In an effort to strengthen and advance its road safety initiatives, Quezon City announced a new project, in collaboration with public interest law group ImagineLaw.
The initiative is part of Quezon City’s commitment with the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a prestigious global network of 74 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer – and injuries.
During the kick-off meeting, officials from the Quezon City Government joined representatives from ImagineLaw and global health organization Vital Strategies to align on shared goals and strategies.
In 2020, the Quezon City Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD) recorded a total of 1,841 vehicular crashes in the city, resulting in 12 fatalities and 638 injuries. Additionally, 57 pedestrians were involved in road crashes , affecting their mobility and livelihood.
With the increasing number of road users and vehicles in the city, the need for effective road safety policies and enforcement has become even more critical in ensuring zero deaths on the roads.
“This partnership is very important to us in addressing the challenge of road crashes and injuries in the city and in making our roads safer for all road users, especially pedestrians, cyclists, and vulnerable groups,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
The parties committed to work together to ensure the implementation of the city’s existing road safety ordinance through road crash data management, safer road design, stricter enforcement of speed limits and other road safety laws, as well as post-crash response.
“We are excited to be working again with Quezon City towards the full implementation of the Quezon City Road Safety Code,” said Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw.
NCDs and injuries are responsible for more than 80% of all deaths globally. With the majority of the world’s population now living in urban settings, cities and their leaders are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against NCDs and injuries and reduce preventable deaths by implementing policies that are proven to prevent exposure to risk factors.
“By 2050, it’s estimated that around two of every three people will call urban areas home. We commend Quezon City and the commitment of today’s local leaders to advancing initiatives that help lay the foundation for healthier, safer communities,” said Farhad Ali, Deputy Regional Director for the Partnership for Healthy Cities at Vital Strategies.
Quezon City joined the Partnership for Healthy Cities in 2017. Previous achievements include the development and adoption of the city’s new calorie-labeling ordinance in 2024—a first for a Southeast Asian city. The measure was also supported by ImagineLaw.
###
About the Partnership for Healthy Cities
The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a prestigious global network of 74 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with WHO and the global health organization Vital Strategies, the initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities. For more information, visit https://cities4health.org.
