Motoring Today Column

Sep 12, 2018

Gov't reactions to riders' grievances

Last week on this column we gave way to the country's motorcycle riders' perception that they are being discriminated against by law enforcers specifically on certain issues. A wholesome and decent open discussion of the involved parties' distinct stands on the issue was organized by SPMJ, Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists, a group of editors, columnists and print, broadcast and online journalists covering the motoring beat via the 2nd SPMJ FORUM. This was held at Ayala's top-notched hotel in Quezon City, the Seda Vertis North.

The forum's aim is to get together representatives of all the sides of a significant public issue for a discourse of their individual positions on the subject at hand, which the journalists present can dissect through a freewheeling Q&A session in order for them to have a deeper understanding of the topic to ensure a better perceived reporting to the public.

The riders' lament was expounded by Jobert Bolaños, representing the Riders of the Philippines, which were basically on some LGUs' prohibition of the wearing of helmets while riding to ensure better identification, the confusing and flip-flopping rules on auxiliary lights and other modifications and the prohibition of 'riding in tandem' by some LGUs.

In response, the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) head, General Roberto Fajardo declared that they give importance to the riders as much as they give importance to other road users when it comes to road safety. With that said, the HPG says that, "we are prohibiting local government units from releasing memos that prohibit the use of helmets" . This is their response to the issue raised by the motorcycle organization with regard to their confusion about the helmet law.

As for the issue of auxiliary lights and other modifications, the head of the Law Enforcement Section of the LTO (Land Transportation Office), Director Francis Almora says they allow the changing of parts by a replacement of original design and function, otherwise it can be considered as modification, which is prohibited.

As for the 'riding in tandem' issue both law enforcement officials agree that the law allows for a motorcycle to have two passengers, the front and the back rider.

The HPG head emphasized though the prohibition by law to have a child who's not big enough to reach the footrest to be allowed to be a second passenger of a motorbike.

In the same forum, for the manufacturers' side, MDDPA ( Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association) President Armando Reyes cited their road safety advocacy for the riders. MDDPA said they conduct extensive campaigns and activities to educate riders as well as the pedestrians on safety while on the road. He also made known the MDDPA's concerned participation in advancing riders' interests by submitting position papers on proposed bills, ordinances and IRRs to the government regarding riders' rights.

For a more visual appreciation of t all the extensive discussion of riders' concerns on the 2nd SPMJ FORUM, you can log on to Motoring Today's website, www.motoringtoday.ph.

Performance of motorcycle brands

Coming close to the heels of our recent release on how the local auto industry performed in the first half of this year in terms of sales as measured by the number of vehicles registered nationwide with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), we now have for you similarly documented figures, again courtesy of STRADCOM its long-time official IT provider, this time for the motorcycle industry.

What we have here are the top 20 motorcycle brands registered with the LTO from January to July 2018.

From a total of 1,315,722 motorcycle registered, 3,394 units have a share of less than .01%.

 

 

 

 

Rank

MAKE

TOTAL

SOM  %

1

Honda

341,879

26.0%

2

Yamaha

294,097

22.4%

3

RUSI

195,159

14.8%

4

Kawasaki

132,726

10.1%

5

Suzuki

102,542

7.8%

6

Mitsukoshi

91,742

7.0%

7

MotorStar

50,376

3.8%

8

Skygo

41,239

3.1%

9

Motoposh

26,979

2.1%

10

Bajaj

5,938

0.5%

11

Microbase Motorbike

5,490

0.4%

12

Stargold

5,160

0.4%

13

Racal

4,571

0.3%

14

KYMCO

4,414

0.3%

15

TVS

2,935

0.2%

16

CPI

1,734

0.1%

17

Sichuan Grand Royale

1,468

0.1%

18

KTM

1,459

0.1%

19

MCX

1,250

0.1%

20

Bemac

1,170

0.1%

21

Others

3,394

Less 1%

 

We hope to update you on this by October for the total number of motorcycles registered with the LTO from January to September 2018.

Of motorcycle riders' interest

A new website exclusive to the motorcycle, its riders and its industry is coming out soon— www.motomagphilippines.com.ph .

It'll have the latest news about the motorcycle industry here and abroad, motorcycle models compared feature to feature, motorcycle reviews of latest models, coverage of local motosports events and a dedicated page concerning riders' rights and obligations, etc.

Watch out for it, very soon.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

Archive

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)

 

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