MORE than 1,500 riders converged at the Caloocan National High School in Brgy. 62, Caloocan City for the official launching of Camanava P-CAMP (Community Anti-Motorcycle Riding Surmise Patrol), a nationwide organization of riders that espouses discipline, safety and law adherence, last Sunday.

The organization is in full swing to invite more riders to join and make the country’s roads safer.

P-CAMP national president Dave Danugarao said membership at their organization is free. Applicants only need to submit their motorcycle’s official receipt, certificate of registration and license.

“It is a community of riders with mixed motorcycles ranging from 110 cc to big bikes to 1,250 cc,” Danugarao said.

At present, there are member-rider groups of the organization in 30-plus cities, the national president said.

“Tawid dagat kami because we have invitations from Davao and Samal. They will soon join our organisation,” he added.

According to materials provided, P-CAMP has four noble missions–make every member a clean rider, first in politeness/respectfulness, make every rider hardworking and emergency responder to any disaster or accident.

It can make every rider clean because riders have QR code stickers for national recommendation, the stickers’ logo is recognized nationwide, every member is not involved in substance abuse and an authorized force multiplier for the police.

It can promote politeness because it assures no member will be involved in road rage and intends to promote camaraderie between the community, LGU and the police and riders are encouraged to be engaged in community work.

The organization’s members are encouraged to be involved in livelihood projects, join bloodletting drives and improve public facilities like basketball courts.

Lastly, the organization encourages members to help implement RA 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (DRRM Act) by encouraging members to take part in rescue/medical operations and use radio to communicate in times of disasters/accidents.

As the organization’s members swell, it aims to provide free insurance, charity accident prevention seminar, road safety seminar, bloodletting, gun training and basic rescue learning and application with certification badge and ID as rescue volunteer for every member.

P-CAMP started in February 2019 in Kapitolyo, Pasig by Northern Police District (NPD) director P/Brig. Gen Rizalito Gapas, then Pasig chief of police, to promote discipline, safety and law adherence.

Since then, the riders organization’s impact reverberated in many parts of the country and now has 30-plus members/partners.

“This group aims to unify the local government units, police and riders,” the general said.

P-CAMP, according to the general, aims to police members if they’re not following traffic laws, not wearing safety gadgets and if a rider’s motorcycle has defective lights, brake or horn.

Danugarao, 43, a passionate rider who has over 30 years riding experience, said unlike some riders’ organizations, theirs is not selective when it comes to motorcycle sizes.

“There are members with 750-cc bikes, some are 155 (cc) and others 120,” the national president, who owns three motorcycles, explained. By ED VELASCO