HARI starts “Voice of Volvo” road safety forum in PH
HARI, DLSU join forces for Road Safety Innovation
Volvo is one of the world’s most renowned vehicle brands when it comes to safety. And as such, its official distributor in the country has now taken a proactive stance in addressing road safety concerns.
Hariphil Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) has started the “Voice of Volvo: Road Safety Masterclass” series in the Philippines – a forum where the distributor engages a distinguished panel of experts who will tackle core challenges with regard to road safety from their respective disciplines.
In the inaugural session, the “Voice of Volvo” forum invited education and consumer protection champion, Hon. Sherwin Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary for Road Transport, Department of Transportation, Dioscoro Reyes, Executive Director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (e-VAP) Dr. Jose Bienvenido M. Biona, and distinguished academic and specialist in governance, human rights, and social enterprise development Dr. Grace Gorospe-Jamon.
The panel of experts discussed topics ranging from disjointed policies that hinder coordinated efforts, low public awareness and risky road behavior, the lack of proactive responsibility, gaps in infrastructure planning, limited awareness and adoption of vehicle safety technologies, and the absence of an integrated approach to road safety, to include the critical elements of engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency response.
HARI Vice Chairman, President, and CEO Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said the “Voice of Volvo” forum will also be conducted in other areas in the country as the year progresses, as different regions can have different challenges when it comes to road safety.
“As an automotive leader and mobility advocate, Volvo Philippines is committed to driving change beyond vehicles,” explains HARI Vice Chairman, President, and CEO Maria Fe Perez-Agudo. “We witness unfortunate situations, casualties, and fatalities due to road accidents almost every day, on the road and on our media channels. We at HARI step up to do something about it, aware that this issue runs deeper than we think. Establishing an ecosystem of safety in our country calls for a sustained multi-sector dialogue among government agencies, industry leaders, the academe, and civil society to inspire shared responsibility and integrated solutions to road safety in the Philippines.”
In the same event, Volvo Philippines has also signed a memorandum of understanding with De La Salle University to pilot innovative safety interventions in real-world communities, reinforcing Volvo’s commitment to put people first in driving meaningful change.
Called as the Volvo Safety Lab, it is HARI and DLSU’s collaborative effort in strengthening their commitment to produce generations of Lasallians committed to hone their skills in scientific research and innovation to improve the day-to-day life of the Filipino. The Volvo Safety Labs will be housed in the Richard L. Lee Engineering and Technology Block (DLSU Laguna Campus). This facility, whose construction was made possible through HARI, today stands as the university’s premier innovation hub that bridges scientific research with business.
“We take another bold step forward with the Volvo Safety Labs project, challenging brilliant minds at DLSU to push the boundaries of road safety and engineer solutions that make every Filipino ‘Volvo-safe.’ By
engaging students at this formative stage, we ensure today’s ideas become tomorrow’s transformative
realities.” said Prof. Raymond Girard R. Tan, DLSU’s Vice President for Research and Innovation.
The Volvo Safety Lab project is a key pillar of Being Alive, Volvo Philippines’ safety advocacy. Being Alive exemplifies Volvo’s mindset for care, which extends to all road users. Roads are shared spaces where everyone has the right to be safe at all times: to pursue life fully and confidently, knowing that safety is never compromised. By creating platforms for conversations on a multi-sector approach to safety, the campaign aims to reshape the country’s approach to road safety and ensure safer mobility for generations to come.
