Pilipinas Shell has partnered with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the Automotive Association of the Philippines (AAP), and the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP) to launch the “BiyaHero” campaign.
BiyaHero, short for “Be a Hero on the Road,” is an advocacy for making the nation’s roads safer for Filipinos. This campaign aims to promote road safety as a shared responsibility between everyone on the road. The initiative was launched at the ECCP’s Safer Mobility and Logistics Conference and Exhibition, held from September 24 to 25 in the Tent at Solaire, to highlight Shell’s initiatives in engaging both NGOs and local governments for road safety improvements. Mandaluyong City, right in the middle of Metro Manila, will also serve as the campaign’s pilot city and testbed for Shell’s road safety efforts. The company plans to involve other cities in the multisectoral efforts to realize better nationwide road safety.
Mandaluyong City Councilor, Charisse Marie Abalos-Vargas, together with Oliver Ortega, General Manager for Health, Safety, Security and Environment - Pilipinas Shell.
“We at Shell believe the first step to achieving road safety is to be aware of responsible driving practices,” said Oliver Ortega, Shell Companies in the Philippines’ General Manager for Health, Safety, Security and Environment. “Road safety starts with all of us, and being aware, alert, and prepared can help save lives.” The ECCP, together with Pilipinas Shell, hopes that the conference sparks discussion among safety and logistics stakeholders about how they could contribute to mainstreaming safety by exchanging ideas, initiatives, technology, and best practices.
Despite comprehensive laws like R.A. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, road accidents continue to be a significant problem. The Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis (MMARAS) 2018 annual report recorded 116,906 total accidents, an increase of approximately 6000 incidents compared to the prior year. "Some, if not most, of our kababayans have this mentality that 'if I can get away with it, I'll do it.' They violate traffic laws because they don’t see enforcers around," said Cynthia Reyes from AAP-PGRSP. Biyahero is also currently working with the AAP-PGRSP to introduce safer driving practices in Lipa, Batangas. Shell and the AAP-PGRSP have been partnered since 2008.
BiyaHero is taking a more holistic approach to solving the problem by promoting a new kind of safety culture in the Philippines. Through this event, BiyaHero will bring all relevant communities together to envision safer roads throughout the country. As part of the BiyaHero campaign, Shell has prepared several measures that involve numerous different organizations to help promote road safety. Shell service centers at the retail gas stations have year-long special offers, such as a free 14-point safety check by expert mechanics to motorists who want to make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy. Free engine insurance and roadside assistance are also available for those who opt for the Shell Helix Ultra oil change package.
The initiatives in Lipa and Mandaluyong both include a Road Safety for Children program that hopes to instill the youth with the knowledge of how to be responsible on the road. Partnerships between Shell and PNP, PNP-HPG, and LTO to disseminate informative materials such as copies of RA 4136 also help ensure the safety and security of drivers during their journeys.
In addition to training its own truck drivers on how to be safe and responsible on the road, Shell has also partnered with A1 Driving School to teach customers defensive driving. BiyaHero features various safe driving tips that every driver can use daily to stay responsible, such as the different ways to properly maintain a vehicle as well as what a driver can do to minimize discomfort when in transit. “Shell believes that through ‘BiyaHero,’ everyone can come together to share the responsibility of making every road in the Philippines safer,” said Ortega.
