Road safety is a shared responsibility, and experts agree it’s best to start teaching children from a young age. Following this principle, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) partnered with the City of Muntinlupa to inaugurate the country’s first and currently only Road Safety Park at Tunasan Baywalk.

According to DOTr, the park represents a landmark step in the agency’s comprehensive strategy to create safer, more inclusive, and people-centered roads across the Philippines.

“Ang parating utos po sa atin ng Pangulo ay siguraduhin po nating ligtas ang ating kalsada, hindi lang po sa lahat ng mga motorista o sa mga pedestrian pero sa lahat ng tao sa lansangan,” said Transportation Secretary, Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez.

(The President’s constant directive to us is to ensure that our roads are safe, not just for motorists or pedestrians, but for everyone on the streets.)

The Road Safety Park, covering 3,140 square meters, has been inaugurated as a model infrastructure for the next generation of road users. The park features simulated road networks, cycle lane classifications, a public transport stop, a road signage area, a stage, and a viewing deck, providing children with a hands-on environment to learn road safety and responsible driving habits from an early age.

Officials stressed the importance of early education in creating a culture of road safety. Lopez also highlighted the need to integrate road safety lessons into school curricula, while road crash data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) continues to point to human error as the leading cause of road crash incidents. The park aims to address this by fostering informed, safety-conscious drivers who understand both the rules and responsibilities of road use.

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon lauded DOTr’s support and its focus on active mobility over car-centric planning. Advocacy groups, including AltMobility PH, Commuters 4 Change, and the Barangay Organization of Persons with Disabilities, also backed the initiative. Alongside the park, the DOTr says it continues to develop protected bike lanes and dedicated walkways nationwide to create safer, more inclusive roads for every Filipino.