THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday inked an agreement with the Land Transportation Authority for the accreditation of its Motorcycle Riding Academy in Pasig City.
MMDA chief Romando Artes said with the signing of the agreement, the academy will be accredited as a Practical Driving Examination Center where motorcycle riders will be trained on the rudiments of driving and get their certificate of completion.
As part of the agreement, the LTO will deploy driver’s skills raters to the motorcycle riding academy to do “practical driving examination and evaluation.”
Artes said the MMDA will also connect the motorcycle riding academy with the LTO’s Land Transportation Management System.
He said the training of motorcycle riders at the academy located at Julia Vargas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue in Pasig City is free.
Artes earlier said the increasing number of motorcycle-related road crashes prompted the MMDA to establish the academy.
The academy equips motorcycle owners/drivers with basic knowledge and skills on the operation of motorcycles, various road safety laws, rules and regulations, driving skills, especially on how to avoid hazardous situations, discipline and emergency response know-how.
The academy can accommodate 100 participants with each batch.
Data from the MMDA Road Safety Unit showed 4,068 motorcycle-related accidents happened in the first three months of 2024 in Metro Manila.
In 2022, the data showed 26,599 such accidents and 31,186 last year.
Of the 26,599 motorcycle-related accidents in 2022, 278 resulted in deaths while 14,305 resulted to non-fatal injuries.
In 2023, the MMDA recorded 166 fatalities and 12,410 non-fatal injuries.
