Global Road Safety Homework 1: Summary Report

Neil Andrew U. Menjares February 3, 2015

PHILIPPINES

Demographics

This year, the actual population of the Philippines has most probably already passed the

100-million mark. In the latest census year of 2010, population was counted at 92,260,800 with

an annual population growth rate of 1.90% (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). The population

for 2015 is projected to be at 102,965,300 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). In the

distribution between males and females, there are slightly more males with 101.8 males for every

100 females (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). The year 2015 is said to be a crucial year for

the country as it enters its Demographic Window, wherein an estimated 63% of the total

population is of working age (Salvosa, 2012). The median age in the Philippines is 22.2 years, as

reported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in an investment forum in March 2012 (Salvosa,

2012).

The Philippines is considered a middle income country (World Health Organization, 2013),

with a Gross National Income per Capita at US$2,060 (World Health Organization, 2013) and an

average family income of about US$5,313 as of 2012 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). The

2012 average family expenditure is US$4183, 7.8% of which is spent on transportation (Philippine

Statistics Authority, 2012).

Resources and Economy

The main industries that drive bulk of the economic activity in the country are

manufacturing, information technology (IT) & business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism and

agribusiness (Department of Trade and Industry, 2015). The Philippines has recently seen a

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resurgence in manufacturing, while IT and BPO continue to grow rapidly (Department of Trade

and Industry, 2015). Tourism is considered an important industry, taking advantage of the natural

assets of the country. The national government continues to attract investors into agribusiness.

Remittances from overseas workers also have a significant share in the economy, accounting for

10% of the country’s GDP (Department of Budget and Management, 2014).

The ou try’s gross do esti produ t as alued at U“$ 7 illio i (The World

Bank, 2015), with GDP growth for 2014 reported at 6.1% (National Economic Development

Authority, 2015). For 2015, the national government has allotted an amount equivalent to 4% of

GDP for infrastructure (Department of Budget and Management, 2015), of which Php175 billion

is for national roads and bridges (Department of Budget and Management, 2015). A number of

high-profile expressway projects are undertaken through Public-Private Partnerships.

Types of Transportation

There are more than 7.3 million registered vehicles in the Philippines (Philippine Statistics

Authority, 2012), with more than 4.1 million of it comprising of motorcycles and tricycles

(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). Jeepneys make up the second most number of vehicles,

counted at more than 1.7 million in 2012 and cars have the third most quantity at 852,225

(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012).

Train transportation can be found only in Luzon, having served 1.8 million passengers in

2009 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). Trains provide the rail connections between Metro

Manila and the surrounding provinces.

There are three transit lines that serve Metro Manila: Metro Rail Transit or MRT, Light Rail

Transit or LRT and the Megatrain or LRT-2. The MRT served a total of 174.5 million passengers in

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2012. In the same year, the LRT served 170.7 million passengers, while the Megatrain served 70.3

million passengers (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). The MRT and LRT each served around

14 million passengers in a month, while the Megatrain served around 5 million passengers in a

month (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012). In context, Metro Manila has a projected 2015

population of 12.2 million (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2012).

Road Fatalities and Injuries

In 2008, there were 7.7 road deaths per 100,000 population (World Health Organization,

2013). According to data compiled by the Traffic Management Group of the Philippine National

Police, the top 5 causes of road accidents in 2001 were determined to be: (1) failure to yield right

of way to other vehicle or pedestrian, (2) reckless overtaking, (3) improper turning, (4) following

too closely or tailgating and (5) exceeding lawful speed limit (Palmiano, 2006).

Quality and Availability of Data

Although there is proper recording of traffic deaths in the Philippines, the data is not

specific enough to determine which type of vehicle is involved in a traffic death. Also, more recent

data on causes of traffic accidents is not easily available online. Data also needed to be obtained

from different sources. It would be more convenient if all traffic-related data could be obtained

from one source. Most demographic data can be obtained from the Philippine Statistics

Authority, but other important data can also be obtained from the Traffic Management Group of

the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, like

the causes of road accidents. Other information, such as the cultural and social issues of

transportation in the Philippines, can also be obtained from academic institutions involved in

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traffic research, like the National Center for Transportation Studies of the University of the

Philippines.

