ONE person died, while 14 others were injured when a passenger jeepney fell into a 250-meter ravine in Mocgo, Sagubo, Kapangan, Benguet Monday evening, August 17.
Acting on a call from a concerned citizen, personnel of the Kapangan Municipal Police Station (MPS), Bureau Fire Protection (BFP) and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) in Kapangan responded to the incident and rescued the passengers, all residents of Gadang in Kapangan.
The passengers were referred to Benguet General Hospital. They were identified as Mario Polon, Lanie Lacwayan, Chai-an Langcao, Jhemimah Langaoan, and driver Carlito Manuel.
Sarsenia Sapigao died.
Six others, including a minor, were confined at the Kapangan District Hospital and were discharged on Wednesday, August 19. They were identified as Wennie Manuel, Estrella Wacline, Corazon Lacwayan, Josephine Dagdag, Jovie Langaoan, Dexter Buyao, Jonard Alejandro, Jonie Jade Assan were earlier discharged.
Police said the jeep was headed to Gadang, Kapangan but the accident happened while it was traversing the provincial road. It slipped and fell into the ravine.
To recall, the Benguet Provincial Police Office recorded a total of 9,383 road crashes from 2014 to August 2019, causing death to 133 and injuries to 2,935 people.
Last year, Benguet officials requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to implement engineering measures along road networks of the province, while law enforcers asked motorists and the public to observe discipline when traversing roads to minimize road crashes.
The Philippines has adopted a five-year Road Safety Action Plan that aims to reduce road traffic fatalities by 20 percent in 2022 and towards a vision of zero deaths on the road.