NEW MOTORCYCLES. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) receives 10 motorcycles from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for its new riding academy at the MMDA head office along Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasay City on Monday (Sept. 18, 2023). From left to right are MMDA Deputy Chairman Frisco San Juan Jr., MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday received 10 new motorcycles from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in support of the MMDA’s new riding academy.

During a press conference at the new MMDA building in Pasig City, MMDA Chair Don Artes thanked DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos for the donation and emphasized its significance in improving riding skills and lessening the number of road traffic accidents.

“When I told him that the MMDA will be having a motorcycle riding academy, Secretary Abalos immediately responded by donating ten brand new motorcycle units,” Artes said.

Abalos said the academy’s goal of making roads safer by teaching necessary riding and emergency response skills should be replicated in local government units (LGU).

“The number of those using motorcycles is increasing, so are the fatalities,” he said.

According to the MMDA Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System, there were 2,269 pedestrians who were hit by vehicles from January to August of this year, compared to 3,161 last year.

The academy is set to open on Sept. 27 and is located at a vacant property of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) along Julia Vargas Avenue, corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.

Aside from educating riders, the academy also hopes to increase the public’s awareness of road hazards to reduce the growing number of road crash victims. (PNA)