With a shared goal of enhancing road safety in the metropolis through strengthened collaboration, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) brings together multi-sectoral stakeholders to share insights and best practices to address road traffic crashes and fatalities through the Metro Manila Road Safety Summit 2025.
The initiative forms part of the MMDA’s commitment in addressing the alarming number of road crashes and fatalities in the region by highlighting the urgent need for improved road user behavior, enhanced road infrastructure, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and policies. It is likewise in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socio-economic agenda which pushes for the safety of all road users.
MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes acknowledged that road safety concerns, particularly crashes and facilities, “cost too much” as these affect not only individuals but communities as well, which can transcend across generations.
Addressing the stakeholders, Artes recognized daily dangers in the streets including motorists who flagrantly disregard laws and basic human decency such as “kamote”, distracted, and intoxicated driving.
“We must never forget that each loss is not just a number on a report. They represent real people whose life is just as valuable as any other.”
“Only by understanding these complex, often infuriating causes, can we come together to craft solutions that will make our roads safer for every Filipino,” the MMDA chief said.
“As we pursue this mission, we must never forget that each loss is not just a number on a report. They represent real people whose life is just as valuable as any other. Lives that we vow to protect. We owe it to our people to act now,” he added.
The one-day summit brought together relevant national government agencies, local government units, academe, civil society organizations, motorcycle rider groups, private sector, and transport groups – highlighting the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024–2028, a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to improving road safety across the metropolis.
The plan was developed through technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Policy Center and is aligned with the Department of Transportation’s Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028 which targets to reduce road fatalities in the region by 35% by 2028. Specifically, the plan aims to address the pressing road safety issues and create safer, more inclusive roads by using data-driven approaches to identify and analyze blackspots in the region.
The MMRSAP focuses on five pillars, namely: road safety management, safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response. Concerned agencies have presented their plans and intervening measures to fully realize the goal to have safer roads.
Acting World Health Organization Representative Dr. Eunyong Ko described the MMRSAP as a “landmark moment” as it is Metro Manila’s first comprehensive and locally driven roadmap for road safety while commending the MMDA and the 17 Metro Manila local government units for developing the plan. The WHO provided technical assistance for the formulation of the action plan.
“The plan addresses the persistent challenges that people in Metro Manila face every day. It sends a strong message that road safety is not just a transport concern – it is a public health priority and critical development goal,” Ko said.
“At the WHO, we are proud to have supported the development of the MMRSAP and we remain committed to working alongside all of you to help turn the vision of reducing road crash fatalities in Metro Manila by 35% by 2028 into real results,” he added.
“There are an estimated 4,450 road traffic fatalities over the past decade, with an average of 445 deaths per year from 2013 to 2023.”
Data from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) showed that there are an estimated 4,450 road traffic fatalities over the past decade, with an average of 445 deaths per year from 2013 to 2023. During this period, there were 1,011,786 reported road crashes in the region, 81% of which were property damage, 19% led to non-fatal injuries, and 0.44% resulted in fatalities.
Aside from the MMRSAP, the MMDA has ongoing activities, programs, and projects such as the MMRAS, Children’s Road Safety Park, Motorcycle Riding Academy, ladderized training program for traffic enforcers and road safety courses for all stakeholders, traffic infrastructure enhancements, LED solar-powered streetlights system, and emergency response efforts.
Atty. Camille Alcaraz, Program Manager of The Policy Center lauded the government, through the MMDA, in deciding to take action due to “catastrophic impact” of road crashes which occurred in the past years.
“With the MMRSAP, there is a binding force from which the 17 Metro Manila LGUs, national government agencies, and civil societies can exert joint efforts and keep on sharing ideas and solutions, side by side,” Alcaraz explained.
“The consultations from both the public and private sector ensures that the MMRSAP is grounded on reality and was derived from the active participation of relevant stakeholders, addressing the needs of all road users,” she said of the action plan which serves as policy instrument and blueprint of activities designed to save lives from road crashes.
Stakeholders who attended the summit signed in the wall of commitment to express their vows and pledges toward road safety.
