Motoring Today Column: Single Ticketing

Feb 01, 2023

Single Ticketing

Motorists have always been complaining about having to deal with different traffic regulations and enforcers in Metro Manila.

It's especially difficult because the various cities making up Metro Manila issue their own traffic citation tickets, and this is not counting those issued by enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Over the years, efforts to establish a single traffic ticketing system for Metro Manila have been pursued to no avail.

But perhaps 2023 may the year this happens.

According to news reports, traffic management officials and mayors have approved the final draft of a Metro Manila Traffic Code that proposes a single ticketing system for the National Capital Region.

Motorists should expect the single ticketing system to be implemented before the end of the first quarter of the year.

The reports said the Metro Manila Traffic Code includes uniform penalties for the 20 most common traffic violations.

Does this mean the local government units in NCR will facilitate issuing the necessary ordinances or amendments to respective traffic codes to reflect the agreed upon uniform penalties?

In the same reports, Metro Manila Council president and San City Mayor Francis Zamora expressed confidence that metro mayors will pass a resolution to approve the final draft of the Metro Manila Traffic Code and the single ticketing system.

Zamora added that after such a resolution is approved, each LGU "will have to draft or amend their respective ordinances adapting standardized fines on identified common traffic violations."

The reports also indicated that the implementation of a single traffic ticketing system will need traffic management departments of LGUs to integrate data systems with the Land Transportation Management System of the Land Transportation Office.

According to the reports, the MMDA has agreed to fund the purchase of hardware and other I.T. requirements needed for such integration.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes was quoted as saying: "We will conduct an inventory of each LGU with regards their respective systems and equipment for the planned interconnectivity with the LTO database for them to have access on the motorists' records."

While there is reportedly an agreement on the final draft for the Metro Manila Traffic Code and a single ticketing system, there are still many steps towards full implementation.

Especially difficult will be the integration with the LTO-LTMS to make the single ticketing system work seamlessly.

Implementation in the first quarter? Motorists can only hope that it comes sooner than later.

Electric BMW

The shift towards a fully electric future for personal mobility seems to be well on the way.

Another fully electric vehicle is now available with the arrival of the BMW iX3.

This is second fully electric vehicle brought in by SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines.

It's the premium luxury segment that is leading the way towards fully electric sedans and SUVs, or in the case of BMWs, the SAV.

The iX3 blends emission- free driving pleasure with the sporting ability and the comfort, multi- faceted functionality and spaciousness of a Sports Activity Vehicle, according to SMC Asia Car.

The iX3 drive system generates a maximum output of 286 hp and peak torque of 400 Nm and can take this electric SAV from 0 to 100 kph in 6.8 Top speed is electronically limited to 180 kph.

The first-ever BMW iX3 offers a range of up to 460 kilometer.

President of SMC Asia Car Spencer Yu said "The iX3 is the perfect choice for customers who want to take their first step toward a truly sustainable driving experience."

It's pegged at P4,590,000. But as that old commercial goes, a more sustainable planet for future generations is priceless.

Aggressive Xpander

Can the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross look even more aggressive?

Yes it does as the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross showed during the unveiling.

The look of the new Xpander Cross certainly lives up to the promise of providing a modern 7-seater MPV with SUV capabilities perfect for individuals and families who prefer performance and functionality in one aggressively styled package.

While the exterior was designed to look more aggressive, the interior of the 2023 Xpander Cross was reimagined with comfort and convenience in mind.

This is achieved by using a combination of luxury and high-tech features borrowed from top-end Montero Sport variants.

Under the hood is a 1.5 MIVEC DOHC 16-valve with 104 hp and 141 Nm of torque mated to a 4-Speed Automatic Transmission.

During the unveiling, Takeshi Hara, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines said: "With the New Xpander Cross, you can comfortably and confidently go out and experience the scenic places of the Philippines. Hence our tagline: 'Cross the Current'."

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

Archive

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)