Building infrastructure worthy of Car Awards winners

“The state of our country’s infrastructure affects our car preferences.” This was one of the statements I made as keynote speaker when Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) launched its 2017 awards at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) last March 31.

It was my first time to attend a motoring event, not as a motoring journalist, but as Undersecretary for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

I shared with the attendees that my passion for cars started at a young age.  When I was a child, I would read car magazines or admire cars with my father (who is also a lawyer). Modifying my car and buying car parts became an opportunity for father-daughter bonding for us. 

Having beautiful memories about cars, I feel strongly about supporting the freedom of people to drive the cars they want. Personally, I love sports cars and sedans. But in Metro Manila, my preference is to always bring an SUV so that I am ready for potholes, large road humps or floods. Like I said, the state of our country’s infrastructure affects our car preferences.

The good news is, the DPWH has several projects to support motorists’ ability to drive their cars around the Philippines. At the CAGI launch, I mentioned some DPWH projects such as the 14-km Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 that will connect Balintawak, Quezon City to Buendia, Makati; the 7-km Laguna Lake Highway that will reduce travel time from Taytay to Bicutan from one hour to 30 minutes; or the 88-km Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway that will reduce travel time between Tarlac City and Rosario, La Union from 3.5 hours to one hour.

As DPWH builds roads for cars to drive on, CAGI keeps Filipino consumers informed of the best cars for sale in the market. Each year CAGI undertakes a rigorous search for the best vehicles contending in the Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) and Truck of the Year Philippines (TOTY-P) awards. This year, CAGI starts the search for a new award—the Motorcycle of the Year Philippines (MOTY-P).

Since 2004, CAGI holds annual test fests where all vehicle are subjected to qualitative (consumer) and quantitative (performance) testing. Qualitative testing uses predetermined consumer metrics like the ride, fit, and feel, while quantitative testing uses GPS-based hardware to measure handling, braking and acceleration.

“We expect more than a 100 motor vehicles comprised of cars, pickups and motorcycles to be tested this season,” said CAGI President Ronald de los Reyes.

Partnering with CAGI for the third straight year are Carmudi Philippines and auditing firm KPMG. KPMG will be in charge of all the data handling during the testing process.

Car Awards Group, Inc. is comprised of members from various media entities: Business Mirror, Cebu Daily News, Daily Tribune, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, Bulgar, Abante Tonite, Mindanao Daily News, AQ Magazine, Autocar.Ph, C! Magazine, Motorcycle Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine, Top Gear Philippines, 2nerMagazine.com, Autodeal.com.ph, Iginition.ph, Interaksyon.com,Kotse.com, ManilaSpeak.com, MotionCars.com, Ride and Drive Phils., Speed by MP Turbo, SprocketPh.com, TessDrive.com, TimeAttackManila.com, Yugatech.com, DZMM, Inside Motoring on DZRJ 810 AM, Mellow 94.7, Motoring sa DZME, The Motoring Page on Mellow 94.7 FM, ABS-CBN, Auto Review, Spotlight TV.

After the CAGI launch, I visited the MIAS exhibit (which was also at the World Trade Center). I noticed that each year, car companies step up their game. New cars have bolder designs, new innovations, and better features. As DPWH Undersecretary, I feel that it is the government’s obligation to also step up its game. We must build roads that are worthy of CAGI winners. We owe it to all car lovers, car owners, passengers and all types of motorists to create high-quality infrastructure. Our country’s infrastructure must give people the freedom to choose and drive whatever car (or motorcycle) they want.

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The author is a motoring journalist and lawyer licensed to practice law in the Philippines and New York.  In 2016, she was appointed as Undersecretary for Legal Affairs & Priority Projects at the Department of Public Works & Highways.