Motorcycle Riding Academy to open in Metro Manila

In a bid to curb the number of accidents involving motorcycles, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will lead the creation of a riding academy in the National Capital Region.

Per MMDA, the Motorcycle Riding Academy is eyed to be put up at the vacant property of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) along Julia Vargas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. “The MMDA and GSIS will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for the utilization of the property,” the agency said in a statement.

The government agency is expecting that the Academy will be operational in the first quarter of 2023.

The MMDA said that it will create a technical working group to formulate a motorcycle safety training course module. The said program — to be given to both beginners and experienced riders — shall involve basic knowledge on the different types, characteristics, basic parts, basic control and operation of motorcycles; various road safety laws, rules and regulations pertaining to motorcycle operation and usage; driving skills to avoid hazardous situations; as well as understanding risk awareness and risk taking.

Aside from that, the soon-to-be-formed Academy will also provide basic emergency response training for the motorcycle riders.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said that the Motorcycle Riding Academy shall serve as the center of education that will give riders the necessary skills as they would receive formal training on theoretical and practical aspects of using a motorcycle.

“Through this Motorcycle Riding Academy, we aim to further promote road safety, particularly to our motorcyclists who are very much at risk to road mishaps.  It's a good opportunity for them to refresh and hone their riding skills and to provide first aid to people who will encounter unexpected road accidents,” he added.

Last 2018, the MMDA Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) recorded motorcycle riders having the highest road crash fatalities at around 38 percent (224 from a total 590 incidents). The number of deaths increased from 2020 and 2021 recorded at 253 and 295, respectively.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety showed that the Philippines is ranked 11th out of 175 countries with the reported number of road traffic deaths at 10,012 — 4.7 percent of which are drivers and passengers of two- or three-wheelers.

Interested participants can have the training for free and certificates shall be issued upon the lectures, practical application, and basic emergency response course.

According to the MMDA, the lectures in the Academy include motorcycle riding courtesy, motorcycle orientation, road traffic rules and regulations, and motorcycle safety laws. On the other hand, the simulation exercises are preparing to ride, common riding situations, motorcycle safety driving demonstration, and motorcycle basic riding course.

The MMDA said that the Motorcycle Riding Academy is the result of the agency’s Traffic Summit in 2022 where the need for capacity building for motorcycle road users to conduct road safety and traffic related policies and basic life support training were highlighted during the multi-stakeholder consultations.

Photos from the Ruben D. Manahan IV, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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