MMDA to use impounding area as motorcycle riding academy

MMDA, GSIS ink MOA for Motorcycle Riding Academy Site

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is serious when it announced that the agency will establish its own riding academy to help motorcycle riders learn the proper and safe way to ride their motorcycles.

In fact, in April of this year, the MMDA’s motorcycle unit underwent training from former Philippine Superbike Champion Dashi Watanabe to prepare them as instructors for the upcoming riding academy.

Today, the MMDA has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to use the 5,977 square meters vacant lot in Pasig City as the site of the agency’s Riding Academy. The lot is currently being used by the MMDA as an impounding area.

“We are very grateful to the GSIS management for giving us the chance to fully realize the Motorcycle Riding Academy together with our other partners such as Honda Motorcycle Philippines and Watanabe Riding Development headed by coach Dashi Watanabe. Both gave technical assistance for the Academy,” said MMDA Acting Chairman, Atty. Don Artes.

Under the accord, the MMDA shall clear the property of all impounded vehicles and will construct, renovate, and improve the site for the establishment of the Motorcycle Riding Academy, including the cost of maintenance and security services, which will generate PHP 1 million worth of savings for GSIS.

According to the latest data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, as of May 22, there are 174,934 motorcycles traversing EDSA – a 58.79% increase from the 110,167 motorcycles plying the highway during the pre-pandemic period.

GSIS President and General Manager, Jose Arnulfo Veloso, for his part, said that the GSIS wholeheartedly supports the MMDA in this initiative which will provide riders basic training on handling motorcycles and following road and traffic rules.

“We are optimistic that the Motorcycle Riding Academy will encourage responsible driving and road safety among riders,” he said. Veloso added that the GSIS is likewise ready to assist the MMDA in other areas of cooperation such as providing comprehensive insurance for its field personnel.

The MMDA is also in talks with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so the certificates to be issued by the Academy can be used in obtaining a driver's license. The agency is also in coordination with motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Grab and Angkas for priority employment of participants who will finish the course.

The Motorcycle Riding Academy, set to open within the third quarter of this year, will provide riders with formal training on both theoretical and practical aspects of motorcycle riding as well as basic emergency response training.

It will be open to all interested participants for FREE and they will be given certificates upon completion of lectures, practical application, and Basic Emergency Response Course.