OBR — What a relief!

Just got back from a sortie with the bigwigs of local motoring in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show. I was gone for almost a week, gaping at the latest automobile models many of them designed for the future, courtesy of Honda Cars Philippines. By Monday morning, I was back on the roads, ready for new battles to be fought in the corporate world but, being back home, I knew the first battle to reckon with was the ubiquitous Manila traffic. Being away for the better part of a week, I was shocked to find EDSA so navigable, on an early Monday afternoon!

Breezing through the wide roads of EDSA, I still couldn’t figure out what was wrong, or rather what went right, to find myself in such pleasant traffic conditions. Then it hit me — there were no monstrous buses trying to squeeze me out of my lane. There were buses all right, but they were no longer king of the road because they did not have the numbers.

OBR, or Organized Bus Route has been in the drawing board for some time now but MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando met with a string of obstacles in trying to implement this bold scheme. I remember that it was due to be implemented some time back, but at the last minute, they had to freeze the plan because it drew a lot of flak and faced legal impediments.

Now, the scheme is in full implementation, and with no one sounding the bugles to announce its implementation, there is no mistaking it — it has made its mark on Manila traffic.

For those not in the know on how the Organized Bus Route works, here’s a brief primer on it, as the MMDA explains it.

All the buses plying the routes within Metro Manila will emanate from designated terminals. These buses will only be dispatched to their designated routes as the need for them arises — this shall be called by MMDA representatives as they see fit. Therefore, on a lazy afternoon, when there are hardly any commuters on the road, there is hardly any need for dozens of buses speeding along EDSA half-full. I remember getting terribly annoyed at seeing these buses squeezing out hapless sedans, always seemingly in a rush, at two in the afternoon, and two thirds of the bus empty. And there was always a horde of them, when there was clearly no need for even half of their number!

With the OBR scheme, bus-riding commuters need not fear that they will be compromised, as there will always be the right number of buses fielded in specific areas. With a more efficient number of buses plying these routes, there are less of toxic fumes to go around and pollution will be more controlled. In these days when fuel is as precious as gold, there will be less mindless driving around in colossal bodies, and fuel conservation will actually be realized by these bus companies.

You see, what happens with some of these small bus companies is that they are run and operated not as profitable companies should be run. They are treated as small enterprises, the operators content with specified boundaries that their drivers turn in at the end of the day. The drivers, having met the boundaries, know that any amount over and above this boundary is at their disposal, and mindlessly speed along the thoroughfares outspeeding one another in search of commuters, in total disregard of fuel waste.

In a recent interview with chairman Bayani, he voiced his apprehensions at the possible backlash of this scheme from the bus operators as well as from the drivers themselves. Having been in the motoring scene for the better part of two decades, I appreciate the plight of drivers and transport operators. Lest we be accused of being anti-poor, I find merit in the suggestion of chairman Fernando. He says it’s high time that the government take over the mass transport system if we are serious in our efforts to stem the worsening traffic conditions in the country. Public transport drivers will thus be salaried employees, properly screened, sufficiently trained and adequately compensated. This scheme is definitely not prejudicial to this sector, and it is important that they understand, and appreciate, the thrust of this scheme.

If you have been avoiding EDSA all this time, try it one of these days. And make it soon because it will be a pleasant surprise, or a mild shock. It certainly felt like the long holidays had begun and half of Manila was already out on a junket.

Hold on for the Hold ‘Em

The B&L Texas Hold ‘Em Mall Tour (Eastwood City Challenge) is taking shape. The major sponsor of this big event is Honda Cars Philippines, and they are just as excited to be part of the Texas Hold’em mania that is sweeping the country today, its popularity accelerated by regular television telecasts with American celebrities pitting wits for the sake of their favorite charities.

As announced earlier, this will be a no-cash wager tournament, where winners take home beautiful trophies and valuable prizes, to be staged in four successive Saturdays at the Eastwood City in Libis on Nov. 19 & 26 and Dec. 3 and 10 on the first stage of its tour. Other malls have expressed their keen interest to have the next staging.

We envision fun nights on these tournament dates as we will have an "open bar" for special guests from the media and bona fide members of the Poker Club of the Philippines (PCP) on said dates. Enjoy your drinks as you watch the drama unfold on giant screens in the venue itself, with a commentator analyzing the best possible hands as the flops are revealed on the gaming table. PCP members are expected to be a big force on these dates, but all poker enthusiasts are welcome to join the fun, if not as competitors, at least as spectators. There will be a lot of camaraderie. Our good friend Arnel Doria, deputy head for marketing of our major sponsor Honda Cars Philippines is very keen of having a "pick the winner" contest among the spectators, the winner of which also having the chance to bring home valuable prizes.

We can only accommodate 30 participants with 10 playing on each of the three elimination legs with the top three advancing to the Championship Night to be held on Dec. 10. Registration fee is only One thousand pesos. Prizes at stake, aside from the trophies, which shall also be given to all elimination leg winners, include all-expenses paid weekend stay in some of the country’s top beach resorts, dinners at romantic fine dining restaurants, automobile tires & accessories, racing jackets, just to mention a few. A grand prize for the champion is still being worked on. The highlights of the entire tournament shall be aired on the week immediately after every leg and the championship night on Business & Leisure (Sunday, 10:30 p.m., Channel 4 Manila and nationwide via satellite on NBN) and also on SOLAR TELEVISION–"the home of Texas Hold ‘Em poker."

For more information about the Business & Leisure Texas Hold ‘Em Mall Tour (Eastwood City Challenge), call Cindy at 816-6195 / 817- 9092 or Fe at 724-3939 or write to our e-mail address appearing below.

Another interesting and informative hour on B&L

This Sunday on the TV show Business & Leisure (10:30 p.m., Channel 4 Manila & nationwide via satellite), I will have a one-on-one with Quinito Henson – the walking encyclopedia on sports, to get to know better the persona behind the man who’s known for his deep analysis of game situations and insights on sports, as we come from this week’s host/venue – the Palms Country Club. We shall also revisit the Manila Zoo get to have a glimpse of what it now offers as very inexpensive entertainment and education about the animal world and also a second look at a very functional option and the most modern way to bring whatever on a land trip just above your vehicle – Thule automobile storage transport products..

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be Filipino.

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