Motoring Today Column

Aug 25, 2021

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases , more popularly known as IATF, has placedMetro Manila undermodified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ until August 31.

It's supposedly less restrictive. How? Many aren't really sure. Perhaps more people are going to be included as APORs, or authoritized persons outside residences. Check primary sources of information just to make sure.

One thing is certain though, the Department of Tranportation (DOTr) confirms that there will be no changes in the supply and capacity of public transportation as the National Capital Region ( NCR) goes back under MECQ.

This means public utility buses and jeepneys are allowed to operate at50 percent maximum capacity and following the "one-seat-apart" rule, with no standing passengers allowed on buses and only one passenger allowed to be seated on the driver's row.

Also continued to be allowed are motorcycle taxis and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) units.

Operations of thePhilippine National Railways (PNR), LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 will continue during the MECQ period with train marshals deployed to ensure only APORs are riding and that strict health and safety protocols are enforced.

Transport Secretary Art Tugade reminds the public to also take responsibility for ensuring everyone is complying with health protocols on public transport.

Says Tugade: "As the threat of COVID-19 and Delta variant cases soar, the public should remain vigilant, especially in using public transport. Just like during the ECQ period, there will be stricter enforcement of safety measures to ensure that only APORs are permitted to use public transport, as mandated by the IATF."

Free for Jabbed

Vaccinated APORs can continue to ride on LRT-2 and PNR trains for free at off-peak hours.

However, APORs, jabbed or not, can take the MRT-3 for free even during peak hours.

"This free ride program aims to encourage more APORs to get vaccinated especially now that new and more transmissible variants of Covid-19 are emerging," says Tugade.

He hints at the possibility that free rides on trains for APORs could be extended beyond August 31.

"Any further extension of the free ride program for vaccinated APORs will be later re-evaluated depending on changes in the quarantine status of Metro Manila, and the operational requirements of the rail lines," says Tugade.

LTFRB Clarification

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would like to correct the perception that it has been remiss in utilizing funds allocated for the Service Contracting Program (SCP) aimed at helping public transportation operators overcome the effects of the pandemic while helping provide safe public transport.

This came about after a Commission on Audit (COA) report said the LTFRB only utilized 1 percent of the allocated budget for the program amounting to P5.56-billion.

An LTFRB press statement pointed out that the COA report only covered data up to December 2020.

It said that funds for the SCP were only downloaded to the LTFRB in November of 2020 and that the memorandum of agreement between LTFRB and the Land Bank of the Philippines was signed a month later.

This LTFRB-LBP agreement details how the SCP cash subsidies would be distributed to eligible beneficiaries of different modes of public land transportation.

It is then "misleading to angle certain reports and columns that only 1 percent was used from the P5.56-B funds for the Service Contracting Program," the LTFRB said.

It added that before funds are distributed to eligible drivers and transport operators they are required to complete the orientation and to submit all necessary documents.

The LTFRB then said that as of June 30, 2021, P1.5 billion has already released to beneficiary drivers nationwide and for procurement of the Systems Manager responsible in the development and management of SCP project systems.

The statement added that "initial payouts of P4,000 were provided to 23,410 drivers; one-time onboarding incentives of P25,000 were provided to 8,461 drivers; one-time onboarding incentives of P20,000 were provided to 702 drivers and 18,864 drivers received their weekly payout."

Phoenix Stevies

Phoenix Petroleum and its sister companies have been getting kudos for being among the first to reward athletes for their achievements at the Olympic medalists. Now it's getting kudos for its own achievements in turn.

At the recent 18th International Business Awards (IBA), also known as the Stevies, Phoenix Petroleum got awards of its own. Five awards all together.

Phoenix won a Gold Stevie trophy for its Phoenix Digital National Convention, an event that was innovated to adapt to the effects of the pandemic.

Its internal Covid-19 response program also earned aSilver Stevie in the Most Exemplary Employer category.

Also garnering a Silver Stevie award is FamilyMart in the Most Valuable Service category. This is for its #WeSupportSMEs campaign which helped small local businesses to sustain themselves by reaching more customers through FamilyMart stores.

LIMITLESS , the company's biggest program, won a Bronze Stevie in the Innovation of the Year-Consumer Service Industries category.

Also getting a Bronze Stevie in theNew Products-Consumer Services category is Phoenix Block.

Phoenix said both showcased the company's innovative approach in providing services to clients during the pandemic.

Phoenix Petroleum president Henry Albert Fadullon said: "To be recognized consistently in the international scene makes us beyond proud. It is especially more rewarding as this comes while we combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This recognition from the IBA only makes us want to improve and strive more."

Ford Future

Want to know what Ford may be bringing into the country in the future?

Ford Philippines has added a "Coming Soon" page on its website which showcases the vehicles that will soon grace local Ford showrooms.

Already the Coming Soon page features theall-new Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4 and the all-new Ford Explorer 2.3L EcoBoost Limited 4WD.

Says Patrick Manigbas, Ford Philippines marketing director : "We are very excited to enable this section of our website to keep our customers up to speed and excited with what Ford vehicles they can expect to be launched in the future. We invite our customers to stay tuned on our website or visit a Ford dealer for more updates about upcoming Ford vehicles."

GAC Change

One Chinese automotive brand that is fully embracing its made in China tag is GAC Motor.

During a Zoom conference with local motoring media, GAC launched what it calls the Go And Change Campaign that "heralds the brand's new strategic direction of focusing on the technology and improvement of its craftsmanship."

GAC revealed that part of this campaign is the QDR (Quality, Durability, and Reliability) Project being undertaken at its four research and development centers in theSilicon Valley, Los Angeles City, andDetroit in the US of A, and in Shanghai, China.

These R&D Centers are responsible for the choice of premium materials and the technology used in the manufacture of GAC vehicles, it adds.

GAC said its future involves developing a line-up of electrified vehicles. Already it is investing in R&D for the development of artificial intelligence systems as well as autonomous, hybrid, and pure electric vehicles.

At the same time, GAC Motor announced that it will soon be launching the all-new GS4, a bulletproof GS8 model, and the GN8 Master's Edition.

XPander Surges

The seven-seater Mitsubishi Xpander has recorded another milestone with 1,207 units sold in July, its highest sales performance for the year and a60 percent growth compared to sales in June.

Mitsubishi Motors claims the Xpander is the best-selling MPV in the country.

Says Takeshi Hara, MMPC president and CEO: "We are very thankful for the continuous strong performance of the Mitsubishi Xpander in the Philippine market. We are grateful to the warm support that the public has shown to the nameplate. We assure our customers that we will continuously work inspired to deliver great products and dedicated service that will bring our brand closer to the hearts of the Filipinos."

Happy Motoring!!!

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