Motoring Today Column

Sep 13, 2017

PUV modernization taking firm shape

With the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) gets jumpstarted and now sees a greater chance of seeing it fruition.

The MOU calls for the DBP to provide the DOTr a PHP1.5 billion finance facility for the initial implementation of the PUVMP, which does not only aim to modernize the PUV operations in the country but also to professionalize the public road tarnsport sector.

The finance facility shall support the financing needs of transport corporations and cooperatives that would wish to acquire new and passenger-safe PUVs and to help design, develop and implement an automatic fare collection system for the road transport sector.

Getting the money to finance government projects is just half of the total effort and challenges that usually come to see them through. Getting the suppliers of the projects' requirements always gets to be the harder half of the equation. With the prevalence of sore losers in the various bidding processes, the usual "TROs galore" always turns out to be the biggest hurdle.

Vios Cup 3rd leg this weekend

The 3rd leg of the Toyota Vios Cup , which has established itself as an institutional racing event of the country being the most spectacular and the most participated in is happening this weekend, September 15-16 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Expect another carnival-like atmosphere as racing and car enthusiasts make the much awaited event a family affair watching thrilling races and other exciting activites like the return of the "Drift King" himself, Keiichi Tsuchiya with his daredevil drifting stunts.

The Vios Cup, which is part of Toyota's "Waku-Doki" (heart thumping exhileration) that aims to develop technologies and solutions for its global motorsports activities.

Subaru launches the All-New Subaru XV Crossover

Motor Image Pilipinas, exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country launched last week the All-New Subaru XV.

The well-attended launch represents the first full model change since the original Subaru XV was introduced in 2012 . It is also the second model to employ the revolutionary Subaru Global Platform.

Aside from the brand-new Subaru Global Platform that is presented to deliver less shake and less body toll, the All-New Subaru XV offers the following features; 2.0-litre Direct Injection Naturally Aspirated Boxer Engine that produces 156PS at 6000rpm , Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive equipped with X-MODE, enhanced safety features such as High Beam Assist, Steering Responsive Headlights and Rear View Detection.

The All-New Subaru XV will be available in two variants, the Subaru XV 2.0i and the Subaru XV 2.0i-S

'VWorld Weekend' at Glorietta Activity Center

Volkswagen Philippines, will hold the "VWorld Weekend" on September 16 and 17 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

For two days, the "VWorld Weekend" offers Filipino motoring enthusiasts an easier way to own their very own premium German -branded, precision-engineered and designed Volkswagen at special purchase and financing packages.

On display at the "VWorld Weekend" will be the accessorized Beetle and the Polo Hatchback Club Edition . It will also showcase at the event the new Jetta that will be sold starting P1.1 million (for the Comfortline). Additional variants for the Jetta are Highline, Business Edition and Business Edition +.

The "VWorld Weekend" will also be offering the Polo Hatchback starting at P858,000 and the iconic Beetle starting at P1.24 million. There will also be special financing packages courtesy of BPI Family Savings Bank , the event's exclusive bank partner, and its BPI Auto Loans for faster loan processing.

The "VWorld Weekend" also promises to be a fun family event for both adults and their children. During the two-day run, Volkswagen Philippines' award-winning Child Safety Initiative (CSI) will offer the Junior Driving Course , which is aimed at introducing early childhood road safety awareness to children 4 to 8 years old, while imparting important road safety habits to their parents.

People's Choice Awards now closer to the people

This year's staging of the Auto Focus People's Choice Awards for 'Automobile of the Year' (Standard & Premium Luxury models) has been brought closer to the people by adding 'on site voting' to its traditional online public voting.

Sunshine TV , organizers of the annual recognition of the country's most preferred car models in each vehicle category and the most popular automobile model with distinction between the Standard from the Premium/Luxury models, have partnered with Robinson Malls to hold weekend 'on site' public voting within their malls in Metro Manila.

No less than Ms. Eunice Gonzales, the Marketing Director of Robinsons Malls herself lined up the specific malls where voting kiosks would be put up where Auto Focus special merchandize items were given to those who cast their votes as to what cars models they like or aspire to have.

"This move to bring the polls closer to the people by putting up voting kiosks in highly populated places like Robinsons Malls would indeed make the awards more reflective of the people's choice,"remarked Ms. Gonzales when the STV-Robinsons Malls partnership was sealed early this year.

With this year's public voting extended up to the end of October to allow more voters to participate, the next public voting would be held this weekend, September 16-17 at the Robinson's Place Antipolo to be located at the ground floor between the Department Store and the Supermarket. Merchandize like T-shirts, coffee mugs, clocks and other items of value are given free or raffled off to all those who would cast their votes. A couple of pretty usherettes would be on hand to assist you register your choices.

See you there!

In your office, at home or on your phone

That's how convenient it is now to find out the latest transportation and traffic management news, vehicle maintenance and road safety tips, international motorsports events, together with all the other varied facets of motoring just by clicking on www.motoringtoday.ph .

While for reviews of the latest automobile models as well as head-to-head comparisons of their features, car launches and test drive events, and anything and everything about the automobile and its industry there's www.autofocus.com.ph .

Both websites are the online versions of the TV magazine shows Motoring Today and Auto Focus and they offer the best of both worlds to viewers-a choice of selective viewing of portions or watching the entire episode on its 'TV streaming page' to include past episodes as well any time of the day.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries (email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)

 

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