The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is asking the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to exempt public utility vehicles from the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP).
The reason the LTFRB gave is that this will help ensure enough public transport options for commuters, especially as students return to schools.
If this won't make the NCAP even more hated by private motorists, especially those who say they have been victimized by the MMDA and LGUs with unwarranted traffic violations, nothing else will.
Some observers note that necessity is again being used as reason to give public transport operators and drivers a pass to go about ignoring traffic rules and violations, as well as administrative processes.
In a letter, the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) asked the MMDA not to impound PUVs that were given special permits instead ofcertificates of public convenience or CPCs to operate new or reopened routes that pass by or close to schools in Metro Manila.
The LTFRB earlier opened 68 more jeepney and 32 UV Express routes, in preparation for the school opening.
PUVs looking to ply these routes are only asked to apply for special permits to operate while processing CPCs.
Another thing that should rile private motorists is PUVs being exempted from the coding scheme to reduce the vehicle volume on metro streets, again to ensure public transport availability for students and the masses.
But to be fair to the MMDA, in response to the LTFRB-DOTr letter, it said that while enforcers won't be flagging PUVs for lack of CPCs they would for traffic violations.
The MMDA added that it was still studying the request to exempt PUVs from the NCAP.
September Returns
It's the last day of August. And you know what comes after August. September.
We all know what that means. Time to break out those records of you know who to signal the start of the world's longest celebration of you know what.
For the automotive industry, it's also time to break out those models, promos and marketing schemes for what is traditionally the car-buying season, also a long but hectic season for auto makers and distributors.
And this September signals a return to a norm of sorts. The return of the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).
The biannual event organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) returns after a four-year absence, the last being held in 2018.
The Covid-19 pandemic made it a longer wait for the local auto industry's own motor show.
Many expect the 8th PIMS, slated forSeptember 15 to 18 at the World Trade Center in Pasay, to be an exciting, eye-catching, crowd-drawing affair with auto makers and distributors showcasing their latest and best models.
Early on, the CAMPI PIMS Facebook page said the theme for the return of the Philippine International Motor Show will be "Mobility + Humanity: Innovating for the Common Good."
Already our friends on the beat are busy predicting what will be-or what they would like to see- showcased by our friends in the industry.
By the theme, many suspect that there will be a lot vehicles that also follow the trend for sustainability.
GR 86 Now Here
One thing is for sure though, theToyota Motor Philippines (TMP) booth at the2022 PIMS will have the All New Toyota GR 86, which the country's leading brand announced is now available at TMP's GR Performance Dealerships.
Auto enthusiasts will be happy to know that the All-New Toyota GR 86, described as an "exciting upgrade and a great homage to the revered Toyota 86 line," will be available in either automatic and manual tranny.
Toyota promises the All New G86 arrives with a greater steering feedback and sharper handling as well as more power and torque-237PS and 250 NM-- from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, horizontally-opposed, DOHC, 16-valve engine.
Top Contributor
Meanwhile, Toyota has more than new cars to tout and celebrate.
Congratulations to TMP for being recognized as the second top importer by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas (BoC-PoB) for the January-July period this year.
The recognition was for remitting to government a total of P16.46 billion in duties and taxes, the second highest collected by the BoC-PoB during the first seven months of the year.
TMP attributes this achievement to the establishment of the 32-hectare TMP Batangas Vehicle Center (BVC), which processes completely-built-up units arriving from the nearby POB at a higher capacity and level of efficiency.
Said TMP first vice president for Vehicle Logistics Aimee Josephine Lopez : "Process automation initiatives as well as the highly reliable port personnel continue to support Toyota's operations through efficient customs processing and timely release of shipments."
Happy Motoring!!!
For comments & inquiries:
(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com
(website) www.motoringtoday.ph
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)