Hopefully this time

Did you know that a legislation known as the Road Safety Act has been filed, archived and re-filed every year since the 9th Congress under the late President Cory Aquino?

Since that time we have been missing the chance to amend and update the unarguably obsolete and outdated Republic Act 4136, the current Land Transportation and Traffic Code enacted in 1954 or more than half a century ago.

We join the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) in urging our present legislators to enact this life-saving legislation into law in the light of the many accidents that have caused the loss of lives and limbs and have changed the lives of those left behind by the victims only because many of these accidents are caused by the violation of road safety and traffic laws, many of which no longer apply to present realities, “Motor vehicles have changed radically, roads are now built differently, yet motorists in our country are still governed by obsolete laws dating back 56 years ago,” as graphically pointed out by AAP president Gus Lagman.

We are now on our 15th Congress with many new names in the current roaster of legislators, many of them promising dynamism during their incumbency. In tandem with a new President, hopefully this time this much-needed legislation would stand a chance of being passed into law. Perhaps our good President would support what her late mother may have hoped to be achieved to make all road users – motorists and pedestrians alike – safe in their travels.

For the safety of everyone, let’s all pray that our present legislators would pass the Road Safety Act.

Kia buyers not to worry

Early this month South Korean automaker Kia Motors issued a global recall of about 100,000 vehicles due to defective wiring.

Reacting almost instantaneously, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), authorized distributor of Kia in the Philippines have began the efforts of identifying the affected vehicles and their owners and starting today, September 15, would be advising them via first-class mail to bring their vehicles to any Kia dealership for appropriate service action to be performed free of charge.

Locally the recall is for approximately 9 Kia Souls and 312 Kia Sorentos. And it reportedly involves repair of electrical wiring associated with interior illumination to prevent heat-related damage. Specifically affected are Soul vehicles (manufactured between September 7, 2009 and June 8, 2010) equipped with front speaker lights and Sorento vehicles (manufactured between September 1, 2009 and July 1, 2010) that are equipped with door trim illumination.

There have been no reports of accidents arising from this issue anywhere in the Philippines or worldwide. However, the indefatigable president and COO of CAC, Mr. Felix Mabilog resolutely said, “We are taking no chances that each and every affected unit is accounted for and the necessary corrective action done immediately to forestall any incidence of harm and injury.”

While also saying that Kia has pulled all stops to make sure that the necessary corrective measures are done on the affected vehicles, Mr. Mabilog, one of the local auto industry’s most respected veteran business executives further ensures the public that “CAC’s authorized service centers are fully equipped and already prepared to do the necessary corrective action on the defective wiring of the affected vehicles with replacement parts also been made readily available.”

Kia customers are also encouraged to contact Columbian Autocar Corporation through its hotline 824-9828 for further questions regarding the issue.

Isuzu’s CSR heightens every year

To celebrate its 13th inaugural anniversary this year, as it had done in the past, which is to give back to the environment to commemorate its special day, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) launched an eco-friendly corporate social responsibility campaign called “Adopt-A-Forest Project in Mt. Makiling”, where Isuzu is adopting 13 hectares of forest in the area for 3 years.

“We chose 13 because this year is our 13th anniversary. We will also be planting 300 native trees and we will be constructing a 1.3-kilometer walkway inside the Makiling Botanical garden,” IPC president Mr. Ryoji Yamazaki proudly pointed out.

According to Mr. Art Balmadrid, IPC’s senior vp for corporate business, “IPC chose Mt. Makiling because this year also coincides with the popular locale’s centennial. And it’s within the province of Laguna, which is likewise home to Isuzu’s headquarters in Biñan”. And most important, as the IPC executives agree, “Mt. Makiling is the only source of drinking water for the two-million inhabitants of Laguna and Batangas.”

The diesel expert is merely staying true to its corporate tagline of “Your Responsible Partner” by keeping its CSR advocacy, which has its own slogan of “Isuzu Para Sa Kalikasan.”

Isuzu has been consistently celebrating its anniversary with projects that put into fore its remarkable “corporate social responsibility”. And I have had the good fortune to be a witness to several of these notable undertakings.

IPC began the tradition of celebrating its anniversary with a CSR project in 2002, when it organized an environment-themed show for the children of Biñan, Laguna. In 2003, the company donated a river garbage trap to Santa Rosa, Laguna, and 10,000 tilapia fingerlings to the Laguna Lake.

In 2004, IPC donated a two-classroom building to Biñan National High School, and the following year, it helped create a man-made forest strip in Atimonan, Quezon, by donating 15,000 narra seedlings. In 2006, planted mangroves were planted by Isuzu in a five-hectare area in Hundred Islands, Pangasinan, while also donating environmental signs and planting 500 flowering trees along the National Highway entering the town of Alaminos.

In 2007, Isuzu launched a nationwide park-conservation. It donated African tulips and flowering plants, vicinity maps with environmental messages, and waste receptacles to Rizal Park in Manila; ornamental plants, plant pots with environmental messages, and environmental markers to Osmeña Park in Cebu; and more than a hundred seedlings of palm trees, waste receptacles, and lighted signboards with environmental messages to the Davao City Park.

In 2008, it launched the “Save the La Mesa Watershed Project,” which aimed to preserve the main source of drinking water among Metro Manila residents.

In 2009, Isuzu gave 3,000 seedlings and environmental signboards to Caliraya, Quezon, in partnership with the Haribon Foundation, Ecosave and Napocor. The company also donated 1,000 seedlings to both Cebu and Surigao. Also last year, Isuzu distributed sleeping mats, canned goods, bread, bottled water and personal-hygiene kits to Ondoy victims.

Aside from these yearly CSR activities, Isuzu is also funding an automotive-mechanic training center in Tacloban, Leyte, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This project started in 2008, with the first batch of scholars already graduating in October this year.

Way to go, Isuzu!

Congratulations on your anniversary.

Drive in with your old and drive out with a new one

Those who are contemplating on changing their old vehicle with a new one may find it most convenient during the Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo slated to start on November 4 up to November 7 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds.

Scheduled during that time when the last minute end-of-the-year car-shopping historically happens, the motor show/auto expo shall feature on the spot trade-in regardless of brand for most models on display.

With all the major auto manufacturers and importers participating, more than a hundred current model automobiles ranging from high-end brands to entry level models shall be on display with most of them available for test drive. The list includes Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Lexus, Ford, Mazda, Audi, Porsche, Volvo, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Isuzu, Chevrolet, Mini, BMW, Nissan and Mitsubishi in no particular order.    

Aside from the on the spot trade-in, special auto loan rates courtesy of BDO Auto Loans can be enjoyed during the 4-day grand display and test drive.

The Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo is organized by Sunshine Television (STV) in cooperation with BDO to provide auto manufacturers and importers and their buyers a very convenient, accessible venue to see up close and personal all current models with test drives to boot eliminating the tiresome showroom to showroom visit before finally making a choice on what vehicle to buy.

Happy Motoring!!!

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