Marilyn Cahatol

A speeding bus leaves a crash pile along Commonwealth Ave in Quezon City on October 20, 2017, leaving 1 dead and 17 injured. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Crash leaves 1 dead, 17 injured in Comonwealth Ave.

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Aside from the usual fireworks-related injuries during the holiday season, the Department of Health expressed its concern over the rise in road crash injuries, particularly during their monitoring period of December 21 to January 5.</p><p>Speaking to officials of the Philippine General Hospital on Monday, Herbosa said they have seen a 100 percent rise in surveillance of road crash injuries or a total of 1,384 cases.</p><p>This is compared to the 690 cases recorded in the same period of 2024-2025.</p><p>Forty-seven percent of the injuries involved those in the 15-29 age group.</p><p>“Mostly 15 to 29 years old na mga lalaki. A lot of them on two wheels or motorcycles,” he said.</p><p>Most of those who died from road crash injuries on motorcycles were not wearing helmets. Some were also driving under the influence of alcohol.</p><p>“We need to do more on public health safety. Sa mga aksidente on four wheels, ang mga namatay, hindi nag-seat belt,” Herbosa said.</p><p>The health chief acknowledged that road crashes are also a public health issue that must be addressed.</p><p>“Road safety is not only an issue of DOTr and DPWH. Sa emergency room and punta nila. Kung malas sa punerarya. Prevention is better than the trauma system we have,” Herbosa said.</p><p>For the first time, road safety was made part of the health department’s campaign for a safer Christmas and New Year celebrations. This was coupled with the agency’s monitoring of non-communicable diseases (NCD) particularly strokes, heart attacks and bronchial asthma.  </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/3/doh-fireworks-injury-cases-climb-to-655-1556">DOH: Fireworks injury cases climb to 655</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NCDS ON THE RISE</strong> </div><p>The inclusion of NCDs in the DOH’s campaign for safer holidays comes following observations of a rise in incidence.</p><p>At the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, for example, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke all saw a gradual rise from 2021 to 2023. For the latest surveillance year, all three diseases recorded more cases compared to the previous year.</p><p>The main factor influencing NCDs is lifestyle, according to the DOH.</p><p>“Kelangan mag bago yung lifestyle natin. Hypertension at diabetes ang dapat nating ayusin. Hindi lang during Christmas time but during the whole year. Mukhang dapat ligtas dapat tayo the whole year hindi lang Christmas time,” the health chief said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/12/12/doh-calls-on-public-to-make-healthier-choices-in-food-travel-this-holiday-season-1736">DOH calls on public to make healthier choices in food, travel this holiday season</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ge7x-QD0qm4?si=Q3xRF1HIu1LV613N" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Aside from the usual fireworks-related injuries during the holiday season, the Department of Health expressed its concern over the rise in road crash injuries particularly during their monitoring period of December 21 to January 5.</p>

Aside from the usual fireworks-related injuries during the holiday season, the Department of Health expressed its concern over the rise in road crash injuries particularly during their monitoring period of December 21 to January 5.

DOH sees rise in road crashes, calls it a public health issue

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DOH sees rise in road crashes, calls it a public health issue

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 05, 2026 04:53 PM PHT

Read More:

New Year

fireworks related injury

Department of Health

Road crash injuries

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