Passage of Pedestrian Safety Act sought

In a move to prevent more deaths due to road accidents, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar has sought for the immediate enactment into law of House Bill 972, also known as the Pedestrian Safety Act.

The bill, Villar said, aims to address the traffic condition of urban centers, congestion along sidewalks and to ensure safe and convenient public access for all pedestrians, especially persons with disability. The measure also declares all sidewalk and public road obstructions as "nuisances," subject to summary abatement of local governments even without the court’s permission in order to guarantee safe and convenient pedestrian passage.

The solon expressed concern over reports that about 800 people die in Metro Manila each year due to road accidents. The Metro Manila Recording Analysis System has already recorded 250 deaths due to road mishaps from July to October 2003 alone. Most of the victims were sideswiped by vehicles due to sidewalk congestion.

Most of the death occurred in the Monumento-Balintawak area of EDSA; the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue near Fairview; Makati Avenue; J.P. Rizal street in Makati; and the intersection of McKinley Road and EDSA.

Villar urged the MMDA to step up its campaign against road and sidewalk obstructions as there are still threats to human lives along Metro Manila’s public roads.

"Marami pa ring hukay ang nakatiwangwang sa daan at kadalasan walang warning signs ang mga ginagawang road at construction repairs," Villar added.

If enacted into law, the following acts of omissions are punishable especially if resulting to pedestrian hazard: failure to post warning signs indicating ongoing construction or repair work along a public road or sidewalk; failure to obtain permits from the local government unit required in undertaking any activity requiring the use of a public road or sidewalk; failure to cover any hole along a public road or sidewalk; failure to put up adequate roofing above sidewalks and public roads adjacent to any construction or repair site; and destroying lamp posts illuminating a public road or sidewalk.

"Hopefully, our roads will be left to the free flow of vehicles as they were intended, pedestrian can use our sidewalks without fear of falling into holes or being sideswiped as they try to avoid obstructions," she said.