Quezon City rolls out school zone, road safety measures

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City has launched three road safety measures aimed at reducing crashes and protecting students near schools.

Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday, June 29, led the launch of the implementing rules and regulations of the city's Comprehensive Road Safety Code, the Safe School Zone Ordinance and an executive order creating the Quezon City Road Safety Working Group.

The move puts the Comprehensive Road Safety Code into full effect. Quezon City enacted the code in 2018, making it the first local measure in the Philippines to adopt the Safe System Approach, a framework that promotes safer road design and transport systems to prevent serious injuries and deaths.

With the rules now in effect, Belmonte said the ordinance can move into full implementation through interagency coordination and sustained enforcement.

"We will continue working to ensure that everyone is safe on Quezon City roads," Belmonte said, as quoted in a Philippine News Agency report.

She said the city has trained assessors who will conduct school road safety audits and identify possible engineering interventions.

The World Health Organization has identified road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29 worldwide, while also describing them as preventable.

School zones

The Safe School Zone Ordinance requires lower speed limits, improved pedestrian infrastructure and better traffic management around schools.

City Councilor Julienne Alyson Rae Medalla said the ordinance is meant to protect students from road and traffic injuries within and around school premises.

"The Safe School Zone Ordinance aims to strengthen measures that will ensure the welfare and protection of students within and around school premises, including protection from road and traffic injuries," Medalla said.

Road safety body

The third measure creates the Quezon City Road Safety Working Group, which will oversee the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the city's Road Safety Action Plan, communications strategies and related programs.

The city cited data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showing that Quezon City has recorded the highest number of road crashes among local governments in Metro Manila.

Traffic and Transport Management Department head Dexter Cardenas presented the development of the Road Safety Code's implementing rules and the functions of the new working group during the launch.

The measures are part of the city's collaboration with the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of more than 70 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries.

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Disclosure: Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte is a shareholder of Philstar Global Corp., which operates Philstar.com. This article was produced independently in adherence to our editorial and ethical guidelines.