Government officials ‘pimpedt heir rides’

Back when I was still into car restoration, one of my favorite TV shows was “Pimp My Ride,” a program where hosts would conspire with a friend or relative to “steal” a dilapidated vehicle or somebody’s far from finished dream car to restore it.

Episodes sometimes went far beyond restoration because some cars literally ended up with more new parts than its original old parts. It was a good show that educated viewers about the challenges and process of car restoration.

But more than being about car stuff, the program really helped people’s dream car come true, especially for people who have fallen ill, gotten too old for the work or were in hard times with no elbow room or money to spare. It proved that there are still many good people around us.

When I retired from the car restoration hobby pre-COVID, I made a serious effort to get rid of all my car books, videos, photos as well as cars. Whether they admit it or not, serious car buffs qualify as “addicts” or grown men with a car dependency habit.

It was the same technique I used to quit smoking “cold turkey” and the same approach when I retired from raising fighting cocks. You get rid of everything and anyone who could tempt you or remind you about your expensive habits.

You cannot pray to God, “Lead us not into temptation” while keeping one eye on the temptation. I was reminded of that truth recently when I happened to ride two different luxury vans belonging to two friends. One was a P3-million-plus Korean made van and the other was a P3.3-million Japanese high end van.

Both only had seven seats, two of which were “Captain’s chairs” and had all the amenities and trims people would want in such an expensive van. For me, riding was like a reformed alcoholic having “just one glass” of booze!

Before I knew it I was seeing the same model vans around Metro Manila. AI describes it as the “Baader-Meinhof phenomenon,” also known as “frequency illusion.”

“It’s the feeling that, after noticing a particular product or piece of information for the first time, you then start to see or hear about it everywhere, making it seem like it’s suddenly appearing more often than before.” It is also called “attention bias.” Once you become aware of something (like a new car model you’re interested in), your brain starts to pay more attention to it.

After my “attention bias” for those vehicles, I looked up prices for slightly used, foreclosed, as well as new/latest models and I came to the conclusion that those vans were too rich for my budget. I would have to sell one of my used Japanese SUVs and still need a three-year bank loan to buy a less luxurious van.

Unfortunately, the “attention bias” malingers in your head even after you have decided you can’t afford the vehicle. I still kept seeing or noticing vans until I started noticing “red plates” on those very same model vans. I soon noticed that they were not isolated issues but more common among high government officials.

In one day, we tailed two red plate luxury Korean vans along C5 and SLEX. The Korean luxury van somehow outnumbers other makes and models for some reason. Last Friday, we saw a convoy of motorcycle cops, cars and an “Elite” luxury van with red plates.

I am less envious than I am indignant that some appointed Cabinet member who has so much personal wealth is issued a vehicle costing P3.3 million, a back-up vehicle and two motorcycle police escorts, all paid by us taxpayers.

If you often ride Grab cars and talk with the drivers, you will learn that many of them drive daily to pay a five-year mortgage on the vehicle. As one driver put it, the “boundary” or required income to pay the monthly installments is his reason for getting out of bed.

Grab drivers need to drive every day, pay monthly installments just so they have a vehicle to earn their living, while certain government officials mindlessly ride their assigned luxury vans that’s being paid for annually by tax payers to the BIR.

While it is commendable that government vehicles all carry red plates, none of them had seals indicating which government office they belong to. Last I remember, there was a law making that requirement. Does having stickers or IDs take away pogi points or being “elite” in government?

A few years ago, the trend in government offices and agencies was mid-range to high-end SUVs and pick-ups. But it seems that people’s avarice has escalated to multimillion-peso luxury vans.

Since President BBM has been talking about “Mahiya naman kayo” or having a sense of shame and lifestyle checks, perhaps the President can tap the Commission on Audit to review the procurement and bidding process in all government agencies.

What is the basis and justification for buying and assigning luxury vans to Cabinet members, senior officers of the AFP and PNP and all the other offices?

What advantage was there for buying one brand versus the other? How well do government offices maintain those vehicles? Last but not least, how often and how strict is the COA about acquiring replacement vehicles?

Aside from PBBM saying Mahiya naman kayo, may I add: Mag tipid naman kayo!