The ATO road safety profiles offer insights into the road safety in 28 Asia-Pacific countries by utilizing road safety related data from various sources and policy information extracted from a range of documents.

The profiles were created by the Asian Transport Observatory —in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO), and the International Road Federation (IRF)— as an input to global discussions on road safety, in time for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco.

Road safety in the Philippines presents a complex challenge. While the country has made some progress, significant work remains to achieve safe roads for all. In 2021, an estimated 11,000 fatalities resulted from road crashes, accounting for 1.4% of all deaths in the Philippines.

A notable discrepancy exists in reported road crash data. The Global Burden of Disease report 13 thousand deaths in 2021, different from WHO estimate of 11 thousand for the same year. The inconsistency highlights the need for improved data collection and reporting mechanisms to assess the road safety situation accurately.

Analyzing disaggregated data provides valuable insights. Between 2010 and 2021, the share of female fatalities decreased slightly, while the combined share of fatalities among minors (<14 years old) and seniors (>65 years old) remained relatively stable. Alarmingly, pedestrians and bicyclists constitute a small fraction (4%) of total road traffic fatalities in the Philippines, far below the Asia-Pacific average of 31%, potentially pointing to underreporting and/or a unique context.

Road crashes impose a significant economic burden on the Philippines. Fatalities and serious injuries cost an estimated 11 billion USD in 2021, equivalent to roughly 3% of the country's GDP in addition to healthcare expenditure of 5.9% of GDP in the same year, highlighting the substantial strain on resources.

Road crashes also represent a significant portion (58%) of the implicit costs associated with fossil fuel subsidies in transport. As suggested by IRAP, investing in road safety with an estimated annual investment of 450 million USD (0.1% of GDP) could potentially prevent thousands of fatalities annually.

Infrastructure plays a crucial role in road safety. IRAP ratings reveal that only a small percentage of roads in the Philippines have 3 stars or better ratings for pedestrians (5%) and bicyclists (14%), lagging behind the Asia-Pacific averages. The situation is slightly better for vehicle occupants (at least 21%), but concerningly low for motorcyclists (14%), who comprise a substantial portion of road users. The Philippines also has a high rate of 36 fatalities per thousand kilometers of road.

The Philippines has seen a rise in motorization, with nearly 120 vehicles per thousand population by 2022. Two-wheelers comprise 50% of this vehicle fleet, followed by three-wheelers (11%) and light-duty vehicles (16%). This rapid motorization, particularly the prevalence of vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, necessitates focused interventions to effectively manage road safety.

Road traffic crash fatality rate in the Philippines amounts to 9.7 per 100,000 population. While this is lower than the Asia-Pacific average of 15.2 and the Southeast Asia average of 14.4, it still represents a substantial loss of life. Compared to regional peers, the Philippines' progress (-4.7% annual decrease in deaths) lags behind the Asia-Pacific region and Southeast Asia, which experienced more significant reductions.

The Philippines experienced high fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles (85).

• Urgent action needed to reduce road fatalities The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 aims to cut road fatalities in half by 2030. An annual reduction of at least 7.4% is necessary to achieve this.
• Asia-Pacific region falling behind Despite reaching a peak in road crash fatalities, the Asia-Pacific region is not on track to meet the 2030 goal. The average annual reduction in deaths between 2016 and 2021 was only 0.6%, far below the required rate.
• Varying progress across Asia Using the 2016-2021 road crash fatality growth rate as a basis for estimates until 2030:
  • Only 3 Asian countries are projected to achieve the 50% reduction target by 2030.
  • 18 Asian countries are expected to reduce fatalities by at least 25%.
  • Worryingly, 7 Asian countries will continue to increase road fatalities, moving further away from the target.
• In Philippines, road crash fatalities decreased by approximately -4.7% per year between 2016 and 2021. However, this is not enough to reach the 2030 target to halve the fatalities by 2030

The Philippines has established a comprehensive road safety policy framework, aligning with the UN's Decade of Action for Road Safety. Ambitious targets have been set, including a 80% reduction in road traffic deaths by 2028. The Philippines' road safety efforts include targets that indirectly improve safety by promoting general active mobility, encouraging modal shift, influencing transport activity, and improving travel times. The country's primary road safety strategy is the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2028, published in 2023. Other policy documents support these goals that indirectly contribute to road safety. These include the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028, the National Transport Policy and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and the National Logistics Master Plan 2017-2022.

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WHO. (2023). Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023. https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/safety-and-mobility/global-status-report-on-road-safety-2023

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