THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the temporary utilization of the Motorcycle Riding Academy site in Pasig City.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes and GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso led the signing of the MOA which would allow the MMDA to use the 5,977-square meter vacant lot property of GSIS at the corner of Doña Julia Vargas and Meralco Ave., Barangay Ugong for one year.

Artes expressed his gratitude to the GSIS for the partnership. “We are very grateful to the GSIS management for giving us the chance to fully realize the Motorcycle Riding Academy together with our other partners such as Honda Motorcycle Philippines and Watanabe Riding Development headed by coach Dashi Watanabe. Both gave technical assistance for the Academy,” he said, noting that the number of motorcycles on the road are increasing.

The MMDA is also in talks with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so the certificates to be issued by the Academy can be used in obtaining a driver’s license. The agency is also in coordination with motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Grab and Angkas for priority employment of participants who will finish the course.

The Motorcycle Riding Academy, set to open within the third quarter of this year, will provide riders formal training on both theoretical and practical aspects of motorcycle riding as well as basic emergency response training.

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Edd Reyes