PEDESTRIANS in Metro Manila risk life and limb every time they commute in the city, without even realizing it. Pedestrian victims of road crashes in the country are estimated to be at seven fatalities per day. Historically and overall, they comprise a little over 30 percent of all road crash deaths annually.
These were the findings brought up by the civil society coalition Move as One (MAO) Coalition in a media briefing on April 10. The group seeks to marshal pedestrians everywhere, especially in the National Capital Region, to bring to the attention of the government and other decision-makers the long-neglected issue of safe pedestrian mobility.
MAO founding member Robert Siy cited an SWS survey stating that "only 6 percent of Filipino households actually own a car." According to the paper "Assessment of Pedestrian Facilities in Major Cities of the Philippines" released by the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies (Easts), commuters spend 77.5 percent of their travel time walking. The data suggests that pedestrians do compose a significant demographic majority.
Yet, MAO Communications Officer Dinna Dayao lamented that despite their numbers, "our interests have been sidelined. By organizing ourselves and speaking forcefully about this issue, we can get the government, the private sector, and all concerned to come together and work for a walkable Metro Manila."
The group pointed out other disturbing statistics underlining issues of pedestrian safety that need to be addressed. Only 5 percent of all Philippine roads are considered safe for pedestrians — still far below the global average of less than 15 percent.
Debilitating injury can also happen to pedestrians who meet accidents on unsafe roads. Dayao discussed studies from the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory, saying that road crashes cause the following on a daily basis: one pedestrian suffers loss of sight; 32 pedestrians suffer limb fracture; and three pedestrians from these incidents end up undergoing amputation.
MOA representatives, who are advocating for a more humane, inclusive public transportation system, attributed the road fatalities and injuries to poor active transport (AT) infrastructure. Sidewalks, footbridges, footpaths, crossings, and bike lanes in the country need assessment and improvement. Yet, the MOA presentation claimed that the AT budget for 2025 in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) was reduced to P60 million from P1 billion in 2024.
The other panelists argued that dialogue with decision-makers and stakeholders about mobility policymaking discussions should include the marginalized members of society who are affected the most.
Dr. Mau Mata, a representative of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), said that building and designing road networks and streets with PWDs in mind might make the latter more productive members of society, empowering them to be less dependent on assistants who help them walk.
Siy stressed that safe and inclusive mobility is a fundamental right of every Filipino: "When Filipinos experience barriers to moving around in their cities, they are denied basic rights and freedoms. Today, we want leaders who will work tirelessly to restore the rights that we have all been denied. Our leaders need to be reminded as often as possible and as loudly as possible that what we have today is unacceptable. Filipinos deserve better, much better, and now."
For more about the Move as One Coalition, go to https://www.moveasoneph.org/