Motoring Today Column

Aug 10, 2022

Car owners shouldn't really get worried about the new bill filed in Congress mandating proof of parking as a requirement for purchasing and registration of motor vehicles.

A similar bill was filed a number of years back which generated a lot noise and not much more. Nothing came of it.

But Representative Lord Allan Velasco deserves some kudos for filing House Bill No. 31 or "An Act Requiring Parking Space From Motor Vehicle Buyers in Metropolitan Areas as a Pre-Requisite for the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle and Registration with the Land Transportation Office."

At least, HB 31 again brings to fore the problem of streets in many residential areas clogged with vehicles from the poorest neighborhoods to even higher end subdivisions.

This has caused some friction among neighbors and headaches for traffic management authorities.

Just ask the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units which have been trying to clear streets of parked vehicles obstructing traffic.

Some observers point out that there really is no need for HB 31 if only local government units have the political will to implement measures to rid the problem of streets clogged with parked vehicles.

Some look back with moist eyes to the time when then Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando did just that with some success.

Bad Timing

Perhaps it's just bad timing.

That is the MMDA moving to stop using timers on signal lights at intersections and shifting to what it called an adaptive signaling system.

The shift comes at a time when motorist are starting to fear the rise of that money-sapping monster called the No Contact Apprehension Program.

Motorists caught by the widening web of CCTV systems installed in the metro to nab traffic rules violators are now complaining that the NCAP is starting to feel like just another revenue-generating scheme of local government units.

Conspiracy theorists see the shutdown of count-down timers as part of a dastardly scheme to milk more money from this new cash cow of LGUs and government agencies.

Not so, says the MMDA.

The shift to an adaptive signaling system is aimed at better management of traffic at intersections.

The system uses detectors or sensors to determine traffic flow at intersections and adapt the light changes accordingly.

In the words of Francisco Pesino Jr., chief engineer of the Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance Group of the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center as quoted in news reports: "With the detector, the presence of vehicles will be sensed. If there are no vehicles that pass through from three to five seconds, the time will be cut. The light will then change."

We've all experienced having to wait interminably long for the light to turn green even when no other vehicle can be seen at intersections.

Gazoo Festival

Toyota Motor Philippines is helping generate more interest in motorsports by holding the first ever local Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at the Clark International Speedway.

TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto explains the rationale for the festival, saying: "We really love the energy here at the GR Festival, fueled by our shared love for cars, passion for the thrill and joy of driving, and driven by our common goal to promote motorsports in the country."

The three-day festival was only open to members of the Toyota dealer network and the media who underwent advanced driving training under champion race car drivers from the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy.

But Toyota promises similar festivals for the public.

Says Okamoto: "In a way, this is our initiation in staging a very participatory and experiential racing event, and soon, we'd like to open more activities like this for the public to fully live and appreciate the Toyota Gazoo Racing brand."

During the festival, Toyota also previewed the latest addition to TMP's growing GR car lineup, the All-New Toyota GR 86, which is now available for pre-order at GR Performance Dealerships.

Help Abra

Many communities in Abra are still reeling from the effects of the devastating earthquake that rocked the province a few weeks back. And still need help.

Among those who extended help is Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC).

IPC and Isuzu Isabela, one of the dealers under by B.M. Domingo Motor Sales Inc., organized a relief operation in partnership with the Abra Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to extend aid to families displaced by the magnitude 7 earthquake.

A team led by Imelda Bernas, IPC administration division head, Robert Carlos, IPC sales assistant division head, and Isuzu Isabela operations manager Antonio Benito "Butch" Mijares travelled to Bangued, Abra to deliver relief goods such as food, water and hygiene kits to 250 families settling at an evacuation center.

Happy Motoring!!!

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