The MMDA can't be helpless

As many regular users of EDSA would swear by their ancestors’ grave, the main culprits in turning this main thoroughfare of the Metro a scene of traffic chaos are the buses.

You can see them wantonly swerve out of their designated lane bullying smaller vehicles as they jockey for position trying to outmaneuver other drivers that seem to have a single purpose in life and that is not to leave loading areas until their buses are filled to the brim.

Whatever the traffic infringement, swerving out of their designated lane or overstaying in loading areas, can be stopped if only we have traffic enforcers that will not look the other way even for a “hundred” reasons or whatever.

In fairness to MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, who I think is doing a yeoman’s job in putting the Metro together, I put the blame on the people who are handling these traffic enforcers, who also don’t seem to see what’s happening in EDSA.

One does not need 20/20 vision to see what’s actually happening day-in and day-out in the country’s main traffic artery – the undisciplined bus drivers are lording it over the “blind” MMDA traffic enforcers.

I was with my son, Ray Louis when I was pointing to him the other day every traffic infraction that these bus drivers commit and he said, “Pa, don’t stress yourself with all these. Me, I’ve stopped minding and just kept on telling myself, let go and let God!”

I told him we cannot stop minding, being advocates of road safety and responsible road use. Let’s just help God – and the MMDA.

To see is to appreciate

There’s no better way for the motoring media to appreciate the stringent quality controls, the top-notched materials and the quality of labor behind every Isuzu vehicle that’s offered into the Philippine market than for them to actually see Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) demonstrate its manufacturing process in an activity that allows participants a more comprehensive view and join IPC personnel in the factory’s assembly line – “A Day at Isuzu”.

“We at Isuzu Philippines Corporation cannot stress enough how important the role that trucks play in many businesses, and so these vehicles must be reliable, durable and of high quality – things that cannot be offered by used, imported trucks,” says IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki. “By showing our manufacturing processes that create Isuzu trucks, we assure customers that they get only the very best vehicles to serve their businesses.”

At the familiarization activity, participants witnessed IPC’s assembly-line personnel in the plant’s trim and chassis lines where they installed various parts and components on vehicles’ cabins and frames under strict quality control scrutiny and time limits. The exercise underscores the IPC plant’s dedication to excellence and efficiency, which is proven by the awards and recognitions that the company has garnered through the years.

Since IPC was established in 1995, the company has continually been cited by various local and international organizations and by the Isuzu Manufacturing Management (Japan), a recognition for which among the Isuzu plants from around the world best meets the brand’s stringent standards on manufacturing facilities.

“Isuzu Philippines Corp.’s manufacturing plant is a first-class facility in terms of efficiency, quality of production, and environmental compliance,” asserts IPC vice president for manufacturing Koichi Tamura. “The latest proof of this is the ISO certification 14001:2004 that we have received.”

The IPC assembly plant in 2011 has been granted ISO Certification 14001: 2004, which means that the company is implementing effective environmental management practices in its manufacturing operations. At the plant, IPC boasts of wastewater management as the company treats all processed water so this complies with governmental regulations before releasing this to public sewage; chemical storage management as it maintains a separate storage area for chemicals to prevent contamination, keeping the toxic materials away from products and employees; and solid waste management as it ensures that only the companies or organizations that comply with environmental regulations are contracted to perform solid or hazardous waste disposal.

A Day at Isuzu can indeed ensure such confidence in the products that IPC offers.

A must for motorcycle riders

If you are a motorcycle rider either for personal day-to-day transport, work or for sport this monthly Bikers Meet-Ups is indeed a must for you to attend.

Organized by the Safe-T-Riders Motorcycle Training Center as part of their safety awareness campaign, the first of the series shall be held this coming Thursday, February 18 at the Ortigas Home Depot Complex located along Julia Vargas Avenue, Pasig City.

This monthly “eye-ball” of motorcyclists shall have for its greater part an open forum featuring well-known safety advocates or leading personalities from government like the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which shall be an opportunity for bikers to dialogue on issues related to traffic regulations, safety ordinances, etc., more specifically those that affect the present millions of motorcycle riders.

It will also have a “meet-and-greet” portion where a celebrity biker will be invited to meet the participants and share views and ideas about their passion and photo opportunities with the invited biking celebrity.

Another key component of the program is a special presentation on the dangers of “riding under the influence of alcohol” with educational materials on its very damaging effects and severe consequences that often result in serious injuries and even death.

I would personally endorse this project if only for the dire need for all riders to be educated on this topic. I remember talking to a friend of mine who’s actively in the motorcycle industry who said that, “selling motorcycles nowadays is not a problem at all, the main concern is keeping these bikers alive to enjoy their bikes as many of them seem to die every day mostly because of drunken riding.”

Clubs, individual riders, TODAs are welcome to join the event, which is free of charge, yet all participants have the chance to take home some exciting raffle prizes and give-aways. Corporate sponsors who wish to support the riding safety advocacy are welcome to pitch in and help in reaching out to as many riders as possible by way of raffle prizes, give-aways, etc.

Confirmed guests for this Saturday, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm are former LTO chief Bert Suansing and celebrity rider Love-Love Tioseco.

Safe-T-Ryders Motorcycle Training Center believes that a sound knowledge base as well as strong riding skills result in safer road users and enhance the enjoyment of motorcycle riders. It is established by Arnel Doria, who was formerly a top marketing executive of a leading automobile brand and was instrumental in setting up the country’s first integrated vehicle training center. Safe-T-Ryders is manned by Julius Ballesteros, a TESDA-certified instructor, who has just returned from a two-year stint as a safety driving instructor of a large Saudi Arabian company. He is assisted by Sulfikar Guiabel, an experienced LTO-accredited riding/driving instructor.

For more information, please contact Arnel Doria (Tel No. 208-8035 or CP No. 0932-872-3389). Like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/safetryders) for event updates.

A rally briefing many are looking forward to This Saturday, February 18, participants in the 2012 Caltex STV Auto Rally Corporate Challenge will be trooping to Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City to be briefed on what’s up ahead on March 3 as they form part of the awesome starting grid of 64 brand-new automobiles of different makes and models – from the entry level to the most luxurious – a cross section of the “what’s what” in the local automotive industry.

Sixteen Corporate Teams signed up for this year’s “on time all the time” auto rally competition that relies on the driver’s precision driving skills, the route navigator’s ability to read and interpret a route book of symbols and a time navigator that can skillfully compute time and distance equations and all of these combined talents plus the discipline to obey all traffic rules and regulations all throughout the competition. This makes all these top automobile manufacturers and importers serious stakeholders in the efforts to promote road safety. This yearly exclusive auto industry event is jointly organized by Sunshine Television and Socio Com Foundation for Asia as part of their road safety education advocacy.

This list of participants in this yearly invitational event include; Asian Carmakers (BMW), British United Automobiles (MINI), Car Covenant Company (Chevrolet), CATS Motors (Mercedes-Benz), Columbian Autocars (Kia), Ford Philippines, HARI (Hyundai) Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Lexus-Manila, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Motor Image Pilipinas (Subaru), Nissan Motors Philippines (Nissan) PGA Cars (Porsche/Audi), Toyota Motor Philippines, Universal Motors (Nissan commercial vehicles) and Viking Cars (Volvo).

The briefing would have professional racer driver Georges Ramirez, who’s also the Chief Steward of the event, just like the past years. There won’t be many changes in the rules, however some innovations are being introduced to lessen human intervention and hasten the determining of winners.

Happy Motoring!!!

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