Motoring Today Column

Aug 01, 2018

Like many other government agencies, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is not a perfectly working government arm. But for whatever faults it may have, either real or imagined as highlighted by its detractors, the MMDA should be given credit for many of the continuing efforts they exert combined with other government agencies like the I-ACT in the day in and day out Herculean task of keeping traffic flow, in whatever pace anywhere in the metropolis especially in our main thoroughfares like EDSA.

One of the MMDA's latest moves to lessen unnecessary traffic volume in EDSA is the banning of provincial busses to traverse the metro's main artery during peak hours.

The effectively of the ban officially starts today,August 1, but during the dry run last Wednesday when bus companies and drivers were already previously informed of their being off limits in EDSA, the MMDA reportedly flagged down 219 provincial buses to remind them about the new policy.

Starting today any provincial bus caught running along EDSA from 7AM to 10AM and from 6PM to 10PM shall be fined P2,000.00. This decrease in traffic volume in the highway would benefit buses in the yellow lanes giving them possible extra trips with a shorter turnaround time and faster travel to commuters during these peak hours.

As a quid quo pro for bus operators the number coding prohibition shall not apply to provincial buses.

Another measure that the MMDA implements with physically possible consistently is the clearing of streets, especially the alternate routes or Mabuhay Lanes.

It's not a very popular rule to implement, especially to those thousands of vehicle owners who have no garage but the MMDA just choses to bite the bullet and strictly implement it knowing how these street clearing operations effectively help many motorists in reaching their destinations with their unhampered use of these side streets.

And there are still many things that the MMDA can be credited for and let's not be stingy in doing so.

Let's give credit where credit is due-way to go, guys.

Oh, by the way. I don't personally know anybody from the MMDA.

If you plan to travel through the tollways have the mindset to put on your seat belt, not to overload and to forget about over speeding.

We were just apprised that the NLEX Corporation, which manages the NLEX and SCTEX has employed further safety measures and intensified its operations in enforcing traffic laws related to seat belt use, speeding and overloading in order to further ensure the utmost safety and convenience of motorists travelling the tollways.

NLEX Corporation president and ceo, Rodrigo E. Franco remarked, "The safety of our motorists has always been our topmost priority since we opened in 2005. Our intensified road safety programs and measures are in keeping with our continuing efforts to make sure that travelling along the NLEX and SCTEX would always be safe and convenient."

Records show that with the strict enforcement drive, traffic citations in both the NLEX and the SCTEX increased to 92% or 71,146 cases in the first half of 2018 compared to the 37,106 cases in the same period last year. And the top three violations are overloading, speeding and not wearing seatbelt.

Motorists, remember the old adage, "Forewarned is being forearmed."

Motorists who have paid for the official registration of their vehicles can now check if their plates are already available through the Land Transportation Office (LTO) website.

Aside from scheduling an online appointment online, people whose cars still run on conduction stickers can check the site if they can obtain, once and for all, their 7-character motor vehicle (MV) license plates.

After choosing the MV license plate option on the website (right option), LTO will require car owners to enter the 15-digit file number of their plate. After searching, a user will be given instructions on when and where to claim the plates.

LTO Chief, DOTr Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante previously said that they have started releasing plates to vehicle manufacturers and regional offices since the start of July 2018. However, only plates of cars registered from July 2016 will be available.

Voting in the public poll to determine the most popular vehicles in the country to earn the distinction of winning thePeople's Choice Award for'2018-2019 Automobile of the Year' for either Standard or Premium Luxury category has been made a lot easier this year.

All one has to do is cast his or her vote for the five (5) "top of mind" automobile brands and models and that could mean a chance to win valuable daily prizes or any of the three 'top of the line' branded cellphones to be raffled by the end of the voting period, which is September 30, 2018.

To vote just log on to www.autofocus.com.ph and make your choices.

Coming soon online is a website dedicated to the country's motorcyclists. It's envisioned to assume the role of a venue for motorcyclists to air their views on matters that concern this ever increasing community of legitimate motorists who have their own rights, which at times are being taken for granted by the government.

The site shall also develop itself into a "go to" as far as information about the latest news and developments regarding the motorcycle and its industry.

Watch for it. It's coming very soon.

Happy Motoring!!!

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