Prompted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to prevent deadly road crashes, the Department of Health (DOH) launched a campaign giving drivers free mental health support and road safety education.

President Marcos had ordered concerned government agencies to improve transportation safety while sympathizing with the families of 10 people who died in a bus collision in Tarlac and the two fatalities in a crash involving a sports utility vehicle at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on May 5.

“These incidents should never have happened. And now we will ensure they never happen again,” the President had said.

In a Malacañang press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DOH launched the campaign for safe road practices on June 14.

“Tinututukan ng ahensiya ang pagbibigay ng accessible health services sa mga driver para pababain ang casualty rate ng car crashes sa bansa,” Castro said.

The campaign also offers free check-ups, road safety simulations and seminars, she said.

“Inaanyayahan natin lahat ng driver na makiisa para sa mas ligtas na mga kalsada,” Castro said.

At the Road Safety Summit that launched the campaign, the DOH highlighted the impact of mental wellness on road safety.

Every year, about 12,000 Filipinos die in road crashes, or about 33 people per day, according to the DOH.

Following the President’s order, other government agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Labor and Employment also came up with different actions aimed at improving road safety. | PND