TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — To curb road accidents and mishaps on highways here, a team from the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) will be assessing this month Eastern Visayas’ national roads under the auspices of the Philippines’ National Roads Assessment Project.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, along with key iRAP officials

launched the nationwide project themed “Patungo sa Ligtas na Daan” last May 6, 2011 in Metro Manila in time for the global launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Reports point to the fact that as many as 50 people are killed as a result of road accidents all over the country daily.

Particular focus of scrutiny in Region 8 is the Maharlika Highway, main route for land travel from Luzon to Mindanao, from the Allen Ferry Terminal in Allen, Northern Samar at its northernmost tip up to the end of the route at the Liloan Ferry Terminal in Liloan, Southern Leyte.

The iRAP team will assign Road Safety Star Ratings to inspected roads, which will serve as a simple safety built-in measure, with Five Star –indicated roads as the safest and One Star roads the least safe – all intended for the awareness and precaution of road users, it was gathered.

The star ratings are based on road inspection data collected through digital images and geo-referencing and analysis at 100-meter intervals. These will also serve as guides to road upgrades and rehabilitation.