Motoring Today Column

Apr 06, 2022

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) again just organized another Traffic Summit.

Some observers note that the traffic summit is aptly named because solving the metro's traffic woes seems as hard as climbing the Everest.

Others said the summit ended like other summits with signed pledges from stakeholders and the local government units to rationalize, improve, and enhance public and private transportation.

Summit participants submitted new proposals recommending old and re-tweaked solutions. At least that is what some said of proposals which included the expansion of the number coding scheme and reimplementation of truck bans.

Even as MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the agency will conduct more consultations to further improve traffic management in Metro Manila, it nonetheless began implementing new tweaks such as reimplementation of the truck ban policy and adding more exemptions to the coding scheme.

Authorities announced that with the NCR now underAlert Level 1, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) units and public utility vehicles (PUVs) are exempted from the number coding scheme.

Motorbikes as well as garbage and fuel trucks and other utility vehicles are also exempted.

At the same time, provincial buses are again allowed back on EDSA from 10PM up to 5AM on a two-week dry run.

Many kibitzers are wary of tweaking coding schemes, pointing out that providing a more efficient, convenient and comfortable mass transportation system should be more effective in the long run.

SCP Phase 3

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is awaiting approval of the Commission on Elections(Comelec) for an exemption to implement Phase 3 of the Service Contracting Program.

Comelec approval is necessary as there is a ban on implementing government-funded projects during the election period.

Department of Transportation (DOTr0 Secretary Art Tugade said the SCP " provides our drivers and operators regular payouts amid the rising fuel prices and inflation."

It will also allow the resumption of the "Libreng Sakay" program not only in Metro Manila but also nationwide.

Already the P7-billion allocated for thePhase 3 of SCP in the2022 national budget has been released by theDepartment of Budget and Management (DBM) to the DOTr which in turn downloaded it to the LTFRB.

Under the program, PUV operators and drivers are paid by the LTFRB based on the maximum number of trips made per week, with or without passengers, and in compliance with performance indicators.

PUV operators will receive a one-time incentive of P5,000 per unit to cover "pre-operating costs" while operational incentives will be given weekly.

Comelec should allow Phase 3 of the SCP to be implemented as soon as possible.

Isuzu Makati

The auto sector appears to be heading to a healthy and hearty new normal if the opening of newly upgraded and new dealerships is any indication.

Isuzu Gencars formally opened the doors to its latest dealership that has been refurbished and redesigned to meet the new Isuzu Outlet Standard.

Isuzu Makati is the first of Gencar's seven dealerships to be given the IOS treatment.

At the event, Isuzu Philippines president Hajime Koso, said: "This new Isuzu Outlet Standard is part of our company's push to achieve utmost 'Customer Success', aligned with Isuzu's Global Dealership Standards that gives importance not just to the sales side but the over-all customer journey - starting from their inquiry, sales, after-sales service and their continuous return to our showroom. The new outlet standard will enable us to provide customer support in every step of the way."

Mitsubishi Bulua

Over in Cagayan de Oro, another Mitsubishi dealership opens its doors, the second in the city and the 11th of Fast Autoworld Philippines Corporation.

At the opening, Fast Autoworld chairman Victor Chiongbian said: "FAPC is proud to showcase its latest branch in Bulua - our second in Cagayan De Oro City, the first being in Gusa. The journey started in 1987 when we first opened in Cebu. We have been a Mitsubishi stalwart for 35 years, and even in today's sales and marketing era, we still have the same fervor to welcome not just our loyal customer base but also the next generation of car buyers."

Kia Bacoor

In Cavite, Kia Philippines and Iconic Dealership Inc. (IDI) broke ground for the soon-to-rise Kia dealership in Bacoor.

Expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of this year , Kia Bacoor is strategically situated in the second-largest city of Cavite which is rapidly shifting from a largely agricultural community to a residential and commercial urban center.

Happy Motoring!!!

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