Laudable strict implementation but...

We wrote several articles in this column regarding the lax implementation of traffic rules and regulations at the stretch from Alabang southward at the SLEX specifically over-speeding and vehicles, especially buses that stay on the innermost or passing lane even when not overtaking slower vehicles. After several weeks word reached me and also saw for myself the visible campaign against speedsters and passing lane huggers and other violators in the SLEX and the Skyway. Of course I wouldn’t flatter myself into thinking that the move was in reaction to what I have been writing in this column. Whatever, the important thing is there are now efforts to ensure that traffic laws and regulations are followed by SLEX users and with corresponding sanctions like fines or penalties – perfect!

Perfect? Probably not quite, especially if we would take into account this letter sent in by one of our readers, Mr. Roberto David, saying, I just read your article in philstar.com, about traffic law enforcement at the new SLEX. My driver and I were caught overstaying in the overtaking lane yesterday (I was asleep so I really don’t know what actually happened but my driver told me we were not over speeding) just after the Susana Heights exit, going to Alabang, so I guess SLEX is doing something to enforce traffic rules. But some things need to be addressed, first, the officer was very rude and arrogant, all he had to do was explain to us the nature of the violation and issue a citation, but he did so in a very rude manner, he also confiscated my driver’s drivers license. By the way we made no offer “settle” things on site for a fee, well you know what I mean. Secondly, the rude officer informed us that we can claim the license in Lipa, Batangas. Why of all places do they send violators to Batangas when we were apprehended in Manila!? I was asking this rude officer how to settle the citation and where in Lipa City, when he stomped off, got on the patrol car and left us with no idea how to get my driver’s license back.”

I totally agree with you Mr. David that strict implementation of laws may not necessarily come with harshness by its implementers. Those who enforce the law can be strict but polite. This issue can be easily addressed by the SLEX operators by holding regular seminars on good manners and right conduct for their frontline employees and traffic enforcers.

With regard to paying fines and retrieving confiscated driver’s licenses, I guess the idea behind the move is for erring drivers to realize the combined inconvenience of having to pay fines and doing so in two areas only – at the LTO Lipa, Batangas branch and at the LTO head office in Quezon City – a deterrent to wanton disregard for simple traffic rules and regulations.

Stradcom and STV ink MOA

Stradcom Corporation, the government’s long time IT provider for the LTO or Land Transportation Office, which is tasked to collate, assimilate and hold custody of all data related to the country’s vehicle registration, drivers’ licensing, emission testing, etc., recently made official its partnership with STV, Sunshine Television, the organizers of the 2012-2013 AFPCA or the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, the yearly search for the country’s most preferred automobile models and the public’s choice for the most popular, the “automobile of the year”.

On its 8th staging this year, STV has decided to include actual sales of vehicles to form part of the public’s votes to determine the 2012 winners. It is a move to address the issue regarding “past winners that were not familiar or not even known to many”. With this innovation on the voting, the issue of “why certain models that are more frequently seen on the roads come far second to those that are not, but garnered more votes” would be a thing of the past.

Stradcom’s role in this partnership, which was given the official imprimatur by no less than the LTO head herself, DOTC or Department of Transportation and Communications assistant secretary Virgie Torres, is to provide STV all the documented data regarding the registration of brand new vehicles all over the country, which shall form part of the votes for this year’s polls. Actual vehicle sales would be factored with more vote weight than those cast online or SMS, should there be any this year.

Mr. Cezar T. Quiambao, president of Stradcom expressed his interest in joining the yearly endeavor by declaring, “By knowing the popular choice or public’s preference for what kind of automobiles to purchase, the automobile manufacturers and importers would be guided as to what our market wants in terms of vehicle design, safety features and other attributes that may be common to those that would be chosen. This improves the public’s chances of getting value for their money”.

Brand new vehicles that are part of the participating models for the 2012 to 2013 AFPCA registered from January up to September of this year shall be considered as part of the polls.

The official launch for this year’s search for the most popular automobile models shall be sometime in June with the actual online voting to start in July and end in September together with voting through SMS, should it be decided to be included. Print ballots have been temporarily shelved for this year.

Together with the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards for 2012-2013, which will be given out sometime in October, will be the auto industry’s equally eagerly awaited Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards. These are special awards that are voted in by members of the country’s motoring media.

Another riotous ARCC awards night

If you saw the fun-filled atmosphere during the awards presentation of the 5th STV Auto Rally Corporate Challenge at the La Colina of Valle Verde Country Club you would think that those who were there were winners all.

But you may be right, judging from the attitudes of all participants, who considered that mere participating, finishing, learning new techniques and improving their competitive level is already winning and whatever awards they garner in the process would be the bonus, not counting the camaraderie the event generated and the rare bonding of major auto industry players’ executives and their associates – indeed they are all winners.

