Motoring Today Column

Nov 29, 2017

To ease mounting traffic issues within the vicinity of two major malls located in San Fernando, the capital city of Pampanga, the NLEX Corporation enhanced the capacity of the San Fernando Interchange.

Two new bridges crossing the NLEX were built and recently opened to function as separate carriageways and the interchange ramps were widened to four lanes in each direction. The east and west roundabouts along Jose Abad Santos Avenue were also removed to pave way for the installation of automated traffic lights.

"We undertook these traffic enhancements in our infrastructure to keep up with the fast-paced developments and heightened economic activities in San Fernando. With these improvements, the new and expanded interchange is seen to facilitate efficient mobility of people and goods to and from San Fernando and nearby areas," remarked Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation andNLEX Corporation president and CEO, Rodrigo Franco during the inaugural drive-thru last November 21^st attended by legislators representing the area, local government officials and local business leaders.

Earlier this year, the NLEX Corporation fully opened to the public the 64 lane kilometers of new expressway lanes between the Sta. Rita to San Fernando and Dau to Sta. Ines portions of the NLEX, which have since improved travel time and safer travel in Bulacan and Pampanga.

With all these significant projects, the NLEX Corporation strengthens its position as the country's premier road infrastructure conglomerate.

We welcome the direct participation of private citizens in helping traffic authorities, specifically the PNP-HPG ( Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group) manage the worsening traffic situation in the metro.

Although with a little bit of apprehension as to how the authorities would guard the partnership against cooperative abuses and corruption, this combined effort would surely serve as a force multiplier for the government's traffic managers and enforcers.

The agreement, which was recently signed between the PNP-HPG and the CCW ( Citizens Crime Watch) Association calls for deployment of CCW members to assist in traffic management and road safety operations.

In theory this move appears workable but we'll have to find out with bated breath how it shall work in actual practice.

Let's give it a chance-whatever works.

Finally after quite some time, the IRR ( Implementing Rules and Regulations) pertaining to the law that requires the installation of 'speed limiters' on all vehicles, especially on PUVs (Public Utility Vehicles) will soon be released within the next few weeks.

Based on available public records many accidents have been caused by over speeding vehicles, exacerbated by them being in the hands of inexperienced drivers and to make matters worse, the vehicles are in a sorry state of being ill-maintained-indeed a very deadly combination.

With the mandated installation of this device that prevents vehicles from going beyond the predetermined and pre-adjusted speed, the aforementioned toxic combination would be reduced, which could hopefully translate to lesser accidents.

With its IRR finally drafted the implementation of the Speed Limiter Law is set this December as assured by DOTr undersecretary Thomas Orbos.

If I'm not mistaken the law requires the device to be installed in all vehicles to include those privately owned. And its implementation is another story altogether-a very challenging one too.

Coventry Motors Corporation (CMC) , a relatively new player in the industry but with veteran business tycoons behind it recently inked an agreement with Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific to be the country's official importers of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover is the United Kingdom's largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world's leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world's premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

"This is a critical milestone for our growth in the Asia Pacific region," remarked Robin Colgan, managing director of Asia Pacific Importers during the contract-signing ceremony held at the Manila Golf Club that was attended mostly by members of the country's motoring media. "The Philippines' robust growth of 6.9% in the last quarter - which has surpassed even that of China - is a clear indication that this is a market that holds a remarkable promise and potential for quality premium cars that will meet the needs of a sophisticated and developed consumer base," eagerly added the Briton exec who flew in to the country specifically to finalize the agreement.

Together with the signing of the contract was the unveiling of the brand new Range Rover Velar, which according to CMC, "brings a new dimension of glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family and offers levels of luxury, refinement and all-terrain capability never before seen in the mid-size SUV segment."

The first CMC dealership is scheduled to open in the first quarter of next year, 2018.

A media test drive to La Union came close to the heels of the very successful launch last November 9 of the all-new Suzuki Vitara.

A total of 31 motoring journalists were able to experience the subcompact SUV during the two-day test-drive to Thunderbird Resort and Casino that originated from Suzuki Auto Kalookan and back last November 22 and 23.

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this year's test drive activity with our very own Suzuki Vitara. I believe since its launch we were able to position ourselves accordingly, having targeted the millennial market. Bringing the new subcompact SUV all the way from Europe and adapting its advanced features and functionalities, we set our sights on reaching out to more Filipinos and sharing with them the Suzuki Way of Life," said Shuzo Hoshikura, general manager for automobile of Suzuki Philippines in one leisure stop overs of the test drive.

Also according to Hoshikura-san, the all-new Vitara was able to highlight its fuel efficiency, power and stability through the straightaways of TPLEX and the winding roads of La Union. The panoramic sunroof was also a plus when taking pictures and videos of the countryside as confirmed by the members of the motoring media.

Happy Motoring!!!

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