Motoring Today Column: Still on Track

Aug 24, 2022

Still on Track

Those who look at railways as one of the vital components of an efficient and affordable mass transport system should be glad to hear that the Bongbong Administration has not given up on three major railway projects.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista has expressed confidence that three railway projects will be substantially completed before the term of President Bongbong Marcos ends.

These are the Subic-Clark Railway Project, the Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul Project, and the Davao-Digos segment of the Mindanao Railway Project.

These projects seemed to have been derailed after China backed out of loan agreements.

However, Secretary Bautista indicated in news reports that the government "is considering working with Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) " to fund the projects.

The reports said Bautista has already met with Japanese officials to discuss the possibility of funding the railway projects.

At the same time, the DOTr said it has also agreed to restart negotiations with the Chinese Embassy.

Toyota Sets Future

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is looking towards the future of mobility with the incorporation of a new subsidiary that aims to provide for the needs of families, communities, and business, big and small.

During the formal inauguration of Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, (TMSPH), TMP chairman Alfred Ty said the new subsidiary will play a major role in fulfilling Toyota's vision of supporting the country's economy.

"Our vision has always been to contribute to the Philippine economy and society through our automotive manufacturing business," Alfred Ty said.

"As of the end of last year, Toyota is happy to provide jobs for approximately 63,000 Filipinos at TMP, our dealers, suppliers, and affiliates. We have also contributed $17.1 billion in terms of auto component exports to our Toyota group worldwide since we started export operations in 1997," he added.

TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto said the new subsidiary will "better shape the industry's role in building our modern societies and enriching human lives" while accelerating "the fulfillment of Toyota's global mission to 'Produce Happiness for All' and vision to create 'Mobility for All'."

Ma. Cristina Fe Arevalo, president of TMP's new subsidiary , said the company will be at the center of the new mobility ecosystem as a provider of integrated, one-stop' mobility solutions to help advance businesses and address local communities' needs.

Initially, TMSPH will primarily support the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with mobility solutions that include an on-demand shuttle booking app and car sharing or rental, logistics matching, and fleet management services.

TMSPH will also complement Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corporation in promoting and managing units under its full operating lease product called KINTO.

Baby S Class Arrives

If the Mercedes Benz S Class is your dream car but still just out of reach, perhaps the All New C Class will suffice.

Dubbed the Baby S Class, the New C Class is now made available by the Auto Nation Group.

During its recent launch, Auto Nation Group CEO Francis Jonathan Ang said: "Today marks a new chapter in the success of the C Class. The new C Class has everything that would delight and indulge a new generation of future leaders and achievers. It looks younger and more athletic and has well balanced driving dynamics. More comfortable. More fun to drive. All of these combine to make the new C Class more desirable now, a perfect representation of modern luxury."

The Auto Nation Group is confident the new C Class will continue to be one of Mercedes Benz's best-selling models in the country.

Said Francis Ang: "The C-Class is a key pillar of Mercedes Benz success. And here in the Philippine, the C Class is undauntedly one of the most loved luxury sedan. It has enjoyed strong customer preference with over 2,000 units sold since 2005.

"The fifth generation C Class raises the bar of luxury compact sedan. It is where modern luxury meets driving dynamics, human centered innovations and all that in a damn good looking form that all of you will fall in love with once again."

Only one variant of the C Class is available at present - the C180 Avantgarde.

This is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged in-line-four mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.

Frankie Ang said the C-Class powertrain now available locally comes with an EQ boost mild hybrid system which gives the engine a boost in certain situations and can increase efficiency.

It is offered with an introductory price of P3,890,000.

The Auto Nation Group promises an sportier AMG option will be arriving toward the end of the year.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)