Safe and responsible road users

The development of core values through the use of the different mediums of communication is the major objective of SocioCom (Social Communications Foundation). Through the long-established television production outfit, STV (Sunshine Television Marketing and Production Services Corporation), the foundation helps produce long-running ‘alternative developmental’ television programs like Motoring Today, Auto Focus and Business & Leisure.  

Motoring Today, which had its first airing in June 1987 on PTV-4 (but has long before moved to Cable TV Solar Sports), dwells in all the major aspects of motoring from motor sports, the motoring industry, automobile maintenance, transport and traffic management issues and road safety—a weekly service to the general motoring public.

Business & Leisure first saw light in 1991, the same time as the historical eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Its initial airing on ABS-CBN Channel 2 was actually set back by two weeks to give way to global media significance of the catastrophic phenomenon. The program’s objectives include the weekly update on the most significant business developments in the country, recognition of Filipino achievers and notable countryside development ventures via its segments Proud Pinoy and Countryside (both segments scheduled for re-airing soon) and a weekly guide to the good life by way of lifestyle features and relevant social events.

Auto Focus, which had it first broadcast in 1998 was conceived to help perk up the then sagging automotive industry that was in the doldrums reeling from the currency crisis that hit the region. It has exclusively focused on all matters pertaining to the automobile and its industry.

The flagship TV program, Motoring Today, is the longest-running motoring program and a recognized institution on Philippine television, has a lifelong commitment to promote road safety. One of its segments, Young Street Smarts, has been dishing out weekly road safety tips for the past several years. The decision to make the portion center on the youth was based on published reports regarding the high percentage of young road accident victims, especially students on their way to and from their schools.

To further promote this advocacy, SocioCom and STV have been working in tandem to conduct free road safety seminars in public and private high schools (Young Street Smarts (YSS) Road Safety School Tour) in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces. The geographical limitation is due to inadequate logistics, which deters the aim to eventually go nationwide.

The YSS Road Safety School Tour, whose aim is to make present and future safe and responsible road users out of these young students as a driver, pedestrian, commuter or biker is now on its 4th school year. More than 10,000 students and even faculty members have attended the road safety seminars since they were first conducted in 2010.    

Some of the close to 30 schools where the road safety seminars were recently conducted included the Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. The all-boys school’s Prefect of Discipline, Mr. Erwin Ines has been consistent in making sure that Lourdes School is always part of the short list of beneficiary schools every school year. Faculty member, Kristina Macatangay warmly welcomed the YSS staff in St. Paul’s Paranaque last July when their 4th year high school students gathered in their school gym.

In Quezon City the Judge Feliciano Belmonte, Sr. High School principal, Mrs. Zenaida M. Padullo got together their 3rd and 4th year students to learn about road safety, while at the Angelicum College, the exclusive co-ed school’s principal, Ms. Urduja Galang, faculty member Carlo Coballes and their 4th year students gamely joined the seminar. Also in Quezon City, the Culiat High School, a boys and girls school located along a very busy street traversed extensively by all kinds of vehicles, it was the school’s OIC Ms. Irene Taro who efficiently coordinated the seminar’s schedule.      

In Las Pinas, SocioCom and STV conducted a free road safety seminar at the Elizabeth Seton School where its high school unit head, Dr. Delia C. Navasa, turned out to be a former professor of YSS seminar facilitator Yvette delos Santos.

The YSS School Tour also went to Cainta to conduct a free road safety seminar at the Greenpark Montessori Learning Center, where principal Mrs. Rosario “Cherrie” Bautista requested that 3rd and 4th year students be combined.

Pitogo High School is a public school in Makati City where department coordinator Ms. Majory Obrero gathered their students to learn how to be safe and responsible road users while sitting on the floor and listening attentively.

While at the Rizal National Science High School, registrar Ms. Alma Casas together with members of the faculty joined their 4th year students to imbibe knowledge on how to be safe while on the road.  

