The Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas is launching a road safety awareness campaign following a series of fatal accidents that have claimed multiple lives across the region.
Regional Director Joshua Brillantes led a road safety forum in Bohol on Monday, emphasizing safe driving practices including helmet use and prohibiting cellphone use while driving.
The campaign also warns against driving under the influence of alcohol.
The campaign comes as road accidents have become the leading cause of death among Filipinos aged 5 to 29.
Philippine Statistics Authority data shows people aged 20 to 24 are most frequently involved in road accidents based on 2010-2023 statistics.
Nationwide, at least 36 people die daily in road accidents, with 37,674 incidents recorded in 2024, according to government data.
RECENT ACCIDENTS
Panglao
Two men died Monday in a head-on collision in Barangay Tangnan, Panglao. Daniel Estoquia, 58, of Barangay Poblacion, was riding a motorcycle when it collided with a sedan driven by Ramon Cimafranca, 30, of Barangay Tangnan.
Police said both men were traveling from Tagbilaran City when the sedan suddenly struck the motorcycle.
The car then hit a coconut tree. Cimafranca, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene.
Estoquia was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
Dimiao
Master Sgt. Rodolfo Soriano of Barangay Pagsa, Dimiao, and two female minors were injured May 17 when their multicab collided with a pickup truck in Barangay Tangohay.
Police said a tire blowout caused Soriano to lose control of the vehicle while traveling from Valencia.
The multicab was sideswiped by an oncoming pickup truck before crashing into a school building.
Ubay
An underage motorcyclist died May 18, 2025 after colliding with a tricycle at the intersection of the national road and provincial road in barangays Casate and Achila, Ubay.
The minor was thrown from his motorcycle and died on arrival at a hospital.
Tricycle driver Teofilo Torrecampo, 38, of Barangay Casate, was hospitalized with injuries.
Sagbayan
Five family members were hospitalized Monday after their tricycle overturned in Barangay Canmano, Sagbayan.
Driver John Wendel Dano, 18, told police he lost control of the vehicle due to fatigue while returning home from Maribojoc beach with his father Romulo, Pacita, and two minor relatives.
Guindulman
Eight passengers survived Wednesday when their multicab nearly plunged off a cliff in Cantungwan Sur, Guindulman. Driver Rufino Autentico Jr., his wife Analyn, both of La Victoria, Trinidad, and a male minor were hospitalized.
The vehicle rolled backward and overturned after failing to climb an elevated section of road.
The health department said many accident victims are young people, including minors who drive vehicles despite being legally underage.