DOH-NIR logs 558 holiday road crashes, seven deaths

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Road crash injuries in the Negros Island Region reached 558 cases, with seven deaths recorded during the recent holiday season, according to the Department of Health–Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) Center for Health Development.

DOH-NIR data covering Dec. 24, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, showed Negros Occidental logged the highest number of cases at 328, followed by Negros Oriental with 152, Siquijor with 66 and Bacolod City with 12.

Most of those injured were between 21 and 30 years old, with motorcycle-related accidents accounting for the majority of cases.

The DOH-NIR said 28.9 percent of those involved were under the influence of alcohol, while 80.28 percent were not using road safety devices such as helmets or seat belts.

Abrasions comprised the bulk of reported injuries, the agency said.

The figures differed from data released by the Police Regional Office–NIR, which recorded 58 road crash incidents from Dec. 16, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026, resulting in 12 deaths and 95 injuries.

DOH-NIR Officer in Charge Assistant Regional Director Adrian Hort Ramos said the discrepancy was due to ongoing consolidation and verification of reports from the police, the DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Ramos said DOH figures were based on cases reported through the agency’s Disease Surveillance Units, while other incidents were reported directly to the police.

Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral said cases linked to drunk driving had decreased but noted an increase in accidents involving the nonuse or use of substandard safety gear.

“It’s a bit sad because it’s preventable,” Maestral said.

She said the data should serve as an eye-opener for authorities to intensify road safety campaigns.

For her part, Dr. Joan Cerrada, medical center chief of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, urged the public to act responsibly on the road.

“I hope there will be a sense of responsibility among ourselves to prevent road crashes,” Cerrada said.

Meanwhile, the DOH reported 10 cases of noncommunicable diseases from Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026.

These included one case of bronchial asthma and nine cases of stroke, the agency said.

The cases were recorded in Bacolod City with one, Negros Occidental with six and Negros Oriental with three.

The DOH-NIR said monitoring of these cases will continue until Jan. 6, 2026.

The DOH-NIR launched its safe holiday season campaign on Dec. 15, 2025, at CLMMRH and Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

The campaign aimed to ensure health facilities were prepared to respond to common holiday emergencies such as road crash and fireworks-related injuries, stroke, bronchial asthma and coronary artery disease.

The initiative was later replicated across health facilities in the region, reinforcing the DOH’s commitment to ensure emergency care is accessible wherever incidents occur.