AAP Joins FIA Region II Clubs to Champion 5i Framework

AAP President and FIA Region II President Joe Ferreria with Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr welcomed club representatives and transportation experts from the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam as they began their journey to become Master Trainers of the 5i Framework, which aims to strengthen regional efforts toward safer roads for all.

The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), together with AA Vietnam and AA Thailand, participated in the first phase of the 5i Training: The Foundations of the 5i Framework, a two-day online program for Master Trainers held on February 5 – 6, 2026.

Developed by Dr. Bella Dinh-Zarr with Mavis Johnson and Kelvin Roberts, the Five “I” Framework is the first user-friendly, prevention-focused crash investigation model rooted in aviation and disaster investigation principles. Rather than assigning blame, it shifts the focus toward understanding crashes in order to prevent future tragedies.

The framework is anchored on five guiding principles: Immediate, In-Depth, Impartial, Independent, and Injury Prevention. During the training, participants gained an overview of international standards in crash investigation, including systematic evidence gathering, multidisciplinary analysis, scientific reconstruction, and independent oversight. These elements demonstrate how properly conducted investigations can move beyond blame and serve as powerful tools for meaningful road safety reform.

Engr. Aileen U. Mappala of the University of the Philippines– National Center for Transportation Studies (rightmost) discussed the Safe Systems Approach with Dr. Ma s-Ake Belin (leftmost) the Global Lead, Decade of Action for Road Safety of the World Health Organization.

The training featured global experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Centre for Automotive Safety Research in Australia, International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), and the World Health Organization. Discussions explored how countries can move from evidence to action, align investigations with the Safe System Approach, and build institutional support for prevention-focused strategies.

AAP brought together key road safety stakeholders including the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (UP NCTS) to participate in the 5i Framework program and train as Master Trainers, strengthening the country’s capacity for prevention-focused road crash investigation.

PNP-HPG Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Jaway presented the current crash investigation system implemented by the Highway Patrol Group.

During the discussions, the Philippines demonstrated how the 5i initiative aligns with and reinforces the PNP-HPG’s ongoing efforts to enhance investigative procedures and apply systems thinking in crash analysis.

Following the completion of Phase 1, the program now advances to the next stage, where each club will engage in dedicated sessions with their master trainers and the framework proponents to tailor the 5i model to their country’s specific needs and realities.