EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES D)
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B.No,_4529

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE THIRD SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER AS THE PHILIPPINE DAY
OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD CRASH VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND
FAMILIES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A World Bank study entitled, “The High Toll of Traffic Injuries: Unacceptable and
Preventable,” concludes that reducing road traffic deaths and injuries could result in
substantial long-term income gains for low- and middle-income countries such as the
Philippines.' The study showed that countries that do not invest in road safety could miss
‘out from 7 to 22% in potential per capita GDP growth over a 24-year period. Moreover, it
also reported that the cost of inaction is more than 1.25 million deaths a year globally,
diminished productivity and reduced economic growth prospects. Thus, designating the third
Sunday of November of each year as the Philippine Day of Remembrance for road crash
victims, survivors and families is an affirmative action that would indicate the government's
commitment to road safety and road casualty reduction.

According to the Road Crash Statistics Report of Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA), some 116,906 crash incidents happened in Metro Manila in 2018, or
about 320 incidents daily.” Of these, 17,276 road crashes were on Epifanio de los Santos
Avenue (EDSA)’. It recorded Quezon City with 33,515; Makati with 10,591 and Manila with

9,724 as the top three cities with the highest number of road crash cases in the Philippines.*



The same report in 2018 revealed that a total of 383 Filipinos died and 17,891 were
wounded in the National Capital Region alone due to road crashes.® The number of fatalities
in 2018 had declined to 383 compared to 434 recorded accidents in 2017. Cars are the most
susceptible to road accidents involving 117,225 vehicles followed by motorcycle, with
29,2618

Designating the third Sunday in November of every year as the World Day of
Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is an appropriate commemoration for victims of road
traffic crashes and their families. At the same time, it will raise awareness to the disastrous
effects of road accidents not only to life and property but to the economy as well.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of,

VILMA SANTOS-RECTO,


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE »

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
45,
H.B. No, iD

Introduced by Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto
6th District of Batangas

AN ACT
DESIGNATING THE THIRD SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER AS THE PHILIPPINE DAY
OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD CRASH VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND
FAMILIES

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

Section 1. Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “National Day of Remembrance for
Road Crash Victims, Survivors, and their Families Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to nurture a Filipino
society that is aware of the causes, consequences, and costs of road crash deaths and injuries
and that values human lives by way of remembering the victims of road crashes, recognizing
the sufferings of their affected families and communities and advocating for the improvement
of the Philippine road safety program to prevent the lost of more lives.

Sec. 3. National Day of Remembrance. ~ Every third Sunday of November of each
year is hereby declared as the “National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims,
Survivors, and their Families.”

Sec. 4. Mandatory Activities. - To ensure the meaningful observance of the National
Day of Remembrance as herein declared, the Department of Transportation (DOT®), in
coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Land
Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), shall ensure the
implementation of the following programs and activities:

a) Commemorative ceremonies, including flower-laying activities, candlelight vigil,
solidarity march and special assemblies, shall be observed in provinces, cities and


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municipalities nationwide for road crash victims and survivors, involving their
families and support groups.

Asa sign of support, local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to put up
memorials and tributes in strategic local public spaces or road networks to
commemorate the lives that were lost and those injured in order to promote road
safety to the public;

b) Special recognition shall be given to public officers, private stakeholders,
volunteers and organizations who are instrumental in saving lives or supporting
victims, survivors and their families, who are involved in road crashes;

c) In coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Justice (DOJ) and other
agencies concemed, the DOTr shall conduct multi-sectoral symposia, conferences
or consultations that focus on: (1) how to improve the trauma care system and
emotional support programs given to victims, survivors and their families; (2) how
to improve the legal response, including resolution of pending cases and
investigations and immediate compensation of victims and/or their families; and,
(3) how to improve the road safety situation by addressing the key risk factors to
prevent the occurrence of similar road crash incidents;

d) The DOTr, with the assistance of other government agencies and private
stakeholders, shall conduct public awareness campaigns that provide a platform to
victims and survivors of road crashes, including their families, to advocate for
road safety;

e) Flag-raising ceremonies in government offices on the day or the week
immediately of the National Day of Remembrance shall be dedicated to road crash
victims, survivors and their families, and shall provide a platform for bereaved or
affected employees to advocate the need for road safety; and

f) Other related programs and activities as may be determined in the Implementing
Rules and Regulations.

Sec. 5. DOTr as Lead Agency. ~ The DOTr shall be the lead agency in the meaningful

observance of the National Day of Remembrance each year. In collaboration with public and
private stakeholders, national and/or local steering committees may also be created for the

effective observance of the said event.

Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DOTr, in collaboration with the

DILG, LTO, LTFRB, MMDA, other agencies and stakeholders concerned, shall promulgate

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the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair any
other provisions, sections or parts hereof.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,