It ain't fair but it's legal - or is it?

An intriguing news item caught my eye last week, which when I started digesting gave me a revolting feeling.

The report said that as a consideration to motorists who have been apprehended by any of the Local Government traffic enforcers for some traffic violation and had their driver’s license confiscated and later apprehended again by MMDA traffic enforcers and found without their driver’s license, instead of paying the original penalty of something like Three Hundred pesos for not having their driver’s license in their possession, the MMDA would only impose a fine of only One Hundred Fifty pesos. And this is for the reason that the MMDA and all the other local governments do not have a “single-ticketing” system.

What????

There are several issues that need to be addressed in this deplorable scenario where the public is made to pay for an incompetent and divided bureaucracy.

To begin with, the way it has been (not unless things have radically changed in the last several years of this present administration) is that a driver who’s apprehended for a traffic violation is issued a Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR), I think it was called then, which takes the place of the violator’s driver’s license for a prescribed period for the violator to question the apprehension or just pay the fine.

I also remember that there was some court ruling that came out sometime saying that it’s not really legal to confiscate drivers’ licenses for infringement of minor traffic laws but instead issuing a TVR or whatever it’s called can suffice.

Now having said that, why then should a driver be made to pay a fine for not having a driver’s license that has been duly or illegally confiscated?

Is it all because the MMDA and the other local governments have not agreed on having a single ticketing system for traffic violations?

Why penalize the public just because the MMDA and the other Local Government Units have not agreed on how to divide the “loot” or the funds (in the millions I was appraised) raised out of the fines from traffic violators?

Perhaps some legal NGO should get a final ruling on this from the Supreme Court to put a stop to this practice that’s not fair, but legal – or is it?

Toyota Road Trek – now a motoring media  summer tradition

Since it was started in 2005, the Toyota Road Trek has somehow evolve into a tradition where the motoring media would experience the latest Toyota vehicles available in the market, get to see exotic sights in the country that a busy journalist deadline-beater would have a difficult time squeezing into a deadly schedule, participate in some very keen but friendly competition among peers in the profession and letting one’s hair down in beach parties where food and drinks flow like there’s no tomorrow – the Toyota way.

The vehicle that took a pounding this year was the 2010 Vios (1.5 and 1.3 automatic variants) on a long drive from the Iloilo Airport all the way to Caticlan.

A total of 32 journalists representing various media (TV, radio, print and cyberspace) were divided into 8 teams of 4 members each for the traditional Toyota Road Trek Challenge. Departing from the past years’ format of having physical challenges interspersed with those that require some grey matter in order to excel, this year’s version centered on mental calisthenics. Enough of seeing game motoring journalists dangling on ropes while scaling towering waterfalls – all in the spirit of fun and earnest but friendly competition. After all, the prospect of winning 10,000 pesos each for being with the champion team, P7,500 for coming up runner up or P5,000 for settling to be third can really ensure some very friendly competition.

But then for most journalists, winning cash in the yearly Toyota Road Trek is just the icing on the cake – driving the latest model vehicles to the best destinations the country can offer, the great beach parties (this year it was Boracay all over again and no one was complaining) camaraderie among peers and the very gracious Toyota hosts, flowing food and of course to many – the perennial open bar, and if I may add – the nightly “all in” sessions lead by no less than the 1st vice president of Toyota Motor Philippines (not “the very first” as the pretty lady host erroneously announced with conviction when he was introduced) and also president of Lexus-Manila, Mr. Danny “Sir John” Isla.

It was 3 days of fun and work (journalists would have to write stories and TV broadcasters would have to fully cover the event – and believe it or not, that’s hard work – no, you don’t believe?) and the media looks forward to it every year.

STV, Sunshine Television Team #8 (Dodong Desamero, Arrin Villareal, my son Ray Louis Gamboa and myself) representing two TV shows (Motoring Today & Auto Focus), the 2009 Toyota Road Trek Challenges Champion only came out 2nd this year to Champion Team #3 (Iñigo Roces, Joe Chua, Vince Pornelos and Tito Hermoso) with Team #5 (Ron and Reyra delos Reyes, Dino Directo and Andy Sevilla) coming in third.

Now for the “all in” sessions, Jing Atienza, TMC vice president for vehicle sales played “bad host” by raking it in, with most of his guests going home “luhaan”, except for Vernon Sarne, Top Gear EIC who “broke the house” on the first night but gave back most of it on the second, Al “Sir Paul” Mendoza, motoring columnist of Business Mirror, Danny “Sir John” just broke-even but don’t ask about me – I end up always the same.

To Toyota Motor Philippines – thank you. Until next year (in Boracay again?).

Isuzu Philippines’ reins change hands

We sadly bade our farewell to outgoing Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) president Mr. Keiji Takeda who we have considered a dear friend while jubilant in our minds that his successful handling of IPC during the challenging times in our local auto industry has earned him the further trust of Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Japan). Takeda-san moves on to new and probably tougher challenges as he takes on being an associate division executive of Isuzu Motors Limited’s International Division N0.3 responsible for the ASEAN, China and Taiwan markets.

Takeda-san with his kind and friendly demeanor and his distinctive winning smile has won the hearts of many local motoring journalists for his being very approachable and accessible. Always ready and willing to converse with anyone to give management and technical inputs for factual reporting by the motoring media or just plainly talk shop.

Staying for only 3 years is really short for a very capable president like Takeda-san but it is his exemplary performance at IPC that “did him in” so to speak as he was called back to Japan to hurdle more difficult tasks.

“Three years flew easily,” said outgoing IPC president Keiji Takeda. “I suppose I enjoyed my stay in this beautiful country so much that I didn’t even notice I was already up for reassignment. I will always cherish my time in the Philippines. I have seen the amazing progress of your automotive industry in spite of global economic difficulties. I would like to believe that I was able to steer IPC in the right direction during a critical time for the whole industry. We continued to hold a strong position in the market despite the fact that there was a remarkable increase in the number of players. I will always hope for your economy and auto industry to grow.”

Taking over the reins of IPC is 55-year old Mr. Ryoji Yamazaki whose last post was as general manager of Isuzu Motors Limited’s international department overseeing Africa, Europe and Oceania.

“I am very excited to start my new position as president of IPC, especially since I’ve heard so many good things about this country and also about the very friendly Philippine media”, said Mr. Yamazaki in his acceptance speech.” I know that my colleague, Mr. Takeda, is a tough act to follow, but I am confident that with your help, I will be able to do an excellent job in leading IPC. Also, I believe that my long experience in international vehicle sales will help me in the right direction throughout my stay here.”

To Mr. Yamazaki we say welcome to the Philippines as we wish our good friend Takeda-san the best of luck in his new challenges.

God be with you, Takeda-san.

19th Trans Sport Show

It starts today! And it goes on up to Sunday, April 25 at the SM Megamall.

The 19th Trans Sport Show dubbed a “The car show for enthusiasts by enthusiast” with the distinction of having set the most trends in automobile restoration and customizing will have over 80 cars competing in different categories all vying for two best of Show awards – Contemporary and Nostalgic.

“Car enthusiasts wait eagerly for the show year after year because it’s only at the Trans Sport Show where they will see a lot of “firsts” in vintage restoration and restyling projects as well as the latest in automotive aftermarket products,” ensures Ms. Sophie delos Santos, president of the organizing TSI.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments: (E-mail) [email protected].