‘Nu nakainom dan, haan yo itulok nga pumanaw da… Dakayo met nga ubing, haan agmotor nu nakainom kayon’ - BFP-Kalinga reminds parents and youth on tragic road accidents

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Parents should think twice before allowing their children to ride motorcycles after drinking, as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Kalinga continues to respond to road crashes involving intoxicated riders.

BFP-Kalinga, headed by Fire Chief Inspector (FCINSP) Ronald P. Rivera, recorded 230 vehicular traffic accident (VTA) responses from January to June 2026, up by 72 cases from the 158 responses during the same period last year.

The figure represents a 45.57-percent increase.

The BFP clarified, however, that the data cover only road crashes responded to by its personnel and do not represent the total number of vehicular accidents recorded in Kalinga.

‘Nu nakainom dan, haan yo nga itulok nga pumanaw da.’

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, BFP-Kalinga Public Information Officer San Ubaldo Esteban said many of the victims involved in incidents responded to by the agency were minors and individuals who had been drinking.

He also cited other risky situations observed by BFP responders, including motorcycles without proper lighting and riders who were not wearing helmets or complete protective gear.

Esteban urged parents to closely monitor their children, particularly at night when minors may be more likely to go out or ride motorcycles.

“Dagitoy niresponde-an mi. Mostly dagitoy nga maak-aksidente ket dagijay nakainom ken dagiti ubing pay. Diay daduma ket awan ti silaw da. Isu ti maresponde-an dagiti personnel ti BFP-Kalinga,” Esteban said.

He appealed to parents to intervene when they know their children have been drinking rather than allowing them to leave and ride a motorcycle.

Esteban stressed that keeping an intoxicated minor off the road could prevent a crash and the injuries that may result from it.

“Ti maibaga mi siguro kadagiti kakailyan tayo nga taga-Kalinga, karo dagitoy minor age pay, apo, kitan tayo dagiti annak tayo ta bagaan tayo nga nu ammo yo nga rumabii, haan yo nga itulok ta nagrigat, ken dagijay adda angkas-angkas da ngay. Agttinulong tayo, apo; kitan tayo dagiti anak tayo. Nu nakainom dan, haan yo nga itulok nga rumuar da. Dakayo met nga ubing, haan kayon agmotor nu nakainom kayon,” he added.

‘Wear helmets and complete protective gear’

Esteban also reminded motorcycle riders to always wear helmets and complete protective gear before taking to the road.

He said proper protective equipment can help reduce the risk of serious injuries when crashes occur.

“Advisan mi dagiti nagannak nga haan da itulok agminaho nga haan nakahelmet, haan complete ti gear dagiti anak da. Nagdakkel gamin iti bintahe na nu dagitoy driver ket adda ti helmet da, dakkel ti protection kanyada,” he said.

For Esteban, the increase in VTA responses underscores the need not only for faster emergency response but also for preventive action by motorists, parents, and other road users.

‘Call responders; do not move victims unnecessarily’

Aside from preventing crashes, Esteban urged the public to immediately contact the proper authorities during accidents and other emergencies.

He cautioned bystanders against unnecessarily moving injured victims, particularly when they are unfamiliar with the proper way to handle someone who may have suffered serious injuries.

He said seriously injured victims should, whenever possible, be handled by trained responders while emergency assistance is being sought.

“Then, in case nga adda emergency, itawag yo kadagiti concerned agencies. Haan, yo kutkutiin ta once gamin nga kinute yo nga awan ti idea yo nu kasanu ti proper handling of victim, baka lalo nga agworse diay situation,” Esteban added.

For BFP-Kalinga, road safety begins before an accident happens—and keeping an intoxicated rider, especially a minor, off the road may be one of the simplest ways parents can help prevent a tragedy.