Shell partners with ECCP, Mandaluyong gov't in road safety campaign

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. has partnered with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the city government of Mandaluyong to expand its road safety campaign.

During the ECCP's Safer Mobility conference in Parañaque City on Tuesday, Pilipinas Shell general manager for Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Oliver Ortega said the European chamber will become an "amplifying factor to spread the road safety campaign."

Pilipinas Shell's road safety campaign, dubbed as "BiyaHero," aims to educate drivers on safe driving tips.

The campaign started during the Holy Week break, in time for the yearly exodus out of Metro Manila to the provinces.

Pilipinas Shell also partnered with the Mandaluyong City government to serve as the "BiyaHero" campaign's pilot city for road safety efforts in Metro Manila.

Ortega said that Shell's road safety campaign was initially limited to the provinces, such as Batangas, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro.

"This is the first it is in Metro Manila," he said. "It's a stronger message, to start with. The vision is to have nationwide reach and if we can replicate this with other LGUs, that is a welcome avenue as well."

Speaking for Mandalayong City, Councilor Charisse Abalos said the city government was hoping that the road safety campaign could be replicated in other LGUs in Metro Manila and nationwide.

In a separate statement, ECCP president Nabil Francis said the road safety forum would be an ideal venue for the private and public sectors to work towards safer roads and better infrastructure.

Pilipinas Shell is also partnering with the Automotive Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership to introduce safer practices in Lipa, Batangas.

According to World Health Organization's (WHO) data, an estimated 1.25 million people worldwide were involved in road traffic accidents.

In the Philippines, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that, since 2010, the number of road crash deaths never dipped below 8,000 annually. — DVM, GMA News