Motoring Today Column: Policy Shifts

Feb 08, 2023

Policy Shifts

Motorists and commuters should be aware of shifts in policy and new initiatives that will surely affect their daily lives.

One is transport authorities rethinking theLibreng Sakay program which has anallocation of P1.3 billion in the 2023 national budget.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation promised to resume the Libreng Sakay program once the budget has been released for implementation.

This was supposed to happen by the second month or within the first quarter of the year.

However, that promise won't be fulfilled after all.

Commuters who enjoyed free rides on the EDSA Busway still have something to look forward to.

News reports said the DOTr plans to use the P1.3 billion meant for the Libreng Sakay program for a new initiative described as a discount system on fares that would cover not only the EDSA buses but also public utility jeepneys and shuttles.

Some believe the discount system on buses, jeepneys and shuttles should be preferred to outright free rides on just buses on the EDSA.

The discount system would benefit more commuters and help make the fund last longer. Authorities earlier estimated that the P1.3-billion for Libreng Sakay program would be used up in just four months.

Wider Bike Lanes

Another initiative that will surely affect motorists and commuters alike, in one way or another, is the plan to improve the walkways and bicycle lanes in Metro Manila.

According to a Philippine News Agency report, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has approved its Active Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program (ATIIP).

The report indicated that the ATIIP will initially see "widening of pedestrian walkways and protected bi-directional bike lanes."

This is in line with thePhilippine Development Plan for 2023-2028 approved by President Bongbong Marcos that, among other things, mandates according pedestrians and cyclists the highest priority in the hierarchy of road users.

A DOTr press statement said "the national government firmly believes that the only way traffic congestion will be solved along EDSA and all other metropolitan areas in the country is through building better and more active transport and mass transportation systems."

While this should make cycling advocates happy, motorists won't jibe even as they are already complaining about how even narrow bike lanes carved out on the metro roads have worsened congestion.

Ticketing Device

The third initiative that should cause some ambivalence among motorists is traffic enforcers using new handheld devices to issue electronic Temporary Operator's Permits (e-TOPs).

These devices can also print-out the e-TOPs issued to those caught violating traffic regulations.

Already the Land Transportation Office has personnel training on the use of the handheld devices.

This initiative is part of LTO's effort to achieve full digitalization of operations and processes under the new administration.

According to the LTO, the devices will be used initially to just issue tickets but there are plans to use these for accepting payments of fines for traffic violations.

While some see many benefits from using the new handheld devices and digitalization of the issuance of traffic violation tickets, others are wary about possible misuse and abuse of the new system and processes.

More Affordable EVs

Nissan Philippines will soon announce a reduction in the sticker price of the LEAF.

The announcement came from Nissan Philippines president Juan Manuel Hoyos during the recent media thanksgiving night held at the Grand Hyatt Manila.

Hoyos said the price reduction for the LEAF is made possible by a newly released Malacanang Executive Order temporarily modifying tariff rates on import electric vehicles.

This should make advocates of electric vehicles happy and optimistic for more affordable EVs in the car and SUV segments.

Isuzu Awards

Congratulations are well deserved for winners named and feted during2022 Dealer of the Year Awards held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The IPC DOYA annually recognizes the achievements and outstanding performance of individuals and dealerships.

Congratulations then to Isuzu Makati as 2022 Dealer of the Year and Excellence in Parts Operations; Isuzu Alabang for 2022 Excellence in Sales Operations; Isuzu Cagayan de Oro for Excellence in Service Operations .

We'd also like to say kudos to Rica Ann M. Quico fromIsuzu Alabang for being named2022 Sales Executive of the Year, andDiana Rose T. Araneta from Isuzu Pasig as 2022 Truck Elite of the Year.

Edgard Cabangon, chairman of Isuzu Gencars, Inc ., thanked IPC "for the support and belief in the Isuzu Gencars Group" which allowed one of its dealerships, Isuzu Makati, to become the 2022 Dealer 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)