MMDA, Sesame Workshop join forces on road, public safety campaign

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim and Sesame Workshop Asia Pacific Director Will DePippo. INQUIRER.net / DAPHNE GALVEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Sesame Workshop have agreed to cooperate with one another in educating children on road safety, public safety, and solid waste management in a fun way.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Sesame Workshop Asia Pacific Director Will DePippo for a 3-year partnership on an educational campaign.

Sesame Workshop is the non-profit organization behind the popular children’s television series Sesame Street.

Under the MOA, MMDA and Sesame Workshop will spearhead a 3-year campaign that will teach children about road safety, caring for the environment, and preparing for emergencies in the context of MMDA’s functions.

Among the MMDA’s services and functions include transport and traffic management; solid waste disposal and management; flood control and sewerage management; health and sanitation; and public safety.

“We hope that through our line-up of activities under this partnership, the kids will carry out these lessons throughout childhood and into their adult lives,” Lim said in a speech.

Among the activities lined up within the 3-year partnership is the creation of a children’s exposition, which is a cross between an educational theme park and experiential museum, wall art along major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, a family fun run, and the creation of a MMDA children’s book.

“For the last 50 years, Sesame Street has brought the life-changing benefits of early learning to children around the globe,” DePippo said in a speech.

“We are proud and excited to be partnering with MMDA deliver educational content and resources for children here in the Philippines,” he added.

The launch of the partnership coincides with the 50th anniversary of the television show which is best known for its fun characters, namely Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and their friends.

Aside from the Sesame Workshop, the MMDA will also partner with different local government units (LGUs) in the metro to maximize the engagement of students and parents.

“We will be putting up ‘yung mga activities, hands-on educational activities for the kids, and pupunta kami bawat LGU and they would provide us the space then we will be inviting the kids and nearby schools,” MMDA command center chief Bong Nebrija said in a press conference.

Nebrija assured that the initiative will be “low cost” for the MMDA since its budget would primarily come from contributions from civil society and the private sector.

“There will be contributions from civil society so there will be from the private sector. This is an initiative that would be a low cost to MMDA,” he said. /je