The seminar runs for at least 2 hours to be able to effectively touch on the strictly chosen topics. But the students and in some instances faculty members who attend out of curiosity almost always don’t realize that such length of time has elapsed at the end of the seminar.

The road safety seminar’s topics include the following:

Traffic signs and road markings – you can not imagine how many of those behind the wheel in the country, especially those driving public utility vehicles do not know 8 out of 10 traffic signs, and what about markings on the road that are supposed to guide drivers on what to do and not to do when they are painted on the road.

Rules of Right of Way – many road accidents would have been avoided if drivers only knew half of them.

Road Courtesy – many road rage deaths may not have occurred if drivers only made road courtesy their way of life, and new friendships may have been formed.

Pedestrian and Commuter Safety – the responsibility of being safe on the road does not solely rest on the drivers’ shoulders. Pedestrians and commuters must also exercise proper caution while on the road.

Drunk Driving – we can never over emphasize the importance of being sober or at our peak of awareness and alertness whenever we take the wheel. To demonstrate this significant state of mind, part of the seminar is for some of the students and even members of the faculty present to try special goggles that approximate the effect of different levels of alcohol in the blood to one’s physical state.

Safe Motorcycle Riding – with the phenomenal growth in the number of motorcyclists in the country and the alarming rise in motorcycle accidents, this topic is a must in the seminar.   

Exciting contests are held among the seminar attendees in between topics for several

reasons, namely; to break the possible overwhelming supply of inputs, to maintain the usual short attention span of students and to serve as a review of the topics taken up and a measure of what were retained.  

Before the start and after the seminar, graphic videos of horrific accidents are shown to catch the attendees’ attention and to leave a lasting impression of what road accidents can mean to their lives.

When we started this endeavor we found it difficult to convince school officials to squeeze in this road safety seminar into the school’s very tight yearly schedule of activities. Some even had doubts and suspicion on our agenda and real intentions behind the project. Some feared that their students would be exploited commercially.

But after the end of every seminar, school officials, especially those who sat through the exercise would immediately arrange to have their school part of the next year’s list.

The seminar is absolutely free, except for the participating school to provide a comfortable venue for their students to learn the rudiments of being safe while on the road. In some cases, especially in some public schools, we would have to rent projectors, PA system, etc. to be able to impart the invaluable knowledge that we bring. These are instances when logistics are stretched beyond what’s already limitedly available.

To further promote the significance of and the need for these seminars to school officials, teachers and parents, highlights of each are aired on Motoring Today, something that requires more logistics for camera and cameraman supply, etc. to produce such TV feature.

 the problem of logistics are easily forgotten when we see the eagerness of the students and teachers to learn about road safety and the effective learning experience they go through—very satisfying indeed and worth all the hard work and the continuing financial bleeding. Notwithstanding, we are resolute in our covenant to go on teaching all those who are willing to learn how to become safe and responsible road users.

But credit must be given where credit is due—to the corporations that have considered helping us with this advocacy as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in whatever small way they can—Manila North Tollways Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Air21 and Chevron Philippines. And those from the automotive industry that have set aside competition to stand side-by-side to support the advocacy, namely; Asian Carmakers Corporation (BMW), Cats Motors (Mercedes-Benz), PGA Cars (Audi/Porsche), Car Covenant Company (Chevrolet), Columbian Autocar (KIA), Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Toyota Motor Philippines and Lexus-Manila.

For those school officials, teachers and parents reading this article, believe me attending these seminars can save lives while on the road. Make sure that you; your faculty members, students and your children get the opportunity to attend one of them. If you are a student reading this, you can try to convince your school officials to contact us in any of our listed e-mail addresses listed below.

And if you have a company that’s keen on getting involved in worthy CSR projects, you shall be most welcome to help us with our advocacy.

For whatever interests you may have with regard to the road safety seminar, SocioCom’s executive director, Jenny Bleza-Pineda would be very happy to be of help. Just write to our email address.

Happy Motoring!!!

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