In the cozy, heritage-filled ambiance of the 86-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, the smell of freshly baked bread mingled with the scent of civic urgency. At the heart of the Pandesal Forum last Tuesday morning was George Royeca, first nominee of Angkasangga Partylist (#107), who addressed a packed audience on one of the country’s most pressing yet overlooked issues: transportation safety.
The gathering came on the heels of a string of fatal road incidents—a multi-vehicle pileup along SCTEX and a heartbreaking collision at NAIA Terminal 1 that claimed two lives, including that of a five-year-old child. These events have stirred public anxiety and sparked renewed calls for comprehensive reform in the nation’s transport policies.
Royeca, a familiar figure in transportation advocacy circles, did not mince words. “We are facing a national crisis in transportation safety,” he said, his voice cutting through the morning chatter. “Lives are being lost daily—not just because of accidents, but because of a system that consistently treats road safety as an afterthought. Every fatal crash is a policy failure.”
As co-founder of Angkas and a longstanding champion of safer, smarter commuting, Royeca brings firsthand knowledge of the daily challenges Filipino commuters and transport workers face. In his speech, he called for a critical shift in how society and policymakers view transportation—not merely as a matter of mobility, but of life and death.
“Transportation is about survival,” Royeca emphasized. “Safety should not be a privilege—it must be a right protected by law. Whether you walk, bike, ride, or drive, you deserve to get home safely.”
This philosophy underpins Angkasangga Partylist’s legislative platform. Royeca outlined their agenda, which includes institutionalizing mandatory road safety education for all drivers, establishing national standards for motorcycle taxis, and requiring infrastructure that protects pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders—often the most vulnerable on Philippine roads.
Beyond policy proposals, Royeca stressed the need for cultural and technological transformation. “We need digital tools, real-time feedback, and responsive regulation to create a commuter-first culture,” he said. “Modern problems require modern answers.”
His vision doesn’t stop at systemic fixes. A key part of Royeca’s message was inclusivity—bringing the voices of transport workers and everyday commuters into the halls of legislation, where they have long been absent. “Angkasangga was created to change that,” he explained. “To ensure that policies are crafted with them, not just for them.”
The Pandesal Forum, a regular venue for civic discourse and national debate, proved once again to be an effective platform for pressing issues. While the smell of pan de sal lingered in the air, what truly resonated that morning was Royeca’s call for urgent, people-centered reform—and his resolve to see it through.
As the forum wrapped up, one thing was clear: the push for transport safety reform has found not just a voice, but a movement. And at its helm is a man who believes that safer roads begin not with better traffic management, but with respect—for life, for the commuter, and for the journey home.#
