Nearly every day, there appears to be another road crash video going viral on social media. Are our roads becoming more dangerous? How can we make them safer?

These are questioned Hariphil Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), distributor of Volvo Cars in the Philippines, hoped to answer at the first installment of their Volvo Road Safety master class series. The panel brought together a group of experts to tackle “Driving a Safer Future: An Ecosystem Approach to Road Safety.”

Through the Voice of Volvo: Road Safety Master Class series, Volvo Philippines steps up to apply the Volvo Group’s “Vision Zero” to the country’s day-to-day realities. “Vision Zero” is Volvo’s global commitment to a future with zero road fatalities or serious injuries.

For the inaugural session, themed "Driving a Safer Future: An Ecosystem Approach to Road Safety," HARI engaged a distinguished panel of experts to tackle core challenges with regard to road safety from their respective disciplines: 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 forum moderator was respected multi-awarded broadcast journalist, Rico Hizon.

Volvo Philippines has identified the following critical barriers to road safety: 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.

“As an automotive leader and mobility advocate, Volvo Philippines is committed to driving change beyond vehicles,” said 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.”

Another highlight of the first Voice of Volvo forum was the launch of the Volvo Urban Living Mobility Safety Laboratory, or simply the Volvo Safety Lab, Volvo Philippines’ pioneering collaboration with De La Salle University, envisioned to harness the university’s brilliant minds to pilot innovative safety interventions in real-world communities.

Through the Volvo Safety Lab, HARI and DLSU strengthen their commitment to produce generations of Lasallians committed 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.

“This groundbreaking initiative is a continuation and a leveling up of our collaboration with DLSU in our shared commitment to develop generations of innovators and leaders in science and technology,” said Perez-Agudo. “We envision a culture shift in the Filipino — to see ourselves as stewards of public transformation. And that calls for collective esponsibility.

By listening more, collaborating better, and acting together, we can build a safer, more compassionate future for all. And this can all start with exercising discipline and mindfulness on the road.”

In response, Prof. Raymond Girard R. Tan, DLSU’s Vice President for Research and Innovation said, “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.”

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.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions capped the very first Voice of Volvo forum series held May 30, 2025 at Volvo Philippines office in Makati City.

With the support of key stakeholders, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), and mobility policy advocates, Volvo Philippines is driving a unified effort to bridge public and private sector initiatives.

By championing a culture of safety, Volvo continues to lead the charge, not only through pioneering vehicle technologies designed to prevent accidents but also by fostering deeper collaboration among stakeholders to integrate road safety into national and community frameworks.

Through the Voice of Volvo, Volvo Philippines hopes to set a new standard in safety advocacy. By creating a platform for critical discussions, policy alignment, and actionable solutions, this initiative aims to reshape the country’s approach to road safety and ensure safer mobility for generations to come.