Motoring Today Column

Apr 12, 2017

In anticipation of a 15 percent increase in traffic during the Holy Week, the men and women of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) headed by its soft-spoken but dynamic president, Rod Franco have launched 'Safe Travel Mo Sagot Ko' (SMSK) motorists assistance program.

Aimed to enhance traffic management and toll collection services along the NLEX, SCTEX and CAVITEX, the SMSK program started last April 7 to last up to April 17 with the deployment of additional traffic patrol vehicles and ambulant toll tellers equipped with portable toll collection gadgets to assist motorists.

Aside from these there will be additional traffic info signs and motorists' camps along the mentioned tollways where motorists can get additional information about their travel as well as free bottled water, wi-fi and towing for those who may unfortunately find themselves in accidents to ensure more convenience and comfort throughout their travel. And for good measure, MPTC assured toll users that there would be no road works during the entire period.

By the way, while you are enjoying your safe, comfortable and convenient travel you might as well remember that there could be a spoiler. If you go faster than 100 kph while driving a Class 1 vehicle (cars, SUVs, vans and pick ups) or over 80 kph while on a Class 2 or 3 (Trucks and buses).

Safety cum comfort cum convenience-way to go, MPTC.

Here again is your chance for your voice to be heard. Your opportunity to be one of those who would decide which automobile, whether a standard or luxury premium model should be declared as the most popular for2016 - 2017, the Automobile of the Year-People's Choice.

The public poll, which started April 4 shall end midnight of September 30, 2017.

It's conducted via a web-page exclusively dedicated to the'Auto Focus People's Choice Awards' linked toFacebook. To participate an individual Facebook account is required.

The voting procedure on the dedicated Voting Site is as follows:

a. Go to the Auto Focus People's Choice Awards (AFPCA) voting website: www.autofocus.com.ph

b. Click on the Log In With Facebook button then log in using your Facebook account.

c. Follow the prompts to vote for your individual selections for AUTOMOBILE OF THE YEAR from each the STANDARD and PREMIUM/LUXURY line-ups. Each of these votes will also tally a corresponding vote in the chosen model's Model of the Year classification.

d. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MODELS ONE MAY VOTE FOR. You may choose ANY NUMBER of STANDARD or PREMIUM/LUXURY models including those within the same category.

e. HOWEVER, YOU CAN ONLY VOTE FOR EACH CHOSEN MODEL ONLY ONCE A DAY.

f. To vote again on any succeeding day, simply click the "Vote" icon, enter your registered name, and follow the voting prompts.

g. All votes shall appear in a separate "Results Section" on the AFPCA website within one (1) minute after these are submitted on-line. This page will also include uploaded Unit Sales figures and feature the "Total Consolidated Score" for each make/model both in its respective Model of the Year category as well as in the Automobile of the Year tally. THERE WILL BE SEPARATE PAGES FOR THE STANDARD & PREMIUM/LUXURY CLASSIFICATIONS.

Let your voice be heard and cast your vote now for your favorite automobile model.

By the way, kindly wait for future announcements regarding valuable giveaways for lucky voters whose name would be drawn in weekly electronic draws.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) through theDOTr, Assistance Secretary Edgar Galvante has once again renewed its support for the yearly search for the country's most preferred automobile models and the most popular, the Automobile of the Year-People's Choice by documenting the actual number of vehicle models that are actually registered in the country.

Actual unit sales as represented by actual vehicle registration is a vital component in the voting process representing 20% vote value added to actual votes cast by the public, which represents 80% of the consolidated score.

The registration of vehicles as reported by the different LTO offices all over the country are documented by STRADCOM, the long-time official IT provider of the Land Transportation Office.

The country's quarterly vehicle registration reports from the LTO as documented by STRADCOM are also published in this column as soon as submitted by both parties. This done as a public service by this column to consolidate separate sales reports coming from the different industry associations as submitted by their member automotive companies.

Happy Motoring!!!

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