Common Contributors to Road Safety Problems

According to a study by Mendoza (2006), 85% of road accidents in the Philippines was

caused by driver error or violations. The study determined that young drivers, male drivers, public

jeepney drivers and drivers with low educational attainment had a significantly higher intention

to commit violations. The study also determined that the social environment played a significant

role; intentions to commit violations were higher when other drivers were seen to commit

violations and when there were no traffic enforcers around. Mendoza (2006) summarized the

fi di gs of the study i the follo i g path of i flue e : If a driver has a college degree and

more driver training, the driver has more knowledge of rules. Thus, the driver has low risk and

weak intention to commit traffic violation. The opposite can be said for drivers without a college

degree and with limited driver training (Mendoza, 2006).

Status of Transportation Safety Policies, Roadway Infrastructure, Prevention Programs

Since 2006, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has initiated road

safety programs, such as the Land Transport Drivers and Operators Academy, monitoring

terminals, garages, transfer stations and other critical transport facilities and a comprehensive

preventive maintenance schedule for public utility buses, taxis and vans.

In 2008, then-president Gloria Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 774 calling for an

implementation of road sharing on national roads. According to the executive order, roads shall

be divided into half lengthwise, wherein the space shall be used for all-weather sidewalks, bicycle

lanes and edible gardens. However, its implementation is still elusive. In February 2014, the Share

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The Road Movement filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to compel the national

government to implement the said executive order (Brizuela, 2014).

Cultural Issues that relate to Transportation

In a study conducted by Mendoza (2006), Filipinos have the tendency to see certain traffic

rules as i for al guideli es to e follo ed or ot, depe di g o a dri er’s se se of o e ie e

and circumstance. Mendoza went on to say that many Filipinos drivers often see traffic violations

as trivial and usually beg the traffic enforcer when apprehended (Mendoza, 2006).

The Peculiar Jeepney

The jeepney, a modification of the American Jeep to accommodate more passengers, is a

form of public utility transportation peculiar to the Philippines. In the jeepney, the passengers

are usually seated in two long rows along the length of the jeepney, facing each other. Although

there is a national seatbelt law, seatbelts are used only at the front seats, and there are no

seatbelts in other passenger seats. The build of the jeepney is definitely as susceptible to crashes

and impact as any other 4-wheel vehicle. Thus, it would be interesting to study if jeepneys need

to be reconfigured to have seatbelts installed in all seats, and who will shoulder the cost of this

reconfiguration.

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Bibliography:

Brizuela, M. B. (2014, February 18). Give us back our roads. Retrieved from Philippine Daily Inquirer:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/578716/give-us-back-our-roads

Department of Budget and Management. (2014, August 6). Kaunlaran Para sa Lahat Budget Briefing.
Retrieved from Department of Budget and Management:
http://www.dbm.gov.ph/?page_id=10261

Department of Budget and Management. (2015). The 2015 National Budget. Retrieved from
Department of Budget and Management: http://www.dbm.gov.ph/?page_id=11350

Department of Trade and Industry. (2015). Industries and Opportunities. Retrieved from Invest
Philippines: http://investphilippines.gov.ph/industries/

Mendoza, A. C. (2006, August). Applications of Psychology to the Understanding and Modification of

National Economic Development Authority. (2015, January 29). Statement of Secretary Balisacan on the
Q4 2014 and Annual Performance of the PH Economy. Retrieved from National Economic
Development Authority: http://www.neda.gov.ph/?p=4767

Palmiano, H. S. (2006, August). Introduction to the 5th Road Safety Conference. Quezon City,
Philippines: University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies.

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2012). Philippine Yearbook 2012. Retrieved from Philippine Statistics
Authority: http://web0.psa.gov.ph/products-and-services/publications/philippine-yearbook

Salvosa, F. F. (2012, July 7). A de ographic wi dow of opportu ity. Retrieved from Business World
Research: http://research.bworldonline.com/popular-economics/story.php?id=19&

The World Bank. (2015). GDP (current US$). Retrieved from The World Bank:
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD

World Health Organization. (2013). Global Status Report on Road Safety. Geneva: WHO Press.

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