The second leg of the training program for Filipinos who drive motorcycles for livelihood, “Ridelihood” was conducted yesterday by the Legal Engagement Advocating Development and Reform, Inc. (LEADER, Inc.) and the NCR East branch of the Land Transportation Office. This was held at the LTO Central Office compound at East Avenue, Quezon City.
Ridelihood featured short but relevant lectures on the road safety practices, legal rights and obligations, occupational health aspects on how to counter or at least mitigate the dangers and risks of being a motorcycle rider, refresher course on basic road rules and regulations, road signs and road courtesy. Practical exercises were also conducted at the LTO Driving Test Track facilities.
“Ridelihood is a response to the steady growth of the motorcycle taxi and courier industry in the Philippines, and a recognition of the necessity to support and protect our countrymen who are trying to make an honest living through it,” according to lawyer Emiliano Bantog, the executive director of LEADER, Inc.
The training is for free and open to all Filipinos who drive motorcycles for their livelihood, whether they work as a freelancer or as a partner of a ride-hailing service. More batches will be announced and held in the following months. Interested participants can register for free through an online form posted at facebook.com/LeaderPhilippines.
Benjamin Santiago III, the head of LTO NCR East said, “The program will not only train motorcycle drivers but will also serve as a good opportunity for cooperation among road safety advocates and other stakeholders.”
LEADER, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization committed in advocating for the rights and liberties of every Filipino. It works on achieving its goals by analyzing laws, jurisprudence, and other instruments relevant to its advocacies; by maximizing the legal system for its stakeholders through litigation and public campaigns; and, by pushing for the development and enactment of laws and policies that will forward its advocacies.
The NCR East branch of the Land Transportation Office was created in September 2018 when the Transportation Secretary saw the need to delineate the NCR Regional Office of the LTO into East and West field offices to better serve the public. LTO NCR East covers Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pateros, and Taguig. Benjamin Santiago III serves as the Regional Director of the said branch.
The Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety – Legal Development Program in the Philippines, the Automobile Association of the Philippines, and the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association are the partner organizations in the implementation of Ridelihood.
