Motoring Today Column

Jan 11, 2023

Free Rides

The New Year started sadly for many commuters who for months enjoyed free rides on the EDSA Carousel or EDSA Busway.

They not only now have to pay for the ride but found the fare was higher than they remember.

It must be said that transport authorities should not be blamed for this as they had been warning of end of the Libreng Sakay program and had even published the new fare matrix for the route.

Still some commuters may have clung to hopes of an extension of the Libreng Sakay program after legislators — among themSenator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance — issued press statements that the free rides would continue.

They pointed out that the P2.16 billion allocated for thePUV Service Contracting Program in the 2023 General Appropriations Act was intended to keep the Libreng Sakay program going into the new year.

Said Senator Angara in a press statement: “ The Libreng Sakay program has benefited hundreds of thousands of our commuters, who have been clamoring for its continuation as a way to ease their burden from the rising costs of fuel and basic goods and commodities.”

“These days every peso counts and whatever little savings that could be realized is highly appreciated,” he added.

There is hope for free rides on the EDSA Busway to return though, if not in the first quarter of the year but certainly in the second quarter. That is according to a Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

In published reports, LTFRB technical division head Joel Bolano said the agency and the DOTr were still to begin discussion on the program of work on how to spend or allocate the 2.16-billion budget for the SCP.

Although another concern for commuters is Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista airing the possibility of the EDSA Busway totally put in private hands to make it more efficient and profitable.

It may be a good idea for commuters to contact their congressmen and senators to pressure the DOTr and the LTFRB to resume the Libreng Sakay program soonest.

Large MINI Showroom

MINI is going large. Its new showroom and dealership at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, that is.

Willy Tee Ten is rightly proud of its newest and largest dealership.

Said the president of MINI Philippines: “ In addition to being the largest MINI showroom in the country for MINI fans to enjoy, it boasts new designs and amenities that are aligned with the new corporate identity of MINI Global.”

MINI BGC has 753 square meters of space, as four- car showroom, a spacious area to receive guests, and a roof deck that serves as a venue for MINI activities and events.

The new dealership also offers a wide variety of merchandise from the MINI Lifestyle Collection, such as luggage, shirts, jackets, and more.

MINI owners can head to MINI BGC service center for quick services, while more extensive jobs will still be conducted at the service factory.

The new MINI BGC will also be equipped with electric vehicle charging points.

Autohub Triumph

Another thing to be proud of for Willy Tee Ten, also president and CEO of the Autohub Group, is the opening ofTriumph Motorcycles inBonifacio Global City and at theLausGroup Corporate Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Autohub can boast of Triumph Motorcycle Philippines being hailed as the No. 1 Triumph dealer in the world. Yes, the world.

In expanding its market in Luzon, Autohub said: “From having only a single branch in 2020, we were able to see an increase in our audience’s interest in owning a modern-classic, sport, naked, and adventure Triumph bike, ultimately enabling Autohub to launch new branches in different hotspots.”

It added that the new BGC and Pampanga branches will showcase Triumph bikes, apparel, and genuine accessories and the showrooms will allow fans to truly appreciate what Triumph Motorcycles have to offer, bringing the Triumph dream closer to more likeminded enthusiasts.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

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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)