10/05/2025
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By James Carlo Santiago
A string of collisions involving drivers who lost control of their cars has people concerned as of this month. Although accidents may occur, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of them. But due to brake failures, there has been an unexpected increase in incidents this month involving an array of vehicle types across the country, leaving fear among passengers.
On May 4, 2025, there was an unfortunate incident at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when a Ford SUV unexpectedly accelerated and breached the walkway at the departure area, resulting in a collision with the terminal entrance. Tragically, this event claimed the lives of a five-year-old child of an overseas Filipino worker and a male individual, while four other persons sustained serious injuries.
Additionally, on May 1, a Solid North bus lost control and collided with four other vehicles near the exit toll plaza of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). This accident resulted in the deaths of ten individuals, including four children traveling to a religious youth camp and a couple with their two-year-old child. The only survivor was the coupleโs infant, who was securely fastened in a child car seat.
The province of Capiz was not an exception either, leading to multiple casualties and injuries.
One incident took place in the municipality of Panitan, where a tricycle passenger died following a road accident in Barangay Enseรฑagan. The victim, an unidentified 65-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, the tricycle driver, identified only as "Jo," a 61-year-old male and resident of the area, sustained injuries.
In a separate accident in Mambusao, a 20-year-old motorcycle driver lost his life, while his passenger was injured after colliding with an oil tanker truck in Sitio Ilo, Barangay Poblacion Proper. The tragic incident occurred last, April 28, 2025.
Furthermore, in Roxas City on May 4, a HUMSS graduate was involved in a related accident. The victims, a 19-year-old male riding a black motorcycle and his passenger, were reportedly traveling without helmets from Barangay Baybay when their motorcycle unexpectedly collided with a parked truck along Arnaldo Boulevard.
In the past week, road safety in the Philippines has become a growing concern itโs not your simple headache anymore rather a struck of fear. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), now led by Vince Dizon, has introduced an ambitious initiative aimed at reducing the alarming number of accidents. This plan involves implementing stricter regulations for drivers and conducting more thorough inspections of public transportation vehicles.
However, the situation remains dire. According to Forbes Advisor, Manila was ranked the fifth most dangerous city worldwide in 2024, following Caracas, Karachi, Yangon, and Lagos. This ranking underscores a harsh reality: current strategies for promoting road safety are inadequate. To address this widespread issue effectively, the DOTr must continue to innovate and enhance the enforcement of existing policies. A sense of action on this matter is crucial to us Filipinos as days go by, the road will become a living nightmare.
To see these accidents occur in a rapid speed, It is overly simplistic and illogical to dismiss these accidents as mere acts of fate or to attribute them to conspiracy theories or divine will. Such perspectives can be both disrespectful and irrational. In truth, these tragic events are primarily the result of human mistakes and institutional shortcomings, systemic neglect that has allowed accidents to happen repeatedly with devastating results. The ongoing problem persists because society continues to accept government inaction and to view these deadly incidents as unfortunate but unavoidable.
One key issue is the insufficient enforcement of the rule of law along with us who lack sense of thought and obedience. As traffic violations are often met with lenient penalties, or, in some cases, offenders escape accountability altogether. This often denies justice to victims and perpetuates a cycle of negligence. Contributing factors include road obstructions, such as poorly managed parking and commercial activities encroaching on road space, as well as outdoor advertisements designed to attract attention, which can dangerously distract driversโyet these issues remain largely unaddressed.
Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that responsibility does not rest solely with the government. Road safety is a shared duty; each individual, whether pedestrian, driver, or commuter, has a role to play. Our choices and actions significantly impact road safety. Only through a joint effort by authorities and the public to adopt safer practices can we hope to break this tragic cycle. The public misery must end.
Art by Reniel Develos
The Official Student Publication of Capiz State University - Main Campus
