Motoring Today Column

Jun 15, 2022

Construction work has begun on the Mass Rail Transit 7 train depot or main stabling area on a 20-hectare property in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

This should be another feather in the cap of San Miguel Corporation president and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

The depot will have enough capacity to accommodate up to150 train cars in all, exceeding the 36 trainsets or 108 rail cars, ordered for the MRT-7.

In a press statement, Ang said that project completion for the MRT-7 is estimated at over 60 percent, with construction work focused on the first 12 of its total 14 stations.

"This is yet another important milestone reached by our MRT-7 team, who have been diligently working for several years now, even throughout this pandemic, not only to build the physical structure of the rail system, but also to overcome the many right-of-way and property-related challenges faced by a project of this scale," he added.

In citing the significance of the MRT-7 project, Ang said mass rail and mass transport projects are key to decongesting Metro Manila, easing traffic on public roads, lowering harmful emissions that result from hours of stand-still traffic, boosting productivity, and decentralizing economic growth to benefit also our provinces.

Kia at Food Expo

The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lot of things. One of them is how logistics services play a very important role for the smooth functioning of communities from the smallest village to the biggest cities.

In fact, provinces, regions, the whole nation owe a lot to providers of logistics services.

Of course, we are aware, but on different levels, of how everything we need are all transported and distributed by all manner of conveyances from big trucks to light commercial vehicles like closed vans, pickup trucks and even motorcycles and pedal bikes.

But that fact was brought to greater light during the lockdowns when many became dependent on food deliveries and online shopping of various commodities and needs all of which are delivered to their very doorsteps.

So it shouldn't be surprising that as the economy begins to return to normal the demand for logistics services is growing.

Of course, this makes distributors of trucks, buses and vans happy. And competition is growing fierce.

This could explain why even food expos now see automotive companies setting up booths to showcase vehicles meant for ferrying cargo.

Like Kia Philippines which is showcasing itsK2500, a light duty truck, at the Manila Foods & Beverages Expo (MAFBEX).

Billed as the country's long-running premier food and beverage exposition, the MAFBEX opens today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at theWorld Trade Center and will continue to do so until June 19, 2022.

In a press statement, Kia announced it was participating at the MAFBEX as part of its Kia K2500 Kargado Karavan 2022 promoting its versatile lineup of light commercial vehicles.

Its participation at the MAFBEX aims to showcase the K2500's capabilities and flexibilities for the widest range of businesses.

Various configurations of the K2500 will be showcased.

These include the K2500 Kargo that Kia says is aimed at caterers; the K2500 Refrigerated Van for perishable cargos ; and the K2500 4x4 Double Cab Dropside for agricultural goods suppliers .

A K2500 in shuttle service guise will also be available for test drives onsite.

Those who make a reservation on any of the Kia K2500 models will get special offers and discounts as well as a free Blaupaunkt dash cam.

Kia has even arranged to have a BPI representative at its booth to facilitate easy and convenient transactions for financing.

Kia and the K2500 being at the expo provide is good reason for those in the food and beverage sector to head over to MAFBEX this week.

Hino Fire Trucks

A longtime distributor of trucks and buses, Hino Motors Philippines, is also helping out the community in ways beyond supporting the logistics sector.

Hino Motors has turned over 15 brand-new fire trucks to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

This represents the first batch of 61 fire trucks ordered by the BFP for distribution to various local government units nationwide.

Hino partnered with F. Cura Industries and Hanseo Precision Industry, Co. Ltd for the supply of fire truck body and special equipment to be mounted on an FG8J chassis.

During the turnover of the fire trucks, Hino Motors president Mitsuharu Tabata said: "Hino Motors is proud to have been instrumental to the modernization of our BFP fleet of fire trucks. Unlike the usual vehicle requirements for business or commercial use, a fire truck demands the highest level of reliability.

"When lives are at stake, there is no room for compromise. We simply must get the job done. It is Hino's utmost honor being BFP's chosen partner for this task."

Happy Motoring!!!

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