Number of road incidents in province drop

CEBU, Philippines — Road incidents in Cebu province dropped to 2,728 cases from January to May 27, 2026, compared to 3,570 cases for the same period in 2025 to mark a reduction of 842 incidents or 23.59%.

The data was presented by Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Rovic Villarin, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), during the “Hisgutan Ta” media forum last Thursday, May 28, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Police attributed to intensified checkpoint operations, increased police visibility, and sustained public awareness campaigns on road safety and crime prevention.

Most incidents recorded this year involved damage to property, accounting for 1,671 cases or around 61% of total incidents. Physical injury cases reached 970, while reckless imprudence resulting in homicide increased from 69 cases in 2025 to 87 in 2026, equivalent to a 26.09% rise.

Despite the increase in fatal cases, Villarin assured the public that Cebu roads have become generally safer due to stricter law enforcement and proactive police operations.

“What we did is we intensified our checkpoints,” said Villarin.

He explained that checkpoints help regulate vehicle speed and discourage reckless driving behavior among motorists.

“Akong gi-analyze og naay checkpoints, mohunong ang mga sakyanan ug mo back to zero ang acceleration,” he added.

Villarin identified drunk driving and overspeeding as among the major contributing factors to road crashes in the province.

Motorcycles continued to account for a significant portion of road incidents in Cebu. Records showed that motorcycle-related incidents decreased from 1,193 cases in 2025 to 1,081 in 2026.

Out of the 2,688 total public safety incidents recorded this year, 467 involved motorcycles, representing 17.37% of total cases. In 2025, motorcycle-related incidents accounted for 556 cases or 15.73% of the total 3,535 incidents recorded.

Villarin also cited the reopening of classes as one of the challenges contributing to road congestion and motorcycle use, as many students rely on motorcycles for transportation.

“Usahay mapugos nalang ang parent pagpadagan sa ilang motor kay walay masakyan ilang anak, mahal pud ang pamplite,” he said.

Because of this, the CPPO welcomed initiatives from local government units providing free rides to commuters and students, saying with this initiatives there’s collaboration between police and LGUs could further help reduce road incidents.

“If the LGU can help us, they are very welcome,” Villarin said.

Police also continue to strictly implement traffic laws and local ordinances, including the No Plate, No Travel policy and the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

Apart from enforcement operations, Villarin said police officers regularly remind motorists to observe discipline and road courtesy.

“Matambagan pud nato sila nga magbantay ug mag-amping sa pagbiyahe, because their families are waiting at home,” he said.

The average monthly crime rate under the Public Safety Indicator dropped from 14.07 in 2025 to 10.7 in 2026, reflecting a negative variance of 3.37 or a 23.95% decrease.

Villarin said all police stations in Cebu province were directed to reduce road incidents by at least 15% this year following the spike recorded in 2025.

According to CPPO records, Cebu province has more than 502,000 registered vehicles, including 328,947 two-wheeled vehicles, 27,611 three-wheelers, 130,218 four-wheel vehicles, 39 five-wheelers, and a total of 15796 six-wheelers and above.

Globally, the World Health Organization reported that road traffic crashes claim around 1.19 million lives every year, while millions more suffer injuries.

Road traffic injuries remain among the leading causes of death for children and young adults worldwide.

Villarin urged motorists to prioritize safety and avoid reckless driving to prevent accidents and save lives.

“Maghinay g’yud sa padagan,” said Villarin. — Sofhia Grace Neri, CNU intern/BRP (CEBU NEWS)