And rightly so, the local auto industry was well represented that evening with Asian Carmaker’s lovely lady president, Maricar Parco, Lexus-Manila president, Danny “Sir John” Isla, Motor-Image Pilipinas general manager, Nicky Mariano, Covenant Car Company president Atty. Albert Arcilla joined by his vp Lyn Buena, Autohub chairman and British United Automobiles president Willy Tee Ten, Toyota Motor Philippines vp for marketing, Sherwin Chualim with Dax Avenido, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines vp for marketing services, Froy Dytianquin with Arlan Reyes, Universal Motors avp, Honeymae Limjap, Viking Cars avp, Loi Concepcion, Columbian Autocar’s avp, Boying Soriano, Ford Group Philippines avp, Anika Salcedo-Wycoco, Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s Timmy De Leon, HARI’s Paeng Batuigas, PGA Cars’ Menchie Ramirez, CATS Motors’ Andros Villaraza, Nissan Motors’ Karla Tecson and if I miss your name blame it on Mr. Johnnie Walker who’s beside me right now.

Georges Ramirez, the 3-time chief steward of the event confirmed part of what many are saying after participating in this year’s “on time all the time” auto rally, which is “Judging by the scores and the performance of many in moving closer to the best time compared to the last staging, the level of competition is being raised every year as more and more get to understand the basic principles of this motor sport.”

Now let’s give credit where credit is due. The winners in the 2012 STV ARCC:

Corporate team awards

CHAMPION :           MINI TEAM (BRITISH UNITED AUTOMOBILES)

1ST RUNNER-UP     :           MITSUBISHI TEAM (MMPC)

2ND RUNNER-UP    :           KIA TEAM (Columbian Autocar Corporation)

INDIVIDUAL TEAM AWARDS

CHAMPION :           KIA TEAM # 28

Raul Asuncion / Steven Acayan / Barry Ortiz

1ST RUNNER-UP     :           MINI TEAM #18

Elbert Cuenca / Raul Ylanan / Nino Pasamonte

2ND RUNNER-UP    :           MITSUBISHI TEAM # 34

Froy Dytianquin / Arlan Reyes / Alexis Aspillera

ALPHA LEG CHECKPOINT WINNERS (closest time)

STAGE 1        :           LEXUS TEAM # 33  

James Deakin / Allan Madrilejos / Allan Hernandez

STAGE 2        :           VOLVO TEAM # 40

Jeffrey Dy / Patricia Chuateco / Yvette Tan

STAGE 3        :           MINI TEAM # 18

Elbert Cuenca / Raul Ylanan / Nino Pasamonte

                        AUDI TEAM # 37

Menchie Ramirez / Melissa Peralta / Nikko Mapa

STAGE 4        :           KIA TEAM # 28

Raul Asuncion / Steven Acayan / Barry Ortiz

STAGE 5        :           TOYOTA TEAM # 46

Mike Potenciano / Lindy Pellicer / Steven Yu

Perfect time

ALPHA LEG STAGE 2        :           VOLVO TEAM # 40

Jeffrey Dy / Patricia Chuateco / Yvette Tan

ALPHA LEG STAGE 3        :           MINI TEAM # 18

Elbert Cuenca / Raul Ylanan / Nino Pasamonte

                                                AUDI TEAM # 37

Menchie Ramirez / Melissa Peralta / Nikko Mapa

Alpha leg special stage winner

                        TOYOTA TEAM # 46

Mike Potenciano / Lindy Pellicer / Steven Yu

ALPHA LEG OVERALL WINNERS

WINNER        :           VOLVO TEAM # 40

Jeffrey Dy / Patricia Chuateco / Yvette Tan

RUNNER-UP :           LEXUS TEAM # 33  

James Deakin / Allan Madrilejos / Allan Hernandez

Beta leg checkpoint winners (closest time)

STAGE 1        :           ISUZU TEAM # 24

Roel Andaya / Celso Cabilao / Cesar Poloan

STAGE 2        :           NISSAN TEAM # 60 (NMPI)

Glenn Valles / Jonathan Nazareth

STAGE 3        :           CHEVROLET TEAM # 21

Juancho Calayan / Ian Obiniana / Ronald Malicdem

STAGE 4        :           MINI TEAM # 18

Elbert Cuenca / Raul Ylanan / Nino Pasamonte

STAGE 5        :           MINI TEAM # 2

Monch Gupit / Carlo Villanueva / Jan Gomez

Perfect time

BETA LEG STAGE 2            :           NISSAN TEAM # 60 (NMPI)

Glenn Valles / Jonathan Nazareth

BETA LEG SPECIAL STAGE WINNER

                        CHEVROLET TEAM # 13

Pacho Blanco / Jeffre Catapang / Abigail Catapang

BETA LEG OVERALL WINNERS

WINNER                    :           MINI TEAM # 18

Elbert Cuenca / Raul Ylanan / Nino Pasamonte

RUNNER-UP             :           KIA TEAM # 28

Raul Asuncion / Steven Acayan / Barry Ortiz

Congratulations to all those who received awards and distinguished recognition for their outstanding performance during the rally.

As concurred by all the Team Managers we consulted, brace yourself next year for a 3-leg STV ARCC series.

Happy Motoring!

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