩oad crashes are preventable. Every injury avoided, every life saved is a testament to the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies and collective action,鈥� Herbosa reiterated.