EDSA has become the nation’s capital for traffic laboratory. The yellow lane is for buses only.
The blue lane is for motorcycles only. Provincial buses from up North up to Valenzuela City only. Provincial buses from down South up to Pasay City only. And, oh yes, no contact-apprehension policy.
What would be next?
Edsa for singles only a.k.a. BAS in Tagalog. BAS as in Bawal ang Single policy. Meaning, vehicles having only the driver onboard are banned at Edsa from 7 to 10 in the morning and 5 to 10 in the evening. Only vehicles with two or more passengers can use Edsa in those times. It had its dry-run from August 15 to 23. In just two days of its dry-run, almost 6,000 motorists had been apprehended, according to the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority).
Why that many?
Because there was not much information campaign to inform the public of the new traffic policy.
What was the reason again behind the BAS policy?
To ease traffic at Edsa.
But since the BAS policy was on a dry-run stage, meaning “practice” only, no fines were imposed against the so-called violators of the new measure.
As I write this, the dry-run was sent to end and its final implementation targeted for August 23.
Several lawmakers, including Senate President Tito Sotto himself, have said the new scheme is only for the rich as only the wealthy can afford to hire drivers.
“It is anti-poor,” said Sotto of the temporary policy. “I usually drive my car myself as I love driving.”
The BAS tact was adopted in Jakarta a while back but it didn’t last long. It was a disaster as traffic there didn’t even ease up a bit
I still insist that traffic will only improve at Edsa with consistent deployment of traffic enforcers who will man choke points virtually from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Also, enforce laws against illegally parked vehicles and arrest drivers of public conveyances who load/unload passengers on no loading/unloading areas on a consistent basis—not to mention arresting law breakers with undiminished willpower.
If you will notice, traffic signs are placed on spots where pedestrians and commuters usually converge to wait for their rides. When will these flaws be remedied, only God knows.
Toyota Shaw
I have this habit of not refusing favors asked of me by friends and strangers alike. Sometimes, I get into trouble. I mean well, but I end up clobbered in the end. A friend of mine said: “My friend has requested me to ask for your help.” And so, here we go again—my friend’s paki.
“Since debuting in 1989, Toyota Shaw Inc. has established itself as one of the leaders in the Philippine automotive industry. With a string of awards such as the 2017 Service Department of the Year plum tucked under its belt, the dealership easily became one of the most sought-after after-sales providers in the whole Toyota Network.
Despite the exponential growth of the dealership, Toyota Shaw Inc. President Jonalyn Lim aspires for even greater ways to exceed customer expectations. Her business ethos include training and developing top-tier After-Sales Team Members who ceaselessly earn customer smiles time and again.
Alongside Toyota Motor Asia Pacific and Toyota Motor Philippines, the Toyota Shaw Service Center in Mandaluyong opened its doors in November 2016, becoming the first-ever Service Satellite in Asia Pacific.
This two-story facility provides exemplary express maintenance services with an exceptional team to boot.
The Toyota Shaw Inc. Express Maintenance (EM) Satellite has six working bays and a carwash that guarantees one-hour service from reception to vehicle release.
With three Toyota-certified technicians working on a car simultaneously using state-of-the-art tools and equipment, the EM Satellite poses as one of the Philippines’s leading innovations in providing unparalleled automotive service.
The Toyota Shaw Service Center is headed by Roger Rivera. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can book your service appointments by calling 532-7429 local 202 and 204.
Top speed service
“AT Toyota Shaw,” said Lim, “we believe that you should spend more time doing things you love rather than waiting long hours for car service. That’s why we created the Toyota Express Maintenance Service, the first and only one-hour complete Periodic Maintenance Service available only at our Service Center.”
Lim said that like all other Toyota dealers, Toyota Shaw also offers only genuine parts.
“We recommend having your car serviced every 5,000 kms or every three months, whichever comes first, for peace of mind,” Lim said.
So there you have it. Live for others.
PEE STOP I missed the Lexus launch of the swanky All-New LS as I was in Nagoya, Japan, during the ceremonies. Lexus President Raymond T. Rodriguez readily understood. “Time for bonding with your family while you are on an ‘apostolic mission’ as you termed it,” he said. “Apostolic,” meaning my wife and I had to chaperone a bit our apo (grandson) while he was fulfilling his exchange-student scholarship at the Nihon Fukushi University outside of Nagoya City. Indeed, our culture is unique in that family ties are a never-ending process. You take care of your children. Next, you take care of their children, too. Extended family love. Long playing.