Michelle Yeoh donates helmets to DepEd

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) received a donation of 1,000 motorcycling helmets from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) handed by no less than international movie star Michelle Yeoh, the global ambassador of the Make Roads Safe campaign.

Yeoh, who has appeared in the international blockbuster hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and a former James Bond girl, charmed a crowd of top officials and rank and file employees of DepEd and public school children at the formal handover of the donation made by the FIA done through the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) and its partner-supplier the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation.

 “It’s a pleasure to be here in Manila,” Yeoh said to the starstruck crowd.

Yeoh said that her visit to Manila was made for a very important mission, to promote road safety especially among motorcyclists and motorcycle riders through the wearing of helmets.

 “This is vital for future generations,” Yeoh said.

The FIA donation was said to be an initial batch targeted for distribution by DepEd to school children in the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City.

“We will be distributing these helmets to most needing or deserving motorcycle co-riders of Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City,” said Education Secretary Mona Dumlao-Valisno.

Figures from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) showed that there were more than 64,700 road accidents that occurred in Metro Manila for the entire 2009. Of the figure, it was learned that 266 fatalities were recorded.