The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) signed a memorandum of agreement Wednesday for the temporary use of a GSIS property in Pasig City as the site of the Motorcycle Riding Academy.
MMDA acting chair Don Artes and GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso led the signing ceremony at the 5,977-square-meter vacant lot located at Doña Julia Vargas corner Meralco Ave., Barangay Ugong.
Under the agreement, the MMDA will construct, renovate and improve the site for the academy, which will provide riders with formal training on motorcycle handling and road safety. The MMDA will also shoulder the cost of maintenance and security services, saving GSIS P1 million.
The MMDA said there are 174,934 motorcycles traversing EDSA as of May 22, a 58.79% increase from the pre-pandemic period. The agency hopes that the academy will encourage responsible driving among riders and reduce accidents and traffic violations.
The agency is also in talks with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority so that the certificates issued by the academy can be used in obtaining a driver’s license. The agency is also coordinating with motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Grab and Angkas for priority employment of participants who will finish the course.
The Motorcycle Riding Academy is set to open within the third quarter of this year and will be open to all interested participants for free. They will be given certificates upon completion of lectures, practical applications, and basic emergency response courses.
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Motorcycle riders were among the highest road crash fatalities in 2018, according to the MMDA Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS), accounting for approximately 38% of the total 590 fatalities. The number of fatalities increased between 2020 and 2021, reaching 253 and 295, respectively.
Source: pna.gov.ph
Image: Tony Pham of Unsplash
