Traffic Injuries in the Philippines Measures and Countermeasures

DR. PAULA PAZ M. SYDIONGCO

Philippines
Road Traffic Injuries in Philippines
Second leading cause of injury death
Mortality 7.8 / 100,000
Economic annual cost (48Php = 1$):
Php3.5M/fatal injury
Php 734,867/serious
Php 71,483 /minor
Source: Estimation of Cost of Road
Accidents in MM, Sigua, et al,2005
Causes of Injury
Road Traffic Injuries
Issues and Challenges
1. SERVICE DELIVERY
Pre-hospital care currently available only in Makati, Marikina and Metro Manila
Department of Health (DOH) should strengthen its role as focal agency for promoting pre-
hospital trauma care and make it available in the community
Inadequate funding for DOH Advocacy, Institutional arrangement and capacity
Issues and Challenges (Cont.)
2. GOVERNANCE
Multisectoral collaboration
DOH role to design, coordinate and integrate activities plans and programs on injury
prevention
Poor surveillance
-Data not linked among related agencies
-No centralized database
-No single agency assigned to analyze data collectively
Issues and Challenges (Cont.)
3. REGULATION
Poor implementation of existing national legislations on road safety
Bill mandating use of helmets for all motorcycle drivers and passengers deliberated in
Philippine Congress
No blood alcohol limits set at present.
Issues and Challenges (Cont.)
4. HEALTH FINANCING
Funding for Road Safety Initiatives from motor vehicles user's charges (7.5%) very poor.
The road safety fund at Department of Public Works and Highways
National Agencies:
Department of transportation and communication
Land transportation Office (LTO)
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
Metro Manila Development Authority
Philippine National Police: Highway Patrol Group
Department of Health
Department of Public Works and Highways
NGO- Safe Kids
Local Government Unit Initiatives:
Native Vehicle: Tabon-tabon, Leyte
Plan: The Way Forward
1. Policy Review and Development
Systems approach to road safety - addresses the road, vehicle, and user
The goals in RTI prevention
(a) reducing risk exposure
(b) preventing road traffic crashes from occurring
(c) reducing severity of injury
(d) reducing consequences of injury - improved post-collision care.
Multi-sectoral involvement & Resource mobilization
The Way Forward
2.Trauma Care System:
Strengthen pre-hospital, hospital care, and rehabilitation services
Enhance Referral Systems
3. Enforcement/Enactment of Traffic Policies
4. Improvement of Infrastructure
Roads , Sidewalks, and signals
Digital Monitoring CCTV
Light rail transit
The Way Forward (Cont.)
5. Advocacy and education:
preventing road traffic injuries
Adopting positive behavior on road safety
6. Research
7. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Integrated and Enhanced Surveillance systems
Multi-sectoral collaboration
DOH should Document and disseminate Good Practices and Initiatives
THANK YOU
HAVE A NICE DAY