Motoring Today Column

Feb 15, 2023

Getting Old

It's getting old. Seeing transport authorities seemingly unable to get rid of aging traditional passenger jeepneys - units more than 15-year old - still plying routes.

Again the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has extended the validity of franchises of jeepneys way past 15 year old.

The franchises or provisional authorities to operate of these rusting relics were supposed to expire by the end of April inMetro Manila and March in the rest of the nation.

And again the reason given is that there may be a transport shortage.

Also, the LTFRB now says it doesn't want to leave anyone behind in its PUV modernization program.

Without mentioning numbers, the LTFRB says it estimates that only 60 percent of jeepneys targeted for modernization has joined the program.

The LTFRB says it wants to give jeepney operators more time to form cooperatives and take advantage of incentives and funding to modernize their operation.

While the LTFRB maintains the extension is not indefinite, it hasn't set a new deadline saying it was still deliberating on new guidelines.

Reports indicate these new guidelines may be about the consolidation of old routes and setting new routes to be reserved for modern jeepneys with Euro 4 compliant engines or battery-powered electric motors.

The LTFRB said changes may include allowing two or more cooperatives on new or consolidated routes, as well as re-evaluating initiatives encouraging the shift to e-jeepneys.

Jeepney drivers, operators , and cooperatives are still complaining that the shift to e-jeepneys is not as easy as authorities are saying, especially in terms of affordability and feasibility of operations.

A FEJODAP official is reported to have said earnings may not be enough to pay for amortization of e-jeepneys.

To many observers this shows jeepney operators and drivers still have the numbers and clout to cow transport authorities into submission.

This may be a bit harsh, but old jeepneys out there are getting older with each new program and deadline set and adjusted, and always in favor of drivers and operators.

Under the past administration, transport authorities appeared to be resolute in modernizing public transport, particularly with the jeepneys.

This early into the new administration, transport authorities don't appear as resolute.

Tamaraw Returning

The good news is that Toyota has committed to invest P4.4 billion for the production of light commercial vehicles in the Philippines.

Perhaps a more poignant news is the return of the Tamaraw FX.

Both pieces of news came out of the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s official visit to Japan.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation president Okamoto Atsuhiro told reporters covering the visit that Toyota has signed a letter of intent with the Philippine government to invest in an LCV or IMV-0 (Innovative International Multipurpose Vehicle-zero) project .

He said this will see the local production of LCVs at Toyota's Sta. Rosa, Laguna, assembly plant which will include a new version of the Tamaraw FX.

Aston Martin

One of the most powerful SUVs in the world is now available in country.

Thanks to Aston Martin Manila, the new DBX707 can now stake a claim as the most powerful ultra high-luxury SUV on local roads.

Says Aston Martin Manila chairman and president Marc Louie Tagle : "A testament to Aston Martin's dedication to igniting the passion for the ultimate driving experience, the DBX707 is another masterpiece that marries technology with masterful craftsmanship. From its trademark luxurious fittings to the boosted turbo engine, The DBX707 takes our discerning clientele to the next level, and it is an honor for us to bring this to the Philippine market."

That honor comes with a P33.5 million price tag for 900-horsepower SUV.

But that's par for the segment, at least according to Aston Martin marketing head Fiel Tan, who says: "It is extremely competitive for its segment, packed with the performance features that come with it. Its size, coupled with 900NM of torque is enough to make any car enthusiast's heart race behind the wheel."

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)