THE Philippines’ Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) recently bared its plans for sustaining the motorcycle industry’s growth, as well as issued a call for raising awareness on road safety and environmental concerns.
The MDPPA said it had crafted a roadmap that tackles these issues.
“More than just selling motorcycles, we encourage riders, pedestrians and other road users to be conscious about motorcycle safety and environment-friendliness as we aim to make motorcycles more appropriate to the public,” said MDPPA President Rene Gener, who also represents Honda Phils. Inc. “We would like to change the image of motorcycles from that of being dangerous to that of being a pleasant and convenient mode of transportation.”
The MDPPA is comprised of Honda Phils. Inc., Kawasaki Motor (Phils.) Corp., Suzuki Phils. Inc., Eastworld Motor Industries Corp., Yamaha Motor Phils. Inc. and Kymco Phils. Inc. According to Gener, the group accounts for 85 percent of motorcycles sold in the country. Last year, it sold nearly 760,000 new motorcycles, bringing the population of Filipino riders to around 4.5 million, according to the group’s estimate.
The MDPPA also forecasted that the local motorcycle industry will sell one million units by the end of the year, and that motorbikes command 80 percent of new-vehicle registrations based on Land Transportation Office records.
