Secret marshals must be secret

We welcome this new policy of the Metro Manila Development Authority requiring bus doors closed at all times except when loading and unloading passengers at duly designated areas. The idea is to stop the practice of some passengers who wantonly ride or disembark from running buses oblivious of their safety. But if the MMDA would check the records, they would probably find out that they don’t have to pass a ruling on this, they may just have to implement an existing law.

If my memory is serving me right, there is an existing Presidential Decree since the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos (not unless it has been rescinded) that prohibits public buses from having their doors open unless loading and unloading passengers in designated zones.

It’s quite funny though that we have to urge public bus operators under pain of penalties to make sure that the doors of the buses they operate can indeed be closed and not in a state of disrepair, when basic safety dictates that bus doors should always be kept closed at all times, especially while running.

Be that as it may, I still maintain that in order to ensure that loading and unloading of passengers are done only in designated places, persistent apprehensions and corresponding stiff fines should be imposed not only on the erring drivers but on the unmindful passengers as well — after all it takes two to tango.

Still on safety of commuters, I do not subscribe to the idea of announcing the fielding of "secret marshals" to protect the riding public from criminal elements. I am for the "fielding" but not for the "announcing".

You see, I don’t think making such announcements can scare these guys. Our present crime situation is "economic-based", meaning these guys rob because they need the money for subsistence or to support their vices. And guys with empty stomachs or are drug-crazed do not scare easily. Coming out with announcements that additional police operatives are out to combat them would only make themselves better prepared by being always armed to the teeth and nervously suspecting each passenger as a possible secret marshal.

I suggest that we just quietly send the "secret marshals" out to neutralize these guys — straight to prison or to their creators — there’s just no other way.

It’s really high time we take pity on the poor Pinoy commuting on our unsafe and unprotected public transport and working his butt out everyday only to have his month’s salary taken forcibly from him and worst be killed mercilessly by these scums for not surrendering a cellphone that has not been paid for yet.

Yes, it’s time for the secret marshals to ride shotgun for our poor riding public but please let’s just keep them a secret. No need for press releases.

More Mail From Cyberspace

We received another letter from a reader, Mr. Lope Severino, who’s curious about the practicality of those "traffic cages" that can be found in some areas in EDSA.

As I have mentioned some weeks back, I have lined up the discussions about these "traffic cages" with some officials of the MMDA on Motoring Forum, one of the segments of our TV show Motoring Today (Sunday, 11:30 am Channel 4 Manila and nationwide on the National Broadcasting Network) to find out their purpose and if they are really any help in managing traffic in the area or more of a traffic obstruction. I’ll have something on this on our column very soon.

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Regular reader, Mr. Efren Concepcion wants to know if the Samar-Leyte stretch of the Maharlika Highway, which he said was completely damaged and neglected by the LGUs in the area on his last land trip to Mindanao with his family in September 2001 has already improved.

Considering that the government has been utilizing part of the proceeds of the "Road Users Tax" for the maintenance of our country’s roads, I see no reason why the said stretch should be left neglected — or should I stand corrected and be accused of being naïve? But for the information of Mr. Concepcion or others who may be similarly interested to know, may we call on the DPWH to give a status report on this?

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Mr. Edgard Escalona, who bought an Everest from Ford Cebu last November, writes how he was told that he wouldn’t get his plates until after six months. Of course he is concerned about the "no plate, no travel" policy and is surprised to hear the LTO saying that there’s no backlog in the plate release.

Considering that it has been six months since you bought your vehicle I suppose and hope that you have gotten your plate already. Otherwise, I may need to refer your letter to some friends in Ford or the LTO for possible help.

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Avid reader Mr. Bimbo Castro complains about a FIVE STAR bus (Body No. 860 with plate No. TVW 816) that he claims was driven so recklessly last Holy Monday (April 5, 2004) when he encountered it on his way to Bolinao, Pangasinan.

I hope the operator or any of those working for the bus company would react to this and make the necessary investigation regarding the complaint. It’s best to know the demeanor of your drivers on the road as on it depends the safety of the passengers that prefer patronizing your transport services.

I’ll have more of our readers’ letters and concerns the next time.

Pit Lane Notes

It was a weekend of firsts — Jarno Trulli’s first victory, the first time in over 2 decades that an Italian won in Monaco, Jenson Button’s first 2nd place finish and the first time this season that Michael did not stand at the very top of the podium.

In a race filled with drama from start to finish, 11 drivers were forced to retire. Among them were David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen, Takuma Sato, Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonso, Juan Pablo Montoya, and, strangely enough, Michael Schumacher. At lap 46, while the safety car was out, fans were shocked to see a distorted Ferrari car emerging from the tunnel. Later Schumi explained that he was trying to warm up his tires and brakes by slightly slowing down his pace when the Columbian suddenly rammed him from behind. Although the obviously irate Schumacher admitted that it was probably not done intentionally, he also said that it was "stupid" of Montoya to commit such an error. JPM, however, said that Michael should also take at least some responsibility for what happened. He said that Michael should have braked when he was out of the tunnel. For his part, Montoya said that he tried to avoid the Ferrari but he had pretty much nowhere else to go. The word war between these 2 drivers has been increasingly intensified through the years, and with Schumi calling JPM stupid, I don’t expect their little feud to end anytime soon.

Rounding up the podium with Trulli and Button was Rubens Barrichello, who was astonishingly behind by over a minute. Also finishing in the points were Juan Pablo Montoya who finished 4th, Felipe Massa who came in 5th place, Cristiano Da Matta, Nick Heidfeld, and Oliver Panis, who came in 6th, 7th, and 8th place respectively.

Well, Schumi failed on making a sweep as some people were speculating that he would this year, but it took a freak accident to make him not win. And just before that fateful "inside the tunnel" incident, he was poised to take the lead and nobody can say what could have happened where it not for the broken front suspension. Immediately this coming Sunday is the next leg — the European Grand Prix at Nurburgring — let’s see what happens. Will it be back to another boring Schumacher win? Abangan.

Honda Test Drive Cum Boracay

As we write this column on a Monday, we eagerly look forward to a 2-day, May 25 to 26, test drive (yesterday and today) of a new Honda model or variant, which we have sworn by our favorite F1 driver (Jenson Button?) that we would not make mention of and respect a news embargo considering that it’s not available in the market yet.

The test drive comes with a whirlwind sojourn at the Boracay beach and although it can be a very tiring "touch and go" trip, we just have to oblige considering that it may well be a part of the belated bash of my very good friend Arnel Doria’s birthday, which quietly passed, or so he thought, last May 1st.

If we find it always so difficult to pass up a chance to test-drive a new vehicle, what more a rare opportunity to celebrate Arnel’s birthday.

Wala na namang gastos and kaibigan ko!

I’ll fill you in on this new Honda offering as soon as the news embargo is lifted and the model already available in the local market, meanwhile as you read this we may be on our second stage of our test drive on our way back to the airport from Boracay beach.

Motoring Tip Of The Week

A lot of caution should be observed when buying a second hand vehicle, especially if it’s too much of a bargain. Have all the documents thoroughly examined and the vehicle itself carefully checked and "macro itched" and given a "clean bill of health" by the proper authorities — meaning a certification that it’s not a stolen vehicle and it belongs to the person named in its registration, before making any form of payment, no matter how small it may be.

Now to help you check on the actual condition of the vehicle, it could help if you first get hold of its insurance policy and check with the insurance company how many and what kind of damage claims have been made on the vehicle instead of relying on the vehicle’s outside appearance.

One can never be over careful nowadays. Better be careful than sorry.

Happy Motoring!!!

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