Motoring Today Column

Aug 17, 2022

The 2022-2023 school year is just about to start.

Public schools are expected to formally begin by August 22 . Private schools, too.

Already some private schools have begun holding orientation classes, at least on-line.

The public schools that have started holding face-to-face classes last school year are expected to continue doing so.

Some private schools are also expected to begin transitioning to face-to-face classes in line with the directive from the Department of Education (DepEd) for all educational institutions to fully return to classroom instruction by November 2 of this year.

The DepEd guidelines for this transition and the start of schoolyear should be out by this week.

Many fear that the start of the school year and the return of face-to-face classes will worsen the already bad traffic congestion being experienced daily in Metro Manila and other mayor urban centers.

Expect more of those yellow school buses and shuttles on the streets.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already issued a memorandum circular that allows school transport units with active Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) or Provisional Authority (PA) to resume operations.

The circular also said those with expired CPCs but with pending Application for Extension of Validity would also be allowed to operate.

Expect streets fronting and around schools to be congested with private cars dropping off or picking up students.

It is good that traffic and public transportation authorities are anticipating problems that come with the start of the school year, especially with the return of face-to-face classes.

This week will see the return of the pre-pandemic number coding scheme to reduce the volume of vehicles.

Depending on the end numbers of license plates, vehicles are again banned from streets of Metro Manila at least once a week from 7AM to 10AM on weekdays.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the number coding scheme only covers private cars which some motorists will complain may not be fair or equitable.

Especially with MMDA exempting public utility vehicles, including transport network vehicle services, as well as motorcycles.

Also exempted are garbage trucks, fuel trucks, marked government vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, marked media vehicles, and motor vehicles carrying essential and perishable goods.

Anticipating an increase in demand for public transportation, the LTFRB is looking at opening more than 100 new routes, especially targeting the university belt and other areas with a high concentration of students.

In this return to normalcy - face-to-face classes, the traffic congestion, more crowded public transport - it is easy to forget that the Covid-19 pandemic remains a deadly threat.

So it may be good for authorities to be more vehement in reminding public transport operators, especially of school buses and shuttles, about complying with health and safety protocols

These include regular temperature and health screening of drivers and conductors, regular disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, and mandatory wearing of face masks.

To be sure, many parents are still wary of sending their children back to school, especially with the rising number of cases of new variants of the Covid-19 virus.

Perhaps if trend of rising Covid cases continue, the DepEd could rethink mandatory face-to-face classes and still make on-line schooling an option. This should also help ease traffic congestion.

Toyota Flexes HEVs

More and more electric vehicles, including hybrids and full-battery electrics, are being launched locally.

These range from entry level to premium models and brands.

And again Toyota Motor Philippines is claiming dominance of this new and growing market.

Citing official figures from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) , Toyota claims that it and sister brand Lexus have cornered 95 percent of the EV market.

According to CAMPI data, 1,013 electrified vehicles have been sold locally as of end-June this year, surpassing total volume of 843 in 2021and 378 in 2020.

Toyota claims it has sold 962 hybrids this year. These include models from Toyota and Lexus.

Again Toyota is claiming dominance by offering a lot more options in every segment.

In a press statement, it said that Toyota and Lexus offer the widest range of HEVs in the country today with multiple variants across 10 models - Toyota's Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, Prius, Camry, and RAV 4 plus Lexus' IS, ES, LS, NX and RX.

New X3 Arrives

SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp . has added another model to BMW's already impressive and extensive local lineup of Sport Activity Vehicles.

This is the BMW X3 xDrive20d Business.

Refreshed exterior and upgraded interior make the BMW X3 priced at P3.79 million another best value premium SAV.

Interior highlights include a freestanding, central10.25-inch Control Display with touch function and BMW Live Cockpit Plus instrumentation with a 5.1-inch color display at the center.

The BMW X3 xDrive20d Business is powered by a2.0-liter in-line 4-cylinder engine withBMW TwinPower Turbo technology withMulti-Stage TurboCharging that delivers a maximum 190 hp and 400 Nm of torque.

Mated to an 8-speed Steptronic transmission, this engine enables the X3 to accelerate from 0-100 kph in 7.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 213 kph.

Happy Motoring!!!

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