Goodyear Launches Search for Heroes of the Road

CEBU, Philippines - Goodyear Philippines takes motoring safety beyond defensive driving by enjoining drivers of public and private vehicles to be heroes on the road via its Bayani Ng Kalsada (BNK) program, an annual nationwide search for Filipino drivers who have exhibited heroic acts of courage or extraordinary selflessness while on the road.

“Through this corporate social responsibility initiative, we at Goodyear Philippines underscore an important aspect of ensuring road safety—that it is everyone’s responsibility,” said Goodyear Philippines managing director Gerry Alava.

“Being a company whose products people entrust their lives to as they traverse the roads and highways across the Philippines, we are compelled to push the road safety message to our consumers. Our commitment to this effort is non-negotiable. More than a popularity contest, BNK is a concrete manifestation of what road safety is all about—going beyond our personal levels of comfort and becoming more aware of others who are on the road with us,” he continued.

Dedicated search team

“BNK is now on its fourth consecutive year, proof of Goodyear Philippines’ commitment to the program whereby we hope will inspire Filipino drivers, by way of example, to become more responsible motorists and help make negotiating Philippine roads safer,” he added.

BNK 2009 will honor five winners: one each from four regions—Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region, and an overall champion. Each regional winner will receive a cash prize of P30,000, while the overall champion will receive P50,000.

This year, a dedicated search committee will actively be on the look-out for road heroes all over the country. Consumers are encouraged to nominate their own road heroes, and nominations for the search will be accepted at all Goodyear Servitek dealers and Autocare outlets across the country.

Each nomination will undergo a thorough screening process and will be judged by a prestigious panel of judges which includes transportation officials, media and sponsor representatives, and Goodyear executives.

Bayani ng Kalsada is the Philippine version of a successful, long-running Goodyear program held annually in the U.S. and Canada (since 1983) that is now also held annually in Asia Pacific countries such as Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Dubbed Highway Heroes, the program has recognized truck drivers who have done heroic acts of courage, sacrifice and service on the road over the last 21 years. This year’s program is being done in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Manila Bulletin, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Abante, Centro Negosyo, Honda Safety Center, Standard Insurance, Cebuana Lhuillier and Safety Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI).

For more information, please visit www.goodyear.com.ph/bayani or call the Bayani ng Kalsada secretariat at 817-7796.