By Nimfa L. Estrellado Councilor Rachel A. Eleazar becomes emotional as the Sangguniang Bayan adopts a resolution honoring road crash victim...
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| Councilor Rachel A. Eleazar becomes emotional as the Sangguniang Bayan adopts a resolution honoring road crash victims. (Tagkawayan PIO) |
TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon - Calls to strengthen public remembrance for road crash victims rose in Tagkawayan after a deadly collision shook the community. Acting on the heightened public concern, the Sangguniang Bayan approved a resolution declaring the third Sunday of November a national day of remembrance.
During the recent regular session, Councilor Rachel A. Eleazar, wife of Mayor Carlo Eleazar, introduced and moved for the adoption of the resolution, in accordance with Republic Act 11468. The move reinforces Tagkawayan’s commitment to promoting road safety and honoring those affected by road-related tragedies.
Councilor Eleazar said these recurring issues highlight the need for a stronger, community-wide approach to preventing road crashes and supporting victims and their families. Growing concerns over road conditions, driver discipline, and the enforcement of traffic rules have added urgency to this call.
“Road safety is not just a policy matter—it is a shared duty we owe to every family in our community, institutionalizing this annual observance, we create space to remember, to reflect, and to push for safer roads.” “Our goal is to ensure that no more families endure such preventable loss.”
Reflecting on the incident, she said the tragedy left a deep impact on the community and demanded a moment of honesty about the risks people face on the road. The emotional moment moved Councilor Eleazar to tears, prompting a brief recess during the session as she offered prayers for the victims and their families.
“The loss weighs heavily on all of us, and we stand with the families who are grieving,” she said. “Every life taken on the road is a reminder that our work toward safer communities must continue.”
Councilor Eleazar explained that she had filed the measure a week before the tragic road crash along Carino Highway in Barangay San Vicente, where four residents lost their lives after a tricycle was struck and dragged by a delivery truck. A police report confirmed that overspeeding and poor visibility were among the initial factors being examined in the investigation.
The resolution also responds to the recommendation of the Municipal Peace and Order Council to adopt Executive Order 71, the national directive issued in 2018 by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The order institutionalizes the annual observance and urges local governments to actively participate in road-safety awareness efforts.
Before delivering his official statement, Mayor Carlo Eleazar said the community must unite in grief while pushing for vigilance and safer road practices. He emphasized that accountability is essential in incidents of this magnitude, and that the families deserve clarity on what truly happened.
“At ang buong pamahalaang bayan ay taus-pusong nagpapaabot ng pakikiramay sa mga pamilyang naulila ng trahedyang naganap kahapon, kung saan isang tricycle ang nabangga at kinagkad ng isang delivery truck at apat nating kababayan ang kumpirmadong nasawi ayon sa mga paunang ulat,” Mayor Eleazar said.
The mayor said the local government is coordinating closely with authorities as the investigation moves forward. He stressed that transparency and timely updates are vital to maintaining public trust during difficult moments like this.
“Ating inihahabilin sa kapulisan ang maayos at mabilis na pag-usad ng imbestigasyon; nasa kustodiya na ang driver ng truck at umaasa tayo sa patas at makatarungang proseso para sa lahat, bawat pagbiyahe ay buhay na nakataya, kaya’t nananawagan po tayo sa lahat na maging mas maingat at mas disiplinado sa kalsada.”
The resolution encourages municipal offices, barangays, schools, transport groups, and community sectors to take part in awareness drives, safety campaigns, and strengthened response services to help prevent similar tragedies. Members of the council also expressed condolences to the families of the victims, noting that the observance under RA 11468 serves both as a tribute and a call to action for safer roads.
National data highlight the urgency of such initiatives, with more than 11,000 Filipinos dying each year from road crashes and recent reports showing a continued rise in vehicular fatalities nationwide. These numbers reinforce the importance of adopting local measures aligned with national efforts to reduce road-related deaths and injuries.
In Tagkawayan, the resolution reflects the town’s commitment not only to remembering victims but also to strengthening programs that protect every commuter, driver, and pedestrian on its roads. The town hopes the annual observance will deepen public awareness and sustain long-term efforts toward safer mobility.
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