Motoring Today Column

Dec 14, 2022

Positive Performances

It's that time of year when performances are assessed and recognized.

And the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been weighed and found not wanting.

Both its chief and the whole department itself have been cited for positive performances.

In his first half-year in office, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista has attained a 69 percent approval rating.

This is from a survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) to determine who the public finds as the best performing cabinet official.

According to a press statement, the RPMD poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 5,000 respondents randomly picked from the 7,322,361 adult Filipinos residing in various districts of Metro Manila.

In reacting to the positive approval rating for Bautista, the DOTr said: "we convey our sincerest gratitude to our fellow countrymen for their support and trust as we continue to realize all the much-needed transport infrastructure projects, programs, and initiatives that shall pave way for an even more affordable, reliable, comfortable, and convenient transportation system for all."

At the same time, the DOTr itself has been cited as coming in second among departments for delivering public service with transparency, as measured by the eFOI portal.

The eFOI was established in the past administration to provide citizens a portal for accessing information and official records from government agencies to ensure transparency in government.

According to a press statement, the DOTr was second among government department in recording more than 500-1000 requests for information and with over 90 percent closed transactions.

In a press statement, Bautista said: "The Department of Transportation is deeply elated at receiving Freedom of Information Award for the sixth consecutive year. Our team of dedicated personnel at the Public Assistance Action Center (PAAC) successfully handled and resolved various commuter-related concerns, consequently giving honor and recognition to the whole Department.

"We remain committed to uphold transparency through efficient public disclosure of pertinent government information. We humbly accept this award with a pledge to look for ways to bring the traveling public closer to the government."

Isuzu Prexy

This early we'd like to say bon voyage and commend Noboru Murakami for a good job during his short stint as president of Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC).

Murakami san took over as IPC president back in May and ably maintained Isuzu's status as theNo. 1 truck brand in 2022, with a 48 percent market share.

It is IPC's 23rd consecutive year at the top.

Murakami's other accomplishments include ensuring a more sustainable plant operations for IPC, transitioning to using 100 percent renewable energy, and continuing to expand and modernize Isuzu's dealer network to cater to a bigger market nationwide.

Isuzu has announced that Murakami will be moving on to Isuzu North America Corporation to oversee the Isuzu business in that part of the world.

Isuzu said Murakami will be replaced by Tetsuya Fujita in the New Year.

Fujita san is expected to arrive in January bringing with him more than three decades of experience under Isuzu Motors Limited Japan handling different overseas markets like the United States and Latin America.

IPC is confident that with his extensive knowledge in both light commercial and truck markets, Fujita will continue Isuzu's reign as the number one truck brand in the country.

Toyota December Deals

It is also that time of year when automakers come bearing gifts for buyers.

Toyota Motor Philippines is spreading some Christmas cheer offering exciting deals and promotions for its wide range of vehicles.

Like the song 12 Days of Christmas, Toyota is offering Pay Low, Pay Light or Cash Savings options for 12 variants of the Vios, Corolla Altis, Rush, Innova or Fortuner.

Those in the market for a Toyota should head over to the dealerships this holiday season to check out the generous offerings that include 15 percent down payment, 60 months to pay, free 1-year insurance and 3-year LTO registration with no chattel mortgage.

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)