Child's Leg Trapped in Broken Drainage Grating in Quezon City

A child’s leg was trapped in a broken steel drainage grating in Barangay Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, on Friday, Jan. 16. According to the report, the incident occurred while the child was walking home from school and his leg slipped into a gap in the steel grating that serves as a drainage cover. Portions of the metal cover had already been dislodged, creating an opening along the pedestrian path. Residents in the area assisted the child, and took around 30 minutes before his leg was successfully freed from the steel grating. Authorities said the child did not sustain any injuries, or fractures. The Quezon City Department of Engineering Head, Attorney Dale Perral said initial findings showed that the steel grating involved was already more than 20 years old. “Naatanggal yung ibang steel grating so nagkaroon ng space in between. as per initial inquiry, parang more than 20 years na yong steel grating na yan(The other steel grating was removed so there was a space in between. as per initial inquiry, that steel grating appears to be more than 20 years old),” he said. Following the incident, a mobility advocacy group reiterated its call for safer roads and walkways, particularly for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. One of the core pillars of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028 is the creation of safer roads, especially for pedestrians. “This incident makes clear that current conditions are falling short of that goal,” said Lou Gepuela, director of mobility advocacy group AltMobility. Residents urged authorities to conduct inspections and immediate repairs of old drainage covers and steel gratings in the area to prevent similar incidents, especially along routes commonly used by children.