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Goodyear Phils. Inc. on July 23 launched the third
edition of the Bayani ng Kalsada, a search for Filipino drivers who
have shown and exemplified extraordinary deeds to countrymen.
Goodyear said the program serves
as an avenue to inspire Filipinos to become good drivers by way of
example and to change their wrong practices on the road. Bayani ng
Kalsada is the local version of Goodyear’s successful,
long-running program in the US and Canada called Highway Heroes. The
campaign has for more than 20 years been recognizing truck drivers
who have done heroic acts of courage, sacrifice and service on the
road.
At the program launch, Goodyear
Phils. President and Managing Director Dave Morin called on the
public to actively participate in the search by nominating members
of their family or community who fit the criteria Morin said that
the past winners became ambassadors of road safety.
Citing records from the
Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, Morin added
Goodyear finds it unfortunate that for the past six years, cases of
road accidents involving all types of motor vehicles increased by a
huge percentage—from a total of 5,551 cases in 2002 to 11,532 in
2007.
“This is why Goodyear
identifies with local drivers who understand the value of making
driving safer and enjoyable for everyone on the road. These are the
people we are looking for—individuals who should be rightfully
proclaimed as heroes,” Morin said.
Goodyear said last year’s
winners Glenn Mesa and Ronnie Balbido (jeepney drivers), Venecio
Atillo (taxi driver) and Monico Cuadillera (truck driver) may not
seem spectacular. But when they won in the search, they were
recognized as modern-day superheroes.
“Our past winners are the
living, breathing proofs that heroes do still exist. We just have to
look for the right ones at the right places,” Morin said.
Morin added that we never miss
encountering heroes every day on the road but we seldom noticed it.
“Recognizing their good deeds, through Goodyear’s Bayani ng
Kalsada, is the least we can do,” he said.
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