Motoring Today Column: BLAME GAME

Apr 26, 2023

BLAME GAME

Who's to blame for another shortage or backlog at the Land Transportation Office (LTO)?

It was license plates and plastic cards in the past. Now it's again plastic cards for driver's licenses.

The LTO has resorted to issuing temporary paper licenses for those unlucky enough to be renewing licenses at district, branch, or satellite offices that have run out of plastic cards.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is blaming the LTO.

In a press statement issued after the shortage of plastics surfaced, the DOTr said it was moving to "to expedite the purchase of the license cards, after LTO's failure to undertake early procurement activities in compliance with existing rules."

But is it the failure of the LTO really?

In a press conference, LTO chief Jose Arturo "Jay Art" Tugade laid the blame on the DOTr.

Tugade said the LTO was ready to procure plastic cards last December but was instructed by the DOTr in January, to basically "stop all procurement activities because all procurement activities would now have to be conducted by DOTr Central."

"Had we been able to continue with our procurement activities, we would have sufficient plastic cards by now," he said.

It is interesting to note that in the wake of this shortage, the DOTr said it was considering purchasing part of the total volume of license cards that the LTO needs even before the procurement's terms of reference (DOTr) is fully evaluated.

The DOTr press statement said: "DOTr hopes to procure enough license cards before supply runs out and while the TOR is being remedied so the bidding for supply of license cards can proceed."

Does "moving to expedite" mean a negotiated emergency purchase?

SUSTAINABLE BATTERY

Sustainability is now a key word used by manufacturers in virtually all industries.

Many however only pay lip service to sustainable operations.

But this cannot be said of Motolite which touts itself as the "country's most trusted battery brand."

Motolite has made recycling of used lead acid batteries (ULABs) a major part of its operations.

For years now, Motolite has been implementing a Balik Baterya Program that encourages motorists to trade-in old used up batteries in purchasing new ones.

Now it's extending the program industries-wide, entering into a partnership with the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) to help ensure ULABs are properly disposed of and recycled.

The agreement calls for FPI to promote the Balik Baterya Program to its members and other interested organizations.

The ULABs collected by FPI members and partner-organizations will be sold to Oriental & Motolite Marketing Corporation (OMMC) at prevailing market prices for recycling.

The funds raised from this program will be used by FPI for sustainability projects and other advocacies.

Motolite commits to provide or arrange for the pick-up of ULABs from FPI and its donors, and promptly remit to FPI the cash value of the collected ULABs.

Motolite will take care of the storage, handling, transport, and recycling of the ULAB through its accredited recycler, Evergreen Environmental Resources Inc. (EERI).

The Balik Baterya program ensures used car batteries, which are considered hazardous waste, do not end up in landfills, rivers and creeks.

At the same time, lead, plastic pellets, and other recycled materials from the ULABs are channeled back to the production facility of Motolite manufacturer Philippine Batteries Inc. (PBI).

ISUZU FESTIVAL

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) held a music festival to introduce the latest edition of the Isuzu D-Max and mu-X.

Aside from displaying the refreshed Isuzu D-Max and mu-X and live performances from well-loved OPM artists, the Isuzu Summer Music Festival featured free test drive, afternoon games, a dog show, car club meet-ups.

The new Isuzu D-MAX boasts a new two-tone front grille, new matte dark gray 18-inch alloy wheels, and new body color Islay Gray.

The new mu-X also sports two-tone front grille, new 20-inch alloy wheels, and a new color, Norwegian Blue, for LS-E variants.

The new Isuzu mu-X also comes with owner-friendly features like the new Smart Power Tailgate with Step Sensor.

Says IPC President Tetsuya Fujita of the upgraded D-Max and mu-X: "As your responsible partner in providing durable and reliable vehicles, we are elevating your driving experience with safer, more efficient, and more comfortable drive - a drive that will suit the needs of all members of the family."

SUMMER REMINDER

Those looking to purchase new vehicles this hot summer, please take advantage of the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival presented by Caltex and in cooperation with SM Offices and SM Mall of Asia Complex taking place on May 4 to 7 at the SM MOA.

The annual event brings together in one venue the country's biggest and best brands to showcase and provide test drives of their local lineup in alphabetical order, Ford, GAC, GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota and WM.

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)