CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — With an average of 40 vehicular accidents reported daily in the city, the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) mobilizes the the Violence and Injury Prevention Alliance (VIPA) to reduce road mishaps through school and community campaigns.
DOH-CHDNM Health Program Officer Ma. Rachel D. Escatron said the VIPA also strengthened collaboration with Cagayan de Oro City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit (COCPO-TEU) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to educate motorists and passengers on road safety.
“During sa conduct sa among checkpoints, ilabi na anang time sa summer vacation, sa December o sa mga long weekend, nagahatag mi og some sort of leaflets as a friendly reminder sa atong motorista,” COCPO-TEU Chief PEMS Jerome G. Diolanto said.
(During checkpoints we conduct in vacation seasons or over long weekends, we provide motorists with leaflets that serve as a friendly reminder.)
He also highlighted the importance of compliance among motorists, stating that the government consistently provides reminders and guidance.
“Wala man nagkulang ang gobyerno sa reminders, it is already on the motorists [to comply] with such instruction. Pero we don’t stop doing our part to educate,” he added.
(The government has not fallen short on reminding our motorists to comply with such instruction. However, we don’t stop doing our part to educate.)
The VIPA has also proposed a firmer implementation of local ordinances, particularly on the enforcement of curfew hours, as a measure to reduce accidents during idle periods on the road.
In aid of the said advocacy, Rescue Line Riders’ Club, Inc. presented five new information and education campaign (IEC) posters, which it plans to install around the city in line with the upcoming annual celebration of the Road Safety Awareness Month in May.
The VIPA has identified the City Health Office-Health Education Promotion Unit to assist in the material’s pre-testing prior to its city-wide installation during the month-long observance.
Dr. Tristan Jediah Labitad, head of the DOH-CHDNM Non-Communicable Disease Cluster, underscored the alliance’s importance relative to the shared goal of reducing the number of victims in road crashes, concurrent with the 8 Priority Health Outcomes of the DOH under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Usa sa atong tumong sa atong 8 Priority Health Outcomes is really to lessen the number of victims of road crashes. So usa kini sa mga avenue for us to craft, develop, and improve our system, our policies, ug unsaon nato pag-achieve sa atong dapat buhaton for Cagayan de Oro and the entire Region 10,” Labitad said.
(One of our goals under the 8 Priority Health Outcomes is really to lessen the number of victims of road crashes. So this is an avenue for us to craft, develop, and improve our system, our policies, on how we will be able to achieve what needs to be done for Cagayan de Oro and the entire Region 10)
A total of 17 member government agencies, offices, and partner organizations comprising the VIPA in Northern Mindanao convened, February 13, to revisit its efforts to increase the safety of pedestrians and motorists in the region. (GDA/PIA-10)
