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bic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED 2)
Quezon City on SMAR 2018
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS j
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 7312

Introduced by HON. TRICIA NICOLE Q. VELASCO - CATERA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare the third Sunday of November every year as the “World Day of
Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims” to remember road crash victims, together with their
families and friends, and their loss and suffering. It is also a day on which we express gratitude
to all the people who respond to such emergencies, and on which awareness is raised on the issue
of traffic safety.

This is in line with the commemoration of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims,
which has been observed worldwide since 1993, when it was started by RoadPeace. Since then it
has been observed and promoted worldwide by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
including the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) and its associated
organizations. On 26 October 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a global day to be
observed every third Sunday of November each year, making it a major advocacy day for road
traffic injury prevention. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Road
Safety Collaboration encourage governments and NGOs around the world to commemorate this
day.

Every year, 1.25 million people around the world die due to road crashes — a global problem that
the WHO says is both predictable and preventable. Here in the Philippines, the figures are
worrying as shown by data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which indicate that the
number of deaths due to road crashes has been increasing since 2006. According to the latest
available data, 10,012 people died due to road crashes in 2015 — a 45.76% increase from 6,869
deaths recorded in 2006. Sadly, more than 500 children die every year due to road crashes. An
average of 667 children — those 14 years old and below — die every year.

Road deaths and injuries are sudden, violent, traumatic events. Their impacts are long-lasting,
and often permanent. Each year, millions of newly injured and bereaved people from every
comer of the world are added to the countless millions who already suffer. The cumulative toll is
truly tremendous. The grief and distress experienced by this huge number of people is all the
greater because many of the victims are young, because many of the crashes could and should
have been prevented, and because governments’ and society’s responses to road deaths and
injuries and to bereaved and injured victims are often inadequate, unsympathetic, and
inappropriate to the loss of life or quality of life.

‘The commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims aims not only
simply to offer sympathy to road crash victims but also to raise awareness about the importance
of improving road safety in our country.

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

TRICL COLE Q. VELASCO - CATERA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 7812 _

Introduced by HON. TRICIA NICOLE Q. VELASCO - CATERA

AN ACT DECLARING THE THIRD SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER EVERY YEAR AS THE
“WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS”

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic
Victims Act”.

SEC. 2. The Third Sunday of every year is hereby declared as the “World Day of Remembrance
for Road Traffic Victims”, in recognition of road traffic victims and their families’ loss and
suffering.

SEC. 3. To ensure meaningful observance, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through
the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land
Transportation Office (LTO), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on this day shall conduct consciousness-
raising activities such as symposia, conferences and public consultations on the importance of
road safety, as well as on specific initiatives being implemented by the government for the
purpose of improving road traffic safety in the country.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) after publication in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,