MALOLOS
CITY—The Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), builder of and concessionaire of
the 90-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) is set to confer recognition to
outstanding companies that pursues road safety in using the expressway.
Dubbed
as the NLEXcellence Safety Awards, 15 awardees will be feted next week at the
SM Mall of Asia Convention Center (SMX). Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of
the MNTC, said the awardees include bus and trucking companies who share the
same values on road safety as the NLEx.
He
said the ingrained culture of safety by both the MNTC and Tollways Management
Corporation (TMC), the operator of NLEx, is what sets NLEx apart.
However,
joint MNTC-TMC advocacy and mission for road safety cannot be successful
without the support and cooperation of drivers and operators of vehicles using
the expressways, he added.
As
a tribute to responsible partners in road safety, the MNTC has been giving
recognition to outstanding companies. However, they restructured the award’s
mechanics and criteria this year to further highlight NLEx’s strong advocacy on
road safety.
Franco
said that in the NLEXcellence award, bus and truck companies will be recognized
for exemplary performance in ensuring safety on the road.
“The
NLEXcellence Safety Awards demonstrates how deeply we recognize safety as
shared value between the awardees and ourselves,” he said. Franco further said
“the awards is touted to be a testament of the company’s strengths and
capabilities, the quality of its personnel, products and services.
It
redounds to the companies reliability and dependability, generates client’s
trust and confidence, industry respect and prestige which could lead more
business and opportunities for the awardees.”
The
awards will have the following categories: vehicle quality, driver’s
professionalism, and company operational excellence. Nominees in the vehicle
quality category are assessed based on vehicles’ roadworthiness, specifically
the condition of vehicle’s engine, tires, breaks, lights, the presence of
safety devices and emergency tools, presence of required documents, as well as
vehicles’ cleanliness and comfort of the driver and his assistant.
In
the driver’s professionalism category, nominees are evaluated based on their
skills in driving, knowledge of traffic rules, regulations and signs, physical
fitness, health and presentable appearance, apprehension record, their
regulatory compliance, and driving qualifications.
In
the company operational excellence category, companies are assessed on the
basis of their safety record, company policies, and programs physical
examination of drivers that may include drugs and alcohol tests, regular skills
training, and behavioral workshops, close management supervision.
The
company should also have an extensive vehicle care program such as regular
pre-emptive maintenance, mandatory replacement of tires and other wearing
parts, like break-pads, clutch, belts, filters, and others.
The
vehicle should also be washed and cleaned regularly. The garage or motorpool
should also be clean and adequately equipped to handle most if not all repair
and maintenance work by a qualified mechanic.
Franco
said that criteria for each category follow a track towards building an
expressway environment where travelers will have peace of mind, as they travel
safely, comfortably and conveniently.
