Cristian James B. Repuela
Junior Journo
ROAD crashes in Talisay City killed 16 people from January to August 2026, already surpassing the 12 fatalities recorded for the entire year of 2025, according to the city’s traffic authority.
Jonathan Tumulak, head of the City of Talisay-Traffic Operation and Development Authority (CT-Toda), said the number of fatalities was alarming as the City continued to deal with road crashes involving motorists and other road users.
“Alarming ang problema sa traffic sa Talisay tungod kay gikan sa buwan sa Enero hangtod na karong adlawa nga bulan sa Agosto, mitala nata og 16 ka mga patay,” Tumulak said.
(The traffic situation in Talisay is alarming because from January up to this month of August, we have already recorded 16 deaths.)
CT-Toda recorded 1,668 vehicles involved in road traffic accidents from January to August. Private vehicles accounted for 700 of the vehicles involved in the accidents.
Tumulak identified reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol as the leading causes of road crashes in Talisay, citing motorists’ failure to observe traffic rules and practice defensive driving.
“Reckless driving is the leading cause of these road accidents in Talisay City because many motorists fail to observe traffic laws and practice defensive driving,” Tumulak said.
Reckless driving includes speeding, improper overtaking, disregarding traffic signs and signals, distracted driving, sudden lane changes, tailgating, driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to yield the right of way.
As of this writing, SunStar failed to obtain the number or percentage of crashes attributed to reckless driving and the other leading causes.
The South Road Properties (SRP) corridor and its connecting intersections within Talisay have recorded the highest number of road crashes, the CT-Toda report said.
The agency attributed the concentration of crashes in the area to heavy traffic volume, higher travel speeds and major intersections, among other factors.
CT-Toda also cited driver behavior, increasing traffic volume, limited manpower and resources, road and infrastructure concerns, public compliance and coordination among government agencies as continuing challenges in preventing road crashes.
Tumulak said the agency is strengthening traffic enforcement, public education, traffic management and coordination with partner agencies as part of its road-safety efforts.
“Our advice to motorists and pedestrians is simple: Always obey traffic laws, stay alert, and respect one another. Motorists should avoid speeding, distracted driving, and reckless behavior, while pedestrians should use designated crossings and follow traffic signals,” Tumulak reminded.
Tumulak appealed to all drivers and their families to help prevent further loss of life by observing traffic regulations. He also sought the public’s cooperation in helping reduce the increasing number of road crashes.
“We also ask for your understanding and patience as we strictly enforce traffic laws and work closely with other government agencies to promote road safety and protect the lives of everyone using our roads,” Tumulak said.