Traffic accidents lead child injury death in the country today

Olongapo City --- Children are 10 times more likely to die from injuries in 2010 than in 1960. And the biggest contributor to this ever increasing risk is road traffic injuries.

This was disclosed yesterday by Dr. Rafael Consunji, president of Safe Kids Philippines, during the 6th National Safe Kids Week celebration held at the Olongapo City Triangle yesterday.

According to Cansunji, an 2004 Asian Development Bank (ADB) study estimated that more than 100,000 Filipino children, under 15, are injured in our roads annually.

‘School kids comprise 20% of all road fatalities and 25% of all seriously injured road victims. Clearly, child pedestrian safety
should be a public health priority,’ he told teachers of the Olongapo City Elementary School (OCES) during the launch of their “Walk This Way” program at the Olongapo City Rizal Triangle.

The program, according to Dan Ramos SKP program officer, focuses on teaching schoolchildren about road safety and smart pedestrian behavior to keep them safe as they walk to and from school.

Highlighting the event was a miniature road circuit simulating actual road conditions complete with traffic signs, pedestrian lanes and a sidewalk.

Consunji said that child injuries are an unrecognized public health problem that will continue to grow ‘if we do not address them properly and commensurately.’

He cited a summary of their recent pedestrian safety assessments of 2624 respondents from some 46 schools in Pasay, Olongapo and Parañaque on signages, driver behavior, enforcement and environment.

--- Signages: Of the 46 schools, 37% of school zones have no traffic

signs at all. Only 7% had school zone signs; only 9% had speed limit

signs; 10% had humps; 18% has slow down warnings and only 11% has stop

signs.

--- Driver behavior: 56% did not stop at all for pedestrians while 48%

drove above the speed limit imposed in schools zone.

--- Enforcement: More 26% of traffic lights in the schools areas were

not working while speed limits were not visible in some 66% of the

schools. In areas where there are traffic lights, 36% of the drivers

tried to beat the red light.

--- Environment: Most schools (60%) had trash and dirt, 50% were

unsafe and around 40% had inadequate lightings.

Maribeth Espinosa, a FedEx volunteer, noted that over 22 million children are expected to be walking to and from school each day and that accidents are preventable.

‘This is why we at FedEx would like to underscore the importance of children’s safety on the road by way of this road safety exhibit where kids can play and at the same time learn,’ Espinosa told officials of the Department of Education.

The Walk This Way program is being implemented in 5 cities and 89 elementary schools and has so far reached 620,000 families.

The program is funded by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., a US-based courier company and is administered by Safe Kids Philippines (SKP). (30)

It took a while, but I think I am where I love to be.

I remember watching a news report about Vietnam. The American GIs were combing a fairly large tract of land and they came up to an empty hut. A CBS (i think) reporter was with them, trying to get every shot in.

A GI approached the hut and lit it up with I what I thought was a silver cigarette lighter. I tried to get a copy of the news report since college. I wanted to feel and understand what I felt then. I finally saw a copy, abbreviated as it is but as moving as I first saw it when I was a child.




I remember telling my dad, I want to be a journalist. He just glanced at me and said, 'whatever you want, son.'
But I did not tell him that I also saw the child crying in his mother's arm. I wondered how will he  grow up in such a violent environment.

I told myself, 'I want to be that reporter...' minus the war that he is covering.

But I also wanted that child to get the right education so that he can stop that war.

So, I did. I am now a journalists (without the war), educator (college and preschool!) and a civil servant (economic development) not military.

It took a while, but I did the minimum requirements. Now, what I do with them is the important stuff. I promised to watch the video above as an anchor for my actions.

There's always a beginning...

Last Saturday, close to a hundred Wizards (including faculty members) joined the opening parade of the local colleges association's sportsfest, err, basketball tournament.

It was great to see some cooperation among the colleges in Olongapo City. A new beginning perhaps for the OZAPPTI?


THE WIZARDS ARE BACK
It was also another beginning for the Comteq Wizard basketball team who donned their fighting jersey last Saturday.

I am sure that our players were very proud and gave it all. Some students even came up with a cheer for our team, and likewise invented polite jeers against the players of Subic Bay College.

I wish i brought along a camera to capture the mix of emotions --- from excitement, fighting pride, and humility. Ask those who witnessed the game and they will tell you how proud they were seeing their classmates play ball. Judging by everyone's reaction, you'd think we won.

So now Ma'am Eva and Sir August will come up with cheers and a squad to prep up every game.

Rose Anne also deserves much recognition. She represented the College well. Her grace, her smile, and her demeanor aptly represented the character of our institution.

The next game is on Friday, 9:30am (February 29, 2008). Take pride and support the Wizards. Our team is definitely back!

BEGINNING OF MORE CHANGES
As you noted, we also started some changes inside the campus. Notable among them are the policies, which I'd rather YOU read in our bulletin boards. There will be more, and all of them will be geared to benefit every student.

During our last faculty meeting, we've discussed a host of initiatives for a better learning environment for you. Among them are regular Internet readings, more student presentations, some out of classroom activities, and more experts visiting the College.

I trust that some, if not all of you, have worked on one or more of the abovementioned activities.

I am sure that many of you feel that there are more changes needed. You may send your suggestions via email to jbayarong.gmail.com