DONATION. Senator Sonny Angara (3rd left) donates on Friday (Sept. 8, 2023) 10 motorcycles to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to supplement its fleet and in support of the agency’s soon-to-open Motorcycle Riding Academy. Together with acting MMDA Chairman Don Artes (2nd left), Angara signed a deed of donation and acceptance for the motorcycles, which was held at the agency’s newly-inaugurated Communications Command Center in Pasig City. (Photo courtesy of Office of Senator Sonny Angara) 

MANILA – A senator expressed optimism on Friday that the Motorcycle Riding Academy, which is slated to open on Sept. 27 will produce more responsible riders.

Senator Sonny Angara said training of riders to become safer, more responsible and educated on traffic rules will help bring down the alarming data about road crashes in the Philippines.

In its latest report on road safety, the World Health Organization ranked the Philippines 11th out of 175 countries in terms of the number of road traffic deaths.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that almost 40 percent of road crash fatalities in the country involve motorcycle riders.

“Kapag tinitignan namin ang datos na ito ay lalong mapapanatag ang aming loob na tama ang aming desisyon para tulungan ang (While we see this data, we are being reassured that we made the right decision in helping the) MMDA [establish a Motorcycle Riding Academy],” Angara said.

Together with acting MMDA Chairman Don Artes, Angara signed a deed of donation and acceptance for the 10 motorcycles, which was held at the agency’s newly-inaugurated Communications Command Center (CCC) in Pasig City.

“Napakagandang proyekto ng MMDA ang pagbubukas ng Motorcycle Riding Academy para makapagbigay ng libreng training sa ating mga rider tungkol sa tama’t ligtas na pagmomotorsiklo (The Motorcycle Riding Academy is a very good project of the MMDA to provide free training for our riders in right and safe motorcycle riding),” Angara said.

“Napakahalaga ito dahil nakita natin halos araw-araw mayroong aksidente dahil sa traffic so very timely itong inisiyatibo ng (This is very important because we observed that almost everyday, there are accidents because of traffic so this is a very timely initiative of the) MMDA,” he said, noting that these accidents happen not because Filipinos lack discipline, but need better education on basic courtesies and road rules.

Through the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Angara, the MMDA was granted PHP672 million last year for the installation of garbage traps at the Metro Manila waterways and for the construction of the CCC, which will be expanded through an additional PHP100 million in the agency’s budget for this year. (PNA)