Made in Japan but stayed in the Phl

Terms and “models” can date a person.

So I wonder how many of you remember the Minica F4? The Dodge Colt? The Coronet, Celeste, lambda, the Cimarron or the “L” types?

I vaguely remember a towering Japanese basketball player squeezing into the Minica F4 as a publicity stunt, and the fact that the diminutive cars once proved their power as “king of the hill,” when they were the popular cars in Baguio because of their torque and fuel efficiency.

Today most of those vehicles qualify as “old school” or classic cars. But all of them are partly responsible for the 50-year success of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. as the longest staying automotive company in the country. When other giants left the land or folded up, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. stayed in the Philippines and survived Martial law, EDSA 1 & 2, Pinatubo, two major economic downturn, and seven administrations.

MMPC is also the only 100% all-Japanese owned corporation in the local automotive industry but has professionally and skillfully developed good working relationships with the government and the motoring public. In 1971, MMPC sold 1,310 vehicles and from there they went on to reach volume sales of 34,915 units at the end of 2012.

Fifty years later, MMPC continues to provide the country with the most modern vehicles, both for consumer and commercial applications. Very recently they launched the new generation “Mirage” and from what I gather, they will be “demonstrating” hybrids and electric vehicles that will make anyone drool. Imagine a car that can run 67 kilometers to a liter, 200 kilometers on a single charge of electric power? Yes Mitsubishi Motors Philippines plans to carry on the tradition of bringing quality and technology to the Philippines.

Just before celebrating their 50th anniversary this week, MMPC executives hosted an intimate meeting with select members of the motoring media and candidly shared their views on the state of the industry and their plans and concerns for the “next 50 years.”

Understandably, MMPC wants to increase their sales and market share in the country, but their president Osamu Masuko emphasized their concern for strengthening local manufacturing, instead of the increasing industry trend of importing fully assembled vehicles from Thailand. While imports maybe efficient and reflective of globalization, it does not necessarily have to be the rule since the Philippines has historically shown our capacity and capability in automotive assembly. Masuko San also pointed out that while taxes may be earned from imports, this does not translate to jobs, which the country needs more of.

In this regard, the MMPC executives were one in their call for the government to put focus or emphasis on how to bring in investors and companies that are from the “parts” or “supply chain.” This was an interesting point because government agencies have focused on incentives for car manufacturers that never see the light of day. Yet, we hardly hear of any plan or program aimed at getting companies to set up shop for windshields, headlamps, and other parts that the assemblers can buy from.

One interesting idea that came out of the question and answer session was the suggestion that governments around the region should begin to restudy how to lessen the buyers’ burden in acquiring their vehicle. If there was one thing we agreed on is that taxes imposed on car buyers should be lightened considering government directly benefits from import duties, job generation, mobility of professionals and the trickle down stimulus of vehicle ownership.

For once, I was really glad to meet a progressive minded group of executives whose concerns were not just on bottomlines, but also on customer benefits. Congratulations to Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.

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There is a saying about strong medicine that goes: “If it doesn’t kill you, it will cure you.” Unfortunately there have been instances when the cure actually cripples or puts a curse on you.

This is exactly how some people in Cagayan de Oro are reportedly feeling after they officially learned from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines that the DOTC has decided to initiate the “soft opening” of the Laguindingan Airport; a “new” and unused airport some 46 kilometers southwest of Cagayan de Oro.

Normally, local residents would immediately take pride in a new and improved facility, especially an airport. But in this case, people are already anxious and annoyed because the “soft opening” that the DOTC wants to implement is poorly planned, badly timed, and will ultimately create problems for people in Northern Mindanao, just so the DOTC can solve their major headache in Metro Manila.

As a background, it seems that DOTC officials earnestly want to solve the problem of air traffic and congestion at the NAIA. The solution they have come up with is to decongest NAIA of non-essential operations and operators, namely those in the general aviation. So, as of December 2012, the order has been issued to relocate all private planes and private/commercial operators and flight schools to Sangley Point in Cavite.

In order to make room at Sangley Point for General Aviation, the government reportedly needs to relocate the Philippine Air Force 15th Strike Wing to another home which my source claims is Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro. Since there is a new and unused airport 46 kilometers away, logic dictates that people use the facility.

Unfortunately not everything is logical or organized in this plan. To begin with the operational transfer won’t be a mere matter of relocation but will involve sacrifice and sudden growing pains. The new airport apparently has not been equipped with night flight operations capability, thereby limiting flights into Cagayan de Oro only up to 3 in the afternoon. According to local businessmen, this would result in up to “69% drop in passenger and cargo volume” and would ruin the current status of Cagayan de Oro as the area’s economic hub.

In addition, the necessary infrastructure development and peacekeeping requirements for the increased travel and transport of passengers and high value goods through the 46-kilometer stretch does not exist. Things are still under construction or under consideration by local powers-that-be. So even if the DOTC means well by solving our serious congestion problem in our air space, they seriously need to coordinate with politicians and constituents on the ground. The people of northern Mindanao particularly Cagayan de Oro should not have to pay the price or suffer the consequences just so Metro Manila and the NAIA can have their way.