Asian motorcycle makers meet in RP for road safety

Delegates from different Asian countries will be in the Philippines this week for a seminar on how to make the continent’s roads safer for motorcycles.

Organized by the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA), the Road Safety Seminar will be held at Ballroom 3 of the Dusit Hotel Nikko tomorrow. It will focus on the need for responsible motorcycle riding in promoting safety on Asia’s roads.

Dato Syed Mohammad Aidid, president of the Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI), will give a report on what’s being done to make Asian motorcycle riders more responsible and motorcycle riding safer.

FAMI groups all motorcycle makers in eight countries in Asia. MDPPA, on the other hand, groups Honda Philippines, Kawasaki Motors, Suzuki Philippines, Norkis-Yamaha, S.C. Kymco Pilipinas, Porta Coeli Industrial Co., and Victoria Motors Corp. These companies make the majority of motorcycles being sold in the Philippines.

Top officials of different government agencies are expected to grace the seminar. Senior Supt. Fernando Pace of the Traffic Management Group (TMG), a motorcycle rider himself, will brief the delegates on what’s happening on Philippine roads. Bella Bermundo, executive director of the Land Transportation Office, will also be there to lay down the LTO’s plans for improving the education of all Filipino drivers; while Elmer Hernandez, executive director of the Board of Investments (BOI), will talk on the growth of the Philippine motorcycle industry in recent years.

MDPPA president Alfredo Alarcon said representatives of motorcycle clubs in the Philippines would also be present at the seminar.

"James Mirasol of the Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines and Jake Swann, a known motorcycle safety instructor, have been invited to give a talk," he said. "We hope this seminar would increase awareness on the need for responsible riding," he added.