The Negros Occidental provincial government in partnership with Project Cares commemorated the World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Crash Victims and Survivors attended by representatives of multi-sector groups at the Provincial Capitol Park, Bacolod City, on Sunday, November 16.
The program started with a prayer and blessing of the Road Safety Marker, followed by a Holy Mass and lighting of candles at the memorial tree officiated by Fr. Raymam Asoy.
Solidarity messages were delivered by Provincial Health Office head Dr. Girlie Pinongan in behalf of the health sector, Kevin Gaitan, executive director of Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute, Inc., representing the youth, Nove Mejica of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Col. Victor Lapitan of 303rd Brigade, Philippine Army.
Other participants who also shared their solidarity messages were Maxima Madera of the Association of Negros Producers, PMaj. Wilfredo Benoman Jr. of Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, Cyrus Alcala of the Philippine Nurses Association and Joan Fedelina Briones of Negrense Deaf Federation.
The attendees expressed common views that road accidents are preventable and road safety measures must be taken seriously by all sectors to save more lives resonating with UN Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all, a press release from the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members Marxlene De La Cruz of the first district and Richard Sablan of the third district, who represented Vice Governor Joeben Alonso and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, assured the Negrenses of their full support the road safety advocacies and programs of the province and Project Cares in collaboration with multi-sectors.
Mae Cueva of Project Cares led the symbolic handover of the Global Plan for Road Safety affirming the province’s commitment to the UN Decade of Action for RS 2021-2030.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of the “Save Lives”, by the participants, with families of traffic victims holding candles, survivors embracing one another including the members of the Negrense Deaf Federation who also manifested their support to RS advocacy.
The program was organized by the PPDO and Project Cares, a UN RS accredited local based non-government organization.*