The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking to create a motorcycle riding academy in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help address the number of motorcycle-related accidents and make the roads safer.

In a statement on Monday, MMDA Acting Chair Don Artes announced the creation of a technical working group for the formulation of a motorcycle safety training course module meant for both beginners and experienced riders.

The module, Artes said, is meant to provide “proper training and basic knowledge” such as general information on motorcycles, various road safety laws and those related to the operation of motorcycles, necessary driving skills on avoiding dangerous situations, and understanding risk awareness and risk-taking.

“The academy will also provide basic emergency response training for the motorcycle riders,” he said.

The academy, he said, would provide formal training on both theoretical and practical aspects of motorcycle riding for free to the public.

A participant who completes the training course will be given a certificate.

“Through this motorcycle riding academy, we aim to further promote road safety, particularly to our motorcyclists who are very much at risk of road mishaps,” he said.

The proposed location of the academy is at the vacant property of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) along Julia Vargas Avenue corner of Meralco Avenue in Pasig City.

“The MMDA and GSIS will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for the utilization of the property,” he said.

The academy is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2023.

“The MMDA will also collaborate with concerned Metro Manila local government units and other stakeholders in the promotion of the motorcycle riding academy,” he said.

The idea for the academy, he said, was the result of MMDA Traffic Summit 2022 where the need for capacity building for motorcycle riders was highlighted during multi-stakeholder consultations.

The 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety by the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked the Philippines 11th out of 175 countries on the reported number of road traffic deaths at 10,012, of which 4.7 percent are drivers or passengers of two or three-wheel vehicles. (PNA)