Rising road crash deaths among children are alarming

The Health Secretary of the Philippines, Teodoro Herbosa, addressed the growing problem of road accidents that involve children. This issue was highlighted during the 2025 Philippine Road Safety Summit held in Manila. Herbosa shared that there has been a notable increase in road tragedies affecting kids. He described this rise in incidents as deeply concerning. According to him, road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29. Herbosa mentioned that organizations like UNICEF are alarmed by the harm faced by young victims, some as young as five years old. Many suffer serious injuries and some lose their lives due to these accidents. He emphasized that this situation is not just a health crisis, but a serious human rights issue. Statistics shared by Herbosa reveal a 25.6% increase in road crashes each year, with a significant number of those affected being young boys. Most accidents occur at night, and a large portion are linked to drunk driving. Herbosa urged the public to pay attention to this alarming trend and take action to protect children on the roads.