Bautista says road crash victims must attain justice

The leadership of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) highlighted the importance of attaining justice for the victims of road crashes.

During the DOTr-led Road Safety Symposium, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said it is crucial to put attention on seeking justice for those who have died and injured due to road-related crashes, as well as the affected families.

“We should not diminish the importance of attaining justice for victims of road crashes and seeking peace for the families left behind," Bautista said.

The department cited that around 12,000 individuals die in the country every year due to road crashes — which means that there are more than 300 fatalities daily.

The transportation chief said that road crashes are traumatizing and can result in economic loss as there is productivity loss arising from the death, illnesses, and injuries of the victims.

With that, Bautista expressed firm belief that the road-related injuries and deaths can be prevented, noting that road safety is a shared responsibility. "No one deserves the loss of opportunities due to road incidents. Consider yourselves road safety champions. We have shared responsibility to protect every Filipino on the road," he said.

Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Annika Thunborg shared her country's support to the Philippines in promoting road safety. "Safety, efficiency, and reliability are the hallmarks of all types of public transportation, that is why we are here today showing our support for the Philippine government in promoting road safety," Thunborg said.

As a tribute to the millions of victims of road crashes and recognition to emergency first responders and medical professionals, the DOTr organized the Road Safety Symposium as an offshoot of the National Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Survivors, and Their Families last Sunday.

Photos from Department of Transportation Facebook page

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