Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias
and Rudys Caesar G. Farifias I

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The World Health Organization Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013
shows a yearly average of 1.24 million deaths and 50 million injuries as a result
of road crashes. The following statistics show that: (a) road crash is the global
number | cause of death for the youth aged 15 to 29; (b) road crash is the global
number 2 cause of death for the infants aged 4 to 14; and (c) road crash is the
global number 3 cause of death for the adults aged 30 to 44.

On March 2, 2010, cognizant of this tragic loss of lives and injuries caused
by road accidents worldwide, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly
adopted Resolution 64/255, entitled “Improving Global Road Safety,” which
encourages member states to continue to strengthen their commitment to road
safety, including the observance of the “World Day of Remembrance for Road
Traffic Victims” on the third Sunday of November every year.

The Philippines, as signatory to this UN General Assembly Resolution,
recognizes the “World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims” as an
opportunity to express its concern over the continuing rise in road traffic
casualties, and its intention to partner with the private sector and civil society to
address this growing malady.


On, June 18, 2010, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued
Presidential Proclamation No. 2092, declaring every third Sunday of November
as the national day for the “World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic
Victims” and designating a working committee headed by the Department of
Transportation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government,
Department of Health, Department of Education, and the Metro Manila
Development Authority, as member agencies.

Since 2006, the number of road crash deaths in the Philippines has been
increasing despite the country’s goal to halve the number of deaths by 2020.
Government data showed that a total of 6,806 number of deaths in road crashes
in 2006 leaped to 8,636 in 2014 representing a 27% increase over the seven-
year period. While there was a slight reduction in 2011, the pioneer year of
——————ecade of Road Safety in-the-Philippines—the-number of road crash deaths
increased again starting 2012. Death rate recorded an average annual increase of
1.4% from 2006 to 2014.

Giving significance to the “World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic
Victims” commemorates the millions killed or injured in road accidents and
pays tribute to the dedicated emergency crews, police and medical professionals
who deal daily with the traumatic aftermath of road death and injury. It also
conveys our collective efforts to accord special attention to the task of reducing
road traffic casualties.

This bill mainly derives inspiration from the collective experience of the
Families of Road Victims and Survivors Association of the Philippines, a civil
_=__ society organization founded in May 2011-with-an advocacy firmly committed
towards humanitarian service to countless victims of road accidents. Members
of the Association have noted that the death of Rodolfo CG. Farifias, Jr, son of
former Representative Rodolfo C. Farifias and brother to the undersigned
Representatives, in a tragic motorcycle accident in November 15, 2015
coincided with the 10" United Nations World Day of Remembrance for Road
Traffic Victims. As a solemn way of remembering the deaths of road traffic
accidents, this bill seeks to establish an annual venue of collaboration for road
safety stakeholders and underlines the urgent need for the government’s
commitment to life-saving road safety programs.

The House of Representatives recognizes that road safety is a shared
responsibility, where both the government and civil society organizations”


collective action can be accelerated towards a sustainable engagement campaign
by actively supporting the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims
and Survivors. This measure is a refiled bill from House Bill No. 7920 authored
by former Representative Rodolfo C. Farifias, substituted by House Bill No.
9069 and approved on Third Reading in the 17" Congress on May 20, 2019.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.

RUDY! G. FARINAS I RIA i ay . FARINAS

é


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regulas Session

698
HOUSE BILL NO.

a Introduced by Representatives Ria Christina G. Farifias

and Rudys Caesar G, Farifias I

AN ACT
DECLARING THE THIRD SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER OF, EVERY
YEAR AS THE NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD
CRASH VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, AND THEIR BEREAVED FAMILIES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National
Day of Remembrance Act.” peter

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
National Government to ensure the protection and safety of its people from any
form of road hazards and to value human lives by way of remembering the
victims of previous tragedies and recognizing the sufferings of their families

and communities.


Towards this end, the State designates a day of remembrance to raise the
awareness of the people on the causes, consequences, and costs of road deaths
and injuries, and to strengthen the advocacy to prevent such traumatic incidents
through a collaborative platform that brings together multisector stakeholders.

SEC. 3. National Day of Remembrance. — Every third Sunday of
November of every year is hereby declared as the National Day of

Remembrance for road crash victims, survivors, and their families.

<n SEC. 4:-Progranr of Activities —To ensure the meaningful-observance-of—————
the National Day of Remembrance, the Secretary of the Department of
Transportation shall prepare and implement an annual program of activities,
including the launch of a road safety advocacy campaign. The Secretary of the
Department of Transportation may call upon other government agencies,
nongovernment organizations and local government units to assist in the

preparation and full implementation of the National Day of Remembrance.

SEC. 5. Memorial. — Each municipality or city may enact an ordinance

or resolution for the designation of a public space as memorial tribute for road
crash victims, survivors, and their families.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of

Transportation, in consultation with the appropriate agencies as may be deemed


necessary, shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — Any act, law, decree, ordinance, resolution,
executive order, rule or regulation, or administrative issuance contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

public
Approved, —-_____ avert

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.