Motoring Today Column

Mar 08, 2017

In my thirty years of covering motoring issues on the TV show Motoring Today involving the country's transportation and traffic management concerns, transport strikes have come "a dime a dozen".

I remember that whenever the government would come up with pronouncements of stricter implementation of traffic laws to help promote driver discipline (which has always been one of the major causes of traffic jams in the metro, even during the time that we barely sold 70,000 vehicles yearly) the public utility drivers would almost always threaten to strike if not actually refuse to ply their routes. The reason always cited was that should the authorities begin to be strict in citing them for traffic violations they would not have any money left to bring home after a day's work as most would just go to fines. It was like saying that violating traffic laws was a driver's way of life.

But the recent transport strike was of a different mold. It was in protest for the government pronouncement that vehicles that spew a lot of toxic fumes and are no longer safe to transport commuters due to their decade and a half of existence would no longer be allowed to run in the streets. And this would be thousands of public utility vehicles that are fifteen years old and older, which would mean that thousands of drivers would be deprived of their livelihood.

But government is mandated to look after the greater good-the greater part of the populace that would be further affected by the pollution that these old vehicles cause and add to that the accidents that could happen due to mechanical failure that old machines are inevitably prone to suffer. This is aside from the fact that the government is directed to implement the law, which actually prohibits their being allowed to ply their routes.

So where do we go from here?

Some quarters are offering a possible "solomonic" political compromise, which is to allow a reasonable period of a moratorium from implementing the law. This would give operators time to modernize their vehicles to conform to what's street legal or to form cooperatives that could possibly go into e-vehicles, which is presently indeed a more viable option.

During the moratorium, all 15-year old vehicles would still be allowed to ply their routes "provided they pass an upgraded and stricter public motor vehicle inspection to be run by the private sector just like what's done with private vehicles" .

Some have expressed apprehension with the possibility of the MVIS or the Motor Vehicle Inspection System being run by the private sector. These quarters may not have noticed the fact that most of the smoke belchers on the road are now public utility vehicles and very seldom does one see private vehicles spewing smoke, if there are any. It appears that the emission testing industry has cleansed its ranks. There are enough safeguards in place to ensure their smooth and efficient operation.

The fact is the government does not have a MVIS to speak of. As of last count there are less than five MVIS facilities that are working in the entire country to service all the public utility vehicles-that's a big joke! What this means is that even vehicles that are newer than the 15-year olds may not be within the legal emission levels or roadworthy at all with this kind of vehicle inspection system that the country has in place or not in place at all-big joke!

So basically the suggestion is not to ban the 15-year old public utility vehicles for a reasonable extended period. Just make sure that during the moratorium period they pass strict motor vehicle inspection requirements for legal emissions and roadworthiness to be run by the private sector. And this goes for all PUVs-new or old

Makes sense, doesn't it?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte set aside his busy Monday morning schedule lastFebruary 27 to make time for the top executives of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Japan), lead by its president/CEO, Mr. Osamu Masuko to officially present in fitting ceremonies at theMalacañan Palace the first Philippine made Mirage G4, one of its official entry models in the country's Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program.

Immediately after the presentation a press conference was held byMitsubishi Motors Philippines at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati where most of the motoring media chose to attend anticipating the tight security arrangements at the Palace.

During the press con Mr. Masuko reiterated Mitsubishi's sincere commitment to and trust on the Philippine government and on the CARS program, as it has already invested 4.3 billion pesos for the production facilities and equipment required for the localization of the Mirage models.

During an "on the side" conversation with this writer after the press con, Mr. Masuko admitted that Mitsubishi did not expect the issue of an increased excise tax when they decided to join the CARS program. However, he still expressed his confidence by confiding that despite the little distraction offered by the tax issue Mitsubishi looks forward to contributing more to the progress of the Philippine economy.

"We consider the Philippines as one of the most important markets for Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and under the strong leadership of His Excellency President Duterte, there is big potential of economic growth in the country," stressed the soft-spoken top honcho of the world-renown corporate entity, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

Congratulations to Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC) for being awarded by the Philippine Government the privilege to be the "Official

Premium Mobility Partner" of the 2017 Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit.

As courtesy to the visiting dignitaries, ACC the official importer and distributor of BMW in the country will provide 300 specially commissioned BMW 7 Series, BMW X5 and BMW 5 Series vehicles for ministers and leaders from the ten members-nations during the year-long summit.

Some guys can be so lucky.

Happy Motoring!!!

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