Safe and smart kids on the road

MANILA, Philippines - Children are among the most vulnerable to accidents on the road, especially during their daily commute to and from school when they may not always be accompanied by adults or guardians.

CEMEX Philippines has recognized the need to address this vulnerability, thus began its Listo Tayo! Ligtas 24-Oras road safety program for children. Now in its fourth leg, Listo Tayo! has toured three schools in Rizal, benefitting more than 2,000 Grade 3 and 4 students. The recent caravan stop was Rafael Palma Elementary School in Manila, with a population of around 3,000 students.

“Listo Tayo! is one of our ways in carrying out our commitment to achieve zero accidents and maintain safety round-the-clock not just in our plants but also in communities with the most need for this road safety campaign,” explained Mike Teotico, CEMEX logistic director.

CEMEX, being involved primarily in the business of cement manufacturing and distribution, also deals heavily in the affiliated industries of road transportation and logistics. Thus, safety is imperative not only among its employees but also among its stakeholders such as communities and schools.

“We will cascade Listo Tayo! nationwide, from Metro Manila and selected provinces in Luzon, then down to the Visayas and Mindanao,” added Teotico. “We hope that the students at Rafael Palma will imbibe the culture of safety we are sharing and we advise that the kids make the most out of this program.”

According to an insight from CEMEX, some children are already left on their own to commute or walk with other kids to school as early as eight years old. However, the proximity of the school does not guarantee the kids’ safety. Not all drivers on the road are careful as well, as statistics would readily reveal that accidents — on highways and narrow streets alike — are mostly caused by driver error.

Listo Tayo! is an educational campaign that focuses on the importance of being alert on the street. CEMEX crafted the program to suit the way children learn best — while having fun. To make the lessons easier to remember, the students were introduced to CEMEX’s Safety Ambassador “Si Mentong Matibay” to guide them through the lessons.

The program utilizes animation films, lectures, informative games, and an interactive tour around CEMEX’s trucks, where CEMEX volunteers allow the children an exciting peek inside the truck cabin. This way, the children are also made aware of the point of view of truck drivers, and how to avoid blind spots. They also learned more about the different parts of the truck and how to properly behave when they encounter these massive rigs on the road, among others.

Rosemarie Visaya, principal of Rafael Palma Elementary School, expressed gratitude for the educational program. “Thank you, CEMEX, for choosing our school as one of your beneficiaries for this safety program. This would come in handy since our school is just beside the road and students need to be extra careful when going out of the gate after classes,” she expressed.

Batangas is eyed as the next destination of the Listo Tayo! fleet.

CEMEX Philippines is the manufacturer of the only eco-labeled cement brands in the country including Island Portland Cement, Palitada King, Rizal Portland Super, Rizal Masonry Cement, APO Portland Premium, APO Portland Cement, APO Masonry Cement, and APO Pozzolan. For more information, log on to http://www.cemexphilippines.com or for partnerships, contact the Public Affairs Unit and e-mail chito.maniago@cemex.com.