Bent, faded, and rusted road signages can be seen everywhere here in the country. Most of them are also hidden, stubby, and totally unreadable. Thankfully, we might see better road signage soon as Senate Bill No. 229, otherwise known as the Public Safety Signages Accountability Bill, has been filed in the Senate.
According to Senator Grace Poe, the proponent of the bill, government offices would be mandated to provide timely and correct information on traffic instructions, road hazards, and other warning signages to the public to help reduce car accidents and other hazards. In short, government agencies would be required to set up road and public safety signages that follow international standards.
According to the data gathered by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), 186,803 road crashes occurred in 2019 and 2020. Out of this, 709 of the crashes were fatal. In whatever way, we should make efforts to lessen the number of accidents on the roads. This is where the bill comes in. Through this bill, better road signage will be installed which should help protect and save many lives on the road.
The bill wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take charge of public safety signs on national roads; the MMDA will handle national roads in Metro Manila, and local government units will take charge of the local roads. Moreover, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau will be tasked to update the geo-hazard map and identify areas prone to floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. They are also to coordinate with the DPWH and MMDA on setting up the necessary signs.
Officials who will not comply could face suspension for one month and a day up to three months for the first offense, up to six months for the second offense, up to one year and a day for the third offense, and dismissal from service for the fourth offense.
