To improve the safety of roads, global cement manufacturer CEMEX Holdings Philippines has implemented the “Listo Tayo!” road safety program under its Ligtas 24-Oras campaign.
Started in 2013, the campaign aims to promote a culture of safety across CEMEX operations, for both employees and stakeholders in communities.
This year, CEMEX celebrated the “Vulnerable Road User Awareness Month” as part of the Listo Tayo! program. Twin events were held in Antipolo City, Rizal, and City of Naga, Cebu, where CEMEX maintains operations.
Road safety is a global priority. In the Philippines, the burden of road accidents makes it one of the most pressing health and development concerns for Filipinos.
Four in every 100,000 people died and 193 in every 100,000 were injured in 2017 alone, based on data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
These numbers translate to about 299 cases per day—an alarming rate, for many of these could have been prevented with mindfulness and proper safety-seeking behavior among road users, the company said in a statement.
At the Solid Cement Plant in Antipolo City, CEMEX gathered more than 200 vulnerable road users comprising of students from Jesus Cabarrus Elementary School and Solid Cement Plant Day Care Center, their parents, members of the Antipolo Cyclists Club, and motorcyclists.
“CEMEX supports infrastructure development, but we recognize that we need to keep everyone safe in the process. We deal heavily in the affiliated industries of road transportation and logistics. This makes promoting road safety behavior a priority,” explained Sherwin San Pablo, Technical & Terminals Director.
CEMEX’s Health and Safety Manager Ron Escaler led the Vulnerable Road User Safety Talk that focused on sharing road safety knowledge among those that are most susceptible to risks in traffic.
“Keeping roads safe is a shared responsibility. This is why we are strengthening efforts to continuously help address the prevalence of road fatalities and injuries,” said Escaler.
To support the program, CEMEX invited Eric Soriano of Pro-drivers Safety Academy to deliver first-hand insights on the importance of proper safety behavior.
Solid Cement Plant Director Normandy Chan echoed the company’s continued support for meaningful partnerships and social development programs that raise the quality of life among the communities CEMEX operates in.
A highlight of the program was the unveiling of the newly-designed Listo Tayo! trucks that reminded vulnerable road users of life-saving practices that must be observed at all times.
Representatives from CEMEX’s Apo Cement Plant spearheaded the Listo Tayo! event in Cebu, which was held at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in the City of Naga.
It was attended by more than 160 students, parents from Naga SPED Center, motorcyclists, cyclists, senior citizens and other community members.
Gracing the event was Naga City Councilor Carmelino N. Cruz, who expressed continued support for the Listo Tayo! campaign in Cebu with the aim to educate more community members on proper road user behavior.
Apo Plant Director Gery Rota and HR manager for VisMin Danilo Antonio reiterated the importance of full cooperation of every stakeholder to make road safety a priority for all road users.
Since its inception, Listo Tayo! has educated over 10,000 students nationwide on the basics and importance of road safety practices, held with the support of the company’s H.E.R.O. (Help. Engage. Reach. Out.) employee volunteers who help implement the workshops.
Starting operations in 1997, CEMEX Philippines has through the years evolved from a “Cement Expert” that is focused on creating superior value for customers, into a “Building Solutions Expert” that helps in shaping the country’s future.
One of the ways the company does this is through safety, livelihood and environmental programs that enforce sustainable progress and nation-building.
