Guimaras launches project to curb traffic injuries
The provincial government of Guimaras recently launched a project aimed at curbing the incidence of traffic injuries.
Dubbed as the Road Traffic Injury Prevention Project, it is expected to identify the various causes of traffic injuries in Guimaras, as well as create road policy and regulations.
The project is funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government unit of Guimaras.
For the project, WHO is allotting a fund of around $20,000 which will last for two months.
Dr. John Juliard Go, national professional officer of the WHO, said that they have found out that Guimaras has increasing rate of road and traffic injuries for the past years. He said that this has become very alarming considering that there is no heavy traffic in the island.
Go also said that of the more than 1,400 road and traffic incidents in Guimaras last year, around 846 were caused by public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and motorcycles.
Likewise, two out of five drivers involved in road accidents were driving under the influence of alcohol.
Earlier, the WHO turned over eight alcohol breath analyzers to the province of Guimaras. The analyzers are used to check the blood alcohol level of drivers who are involved in road accidents and injuries.
Guimaras is the first province in the region to have implemented the technology with the support of the WHO.
Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said that he is keen on lowering the incidents of drunk driving and road injury in the province. A doctor himself, Nava stressed that this is part of the healthy lifestyle program of the provincial government.*PNA
