UP National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) hosted the Second Road Safety Convergence Summit last April 12, 2024.
The event served as a critical platform for stakeholders to tackle pressing issues in road safety. During his opening address, UP-Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan set the tone for the summit by stressing the need for collaboration among national agencies and other road safety stakeholders to advance road safety initiatives in the country. He also emphasized the summit’s objectives of fostering cooperation and promoting effective data-sharing practices among stakeholders to mitigate road safety risks.
Following Chancellor Vistan’s address, UP-NCTS Director Dr. Jun T. Castro provided an overview of the summit’s agenda and objectives. Dr. Castro highlighted the significance of the summit as a forum for exchanging ideas and best practices in road safety management. His remarks set the stage for productive discussions aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by road safety issues in the Philippines.
A notable highlight of the summit was the presentation of the Philippine Road Safety Initiatives (PROSAFETI) Program by Dr. Adrian Roy L. Valdez of UP-NCTS. The program involved core universities such as UP-Diliman, DLSU, and TIP. It showcased five innovative projects tailored to address various aspects of road safety:
- Collection, Recording, and Analysis of Traffic Incidence Data (CREATE),
- Motor Vehicle Inspection System with loaded emissions testing and smart capabilities (MVIsion),
- PUVs Patterns and Attitudes on the Streets using Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (PASADA),
- Road Infrastructure Design Evaluation and Reporting System (RIDERS), and
- V2X Initiatives for Road Safety (VIROS).
Practical demonstrations for each project followed, providing attendees a chance to interact with the project team and form tangible insights into proposed software and hardware solutions. Possible usage for each project were also identified by the participants and will hopefully lead to partnerships for technology piloting adoption.
Following the software and hardware demonstrations, a focused roundtable discussion ensued, and was moderated by Dr. Adrian Roy L. Valdez and Dr. Hilario Sean O. Palmiano of UP-NCTS. The discussion has explored important topics including the role of UP-NCTS in the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023-2028 framework and the need for standardized protocols for data-sharing. Additionally, considerations were made regarding the potential structure and mechanisms for inter-agency collaboration to streamline road safety endeavors among stakeholders. The summit concluded with the ceremonial signing and endorsement of road safety commitments by UP-NCTS, DOTr, DPWH, DOST-PCIEERD, LTFRB, LTO, MMDA, DICT, and PNP-HPG. The signed documents were a symbol of a unified commitment to fortify road safety measures and enhance the safety landscape in the Philippines.
