President Duterte has signed a law declaring the third Sunday of November a day of remembrance for the victims and survivors of road crashes.
Under Republic Act No. 11468, the third Sunday of November every year is declared the “National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, Survivors, and their Families.”
The day of remembrance aims to raise public awareness on the causes, consequences, and costs of road deaths and injuries as well as strengthen the advocacy for road safety measures in the country.
“It is the policy of the national government to ensure the protection and safety of its people from any form of road hazards and to value human lives by way of remembering the victims of road crashes and recognizing the sufferings of their affected families and communities,” the law said.
For a meaningful observance of the day of remembrance, the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies have been directed to implement various activities such as commemorative ceremonies for road crash victims and survivors; blood donation campaigns; special recognition of public officers, private stakeholders, volunteers, and organizations involved in saving lives or supporting victims; special inter-faith and inter-religious commemoration in local government offices and police stations; and public awareness campaign on road safety.
Such activities will be implemented in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The flag-raising ceremonies in government offices the day or week immediately after the day of remembrance will be dedicated to road crash victims as well as provide a platform for affected employees to advocate the need for road safety.
The government will also launch a website or a social media platform to promote road safety awareness. It shall include a database registry that honors road crash victims, survivors, and their families.
A national working committee led by the DOTr Secretary will also be formed to oversee such commemorative activities.
The committee members are the Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Youth Commission, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine National Police, Philippine Blood Center, League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Liga ng mga Barangay, League of Governors and Vice Governors of the Philippines, League of Mayors and Vice Mayors of the Philippines, Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines, Philippine Councilors League of the Philippines, Union of Local Authority of the Philippines, MMDA, and Philippine Red Cross.
The law, signed by the President last Jan. 23, will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper. (Genalyn Kabiling)