Hundreds skateboard for safe riding in Manila

Skateboarders enjoy the Manila Skate Park in Paco, Manila after a "Push Parade" that started at the Liwasang Bonifacio. The event commemorated June 21 as Go Skateboarding Day and promoted riding safety for skateboarders. Photo: DANNY PATA

Hundreds of Filipinos joined the worldwide celebration of Go Skateboarding Day on Tuesday with a three-kilometer parade in Manila.

Go Skateboarding Day was created by the International Association of Skateboard Companies to give enthusiasts a chance to have fun and celebrate their passion for skating.

Skateboarders kicked off the event in Manila with a three-kilometer ride from the Liwasang Bonifacio to the recently opened Manila Skate Park in Paco constructed by the Manila government.

June Taduran, organizer of Go Skateboarding Day in the Philippines, said their advocacy on safe riding has grown to include the local government.

"We are slowly improving. We are seeing more children skateboarding and the local government's support has been a big help for us," he said.

The mother of an 11-year-old skateboarder hoped more skate parks are built in the country.

"We parents, we would really recommend skate parks for the whole of Manila or the whole of Philippines because we feel safer when our kids are here," said Maria Ana Singson.

Taduran said Manila has only two skate parks to accommodate thousands of skaters, with many still resorting to build their own ramps and grills made out of substandard materials on empty lots.

Their group hopes more parks are built and get more people involved on safe riding.

The Philippines is notorious for its poor traffic safety record, as well as its congested lines of traffic in major cities.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said there have been a total of 95,615 road accidents in 2015, more than 5,000 cases reported in 2014. — Reuters