Motoring Today Column

Oct 06, 2021

The Pasig River Expressway project of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is stirring more than a tempest in a teapot.

After SMC top honcho Ramon Ang announced that government, through a Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA), has green-lit the P95-billion PAREX project, social media went awash with posts from individuals and groups opposing the project.

On one hand, SMC has stated the six-lane elevated tollway following the banks of the Pasig will be designed and built with sustainability in mind and will feature dedicated bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, even a Bus Rapid Transit system, and will be complemented by ongoing SMC billion-peso initiatives to dredge and revive the long ecologically dead river.

It will not only help decongest traffic in the metropolis but will also provide a quicker and faster East to West route for Metro Manila motorists as well provide seamless links with other elevated tollways leading to the NLEX and SLEX, and vital areas for business and trade like CBDs and the port and airport, SMC said.

All this at virtually no cost to government. It will also provide thousands of jobs at a time when many are jobless.

The opposition to the PAREX, already with the#notoparex hashtag, claims an elevated tollway over the Pasig River will just shift traffic chokepoints, will only benefit vehicle owners who make up just 12 percent of the metro's population, cause more pollution, destroy the river, devalue property along its path.

PAREX is not, the oppositionists say, a solution to traffic congestion and pollution. In fact it will even worsen that terrible twin spawns of urbanization.

Suddenly we learn that at least 50 heritage sites along the Pasig River could be badly affected by the construction of the PAREX. Such venerable sites include the Fort Santiago, the National Press Club compound, the Arroceros Forest Park, the Central Post Office, the ruins of Spanish or American era buildings on Aduana, etc.

We suddenly get educated about how many major urban areas around the world are getting rid or have already gotten rid of elevated expressways to revive communities blighted for years under the shadow of urban causeways, along with studies of how urban traffic has improved with these gone.

Both sides of the argument have their points. Both sides of the argument shade the truth somewhat.

That may be the paradox that is the PAREX. Development is usually preceded by destruction. The question is how much destruction or loss in some areas is acceptable for some progress in others.

One good thing about the opposition to the PAREX may be that SMC could be listening and learning from the vocal, earnest and learned opposition.

It would be interesting to see if the final detailed design and engineering plans for the PAREX will have been influenced by the criticisms and objections to what SMC calls the green hybrid highway.

Que Tal MRT-4?

The Spanish are coming.

That is the Spain-based design consultant IDOM Consulting Engineering, Architecture SA which has signed an agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the detailed architectural and engineering design of the Metro Rail Transit Line 4.

Under the agreement, IDOM will prepare the project's preliminary design, detailed engineering and tender designs, the loan processing documents, financial and economical assessments, the project/loan safeguards documents, and bidding documents for the MRT-4 project.

Funded by an official development assistance (ODA) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the MRT-4 envisions a railway mass-transit system cutting across the cities ofMandaluyong, San Juan, Quezon, Pasig, and municipalities of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal.

The DOTr would like to see construction begin in the second quarter of 2022 with full completion by 2028.

But Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade would like to see segments of the MRT-4 become operational even earlier than 2028.

During the signing, Tugade said: "I want the concept of partial operability to be implemented in the designs, in the projects, so that we will not wait for the completion of the project until 2028. So that the people of Rizal can enjoy and experience the benefit of MRT-4."

Tugade said had injected the concept of partial operability in which "we will no longer wait for the completion of a project from stage 1 to stage Z in order for the people to enjoy to benefit of the project."

Benz Benchmark

Mercedes-Benz loyalists and ultra premium car enthusiasts should be happy hear that Auto Nation Group, Inc. (ANG), official local Benz importer and distributor, has launched the new S-Class.

ANG said the seventh-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class is shaping the next generation of contemporary and individual mobility with innovations that focus on people.

"The new S-Class has undergone the most extensive refinement process in the history of Mercedes-Benz," said ANG chief operating officer Frankie Ang.

"The brand did to the new S-Class what it does best - putting the customers in the center. It can now be experienced with all the senses - seeing, feeling, hearing, and smelling - while offering impressive innovations in the areas of driver assistance, protection, and interaction."

Honda Bestseller

Seems a long while since Honda Cars Philippines staked a claim at leading segment sales.

But it has lately done so with the All New City Hatchback launched just in April of this year.

Honda says that since the launch, the All New Honda City Hatchback has become one of the country's best-selling hatchbacks, occupying 75 percent of market share with 189 units sold since April.

"We are truly delighted to see the All-New City Hatchback soar in the hatchback segment since its introduction in the country," said Masahiko Nakamura HCPI president.

"The positive acceptance of the Filipino market on the model means a lot for us and we would like to reaffirm our promise to continuously serve the country with quality products and excellent customer service," he added.

Defender No. 200

Coventry Motors Corporation (CMC) , the sole authorized distributor of Land Rover vehicles, parts, and accessories in the Philippines, has reached a new milestone.

It has just delivered Defender No. 200 to a local customer.

CMX says the milestone was achieved just a year after the Asian premiere of the new Defender.

Said Chris Ward, president of Land Rover Philippines: "Launching the vehicle head-on with the Covid-19 situation, we were unsure of how the Defender line would initially take-off. Not surprisingly, it was very well received in the Philippine market. The amount of support of its enthusiasts for the brand was tremendous."

Happy Motoring!!!

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