The difference between sentiment and being sentimental is the following: Sentiment is when a driver swerves out of the way to avoid hitting a rabbit on the road. Being sentimental is when the same driver, when swerving away from the rabbit, hits a pedestrian.
— American author Frank Herbert

MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — We Filipinos pride ourselves that we are God-fearing and righteous and as individuals, we are kind and generous to our family, friends and even to others.
But amidst all these seemingly goodness and upright character, we are beset with the problem of forgetfulness and most critically, a lack of care for things that help us develop and maintain our well-being.
Take the case of our roads and streets—in experiencing them, whatever good impression tourists and visitors have for us are soon wiped away by the general lack of decency and caring of motorists and even pedestrians on most of our thoroughfares.
In the most livable cities around the world, drivers stop for pedestrians at painted crosswalks to allow each person to cross safely before moving forward. But it's different here—you will find very few crosswalks where pedestrians can cross with confidence.
Somehow, drivers, whether in cars or motorcycles, are transformed into fiercely competitive warriors who are not only unwilling to yield space to any other road user, whether in a car, jeepney, bus, truck, on a motorcycle or bicycle or on foot, but become killers on occasions of 'road rage'.
We guess Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, if not blatantly ignored and violated, is forgotten (deliberately) by most Filipinos—and not only by ordinary citizens but including government officials like senators, congressman and others in position of authority.
Actually, RA 4136 was enacted over 60 years ago and it requires every vehicle on the road to come to a full stop at pedestrian crosswalks when any person is attempting to cross. Even though drivers already know that pedestrians have the absolute right-of-way at every pedestrian crossing, very few stops for them.
Laws mean nothing if they are hardly enforced; you can expect rules to be routinely broken when there are no sanctions for wrongdoing.
In the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP), which is the policy and planning guidebook of the Marcos Jr. administration, there is the declaration that, in the hierarchy of road users, pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy the highest priority. However, these words remain empty if law enforcers do nothing to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable road users and if every other motorist violates traffic regulations with impunity.
Similarly disappointing is this year's General Appropriations Act (GAA), which allocated only ₱60 million for active transport infrastructure despite the obvious deficiencies we see all over the country.
If our President is looking for one low-cost, high-impact initiative that could make a transformative difference in our society before the end of its term, it could be about ensuring that every pedestrian crosswalk in the country is a safe pathway for pedestrians and for persons with disability. To change behavior, every motorist must believe that there will be material consequences for failing to follow basic traffic rules, and that the probability of receiving the consequence is very high.
So, what will it take forvthis to happen?
First, camera-based no-contact apprehension (NCAP) should be restored so that every traffic violation caught is penalized. NCAP cameras, conspicuously positioned, can be placed at major pedestrian crossings with the warning that the cameras are there for the protection and safety of pedestrians. Every violation should be captured by the NCAP system and dealt with accordingly. It is the certainty of punishment that shapes driver behavior in the direction of full compliance. Using NCAP also avoids the possibility of a traffic enforcer absolving the violator after taking a bribe.
It is unfortunate that the NCAP operations of the MMDA and in the cities of Manila, Muntinlupa, Quezon, Parañaque and Valenzuela were suspended in August 2022 under a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court. The prevailing view among commuters, pedestrians and cyclists is that driver behavior was more compliant and streets were much safer while NCAP was in operation.
The resumption and expansion of NCAP is therefore key to achieving a more walkable urban environment, improving traffic flow, reducing the incidence of road crashes and controlling corrupt traffic enforcer practices. Once restored, NCAP could be enhanced by allowing ordinary citizens to report traffic violations of all kinds and offering a financial reward to those able to submit camera-based evidence of violations.
A current example of this system can be found in Vietnam, where under Decree 176/2024, citizens can earn a financial reward of about 5 million VND (around US$200) for reporting traffic offenses. Under the new rule, which took effect on January 1, informants are entitled to up to 10 percent of the fine paid by the violator, and confidentiality of the identity of the informant is ensured. Even traffic enforcers could shift to using this mechanism when off duty instead of relying on bribes.
So what should the Marcos administration then focus on during its remaining three-and-a-half years in office?
Fixing fundamental issues in our mobility environment—something as simple as making pedestrian crossings effective and safe—can deliver meaningful, broad-based benefits for millions of Filipinos.
When we can be confident in the protection offered by every pedestrian crossing, it will be one clear signal that vulnerable road users are prioritized over those in cars, that human life is valued more than the travel speed of motor vehicles and that the quality of our democracy has improved.

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