THE massive traffic jams that bedeviled the metropolis the past two weeks or so could be gone by now. It should now be back to “normal.” And by normal, we mean tangled traffic still hounds the asphalt jungle almost 24/7, and at least six days a week.
There will never be an end to it, the gridlocks and all—unless true enforcement of traffic rules and regulations is implemented to the hilt by government agencies tasked to do the job, like the MMDA and HPG.
Look, aren’t tricycles banned from plying main thoroughfares, including the national highway?
That’s not being observed in Maharlika Highway, the main artery going to Bicol from Metro Manila.
While the government’s admirable road widening project in the country has really been frenetically pursued to the ends of the Earth, the worthy undertaking is being bastardized by tricycles that wantonly make themselves king of the road from Santo Tomas, Batangas, all the way to Legazpi City in Bicolandia.
I should know. I traversed the Maharlika Highway every now and then. Last weekend, the family’s three-day escape from the roar and rage of the metropolis was spoiled anew by tricycles racing against us.
As usual, no matter the length of honking horns to ask tricycles to move to the right side of the highway where they “rightfully belong” while they break the law, sadly, everything was in vain, if not another crazy exercise in futility.
They just don’t “step aside,” and persist in blocking your path. You will just keep your cool in the end to avoid a heart attack, skip an assault of blood pressure shooting up or escape your own road rage as to succumb to madness and proceed to shoot the trike driver in utter anger.
Now if you try to overtake a trike from the right side (suicide), parked vehicles block your path, too. Thus, we spend billions to widen the roads, only to accommodate illegal parking along the Maharlika Highway.
Thus, when you drive down South, you need a million pound of patience to keep your sanity intact.
Paging Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
Volvo gets nod from Texas media
IT’S nice to know that even our American media colleagues recognize the global worth of Volvo technology. From Volvo’s Albert Paolo A. Ella, this nice bit of good news:
“The Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has been named midsize luxury SUV of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association [TAWA], marking the fifth consecutive year a Volvo SUV has won a category or overall award from the 32-year-old media organization.
“Recharged and refreshed for 2020, the Volvo XC90 is the Swedish luxury automaker’s flagship model, equipped with the design, features, technology, utility and safety that today’s luxury buyers expect.
“The XC90 features a confident, luxurious take on traditional Scandinavian design. The exterior has a strong stance with a subtle, timeless quality and balanced proportions, while the interior is a masterful composition of relaxing design, beautiful materials and the latest technology—all perfectly blended together.
“Highlights for 2020 include a newly available six-seat configuration that provides easier access to the third-row seats, updated styling, colors and finishes, and a new Tailored Wool Blend interior option that expands the definition of luxury.
“The XC90 is also available in the Philippines as a 407 horsepower plug-in hybrid with over 400 miles of total range. This luxury SUV has been launched together with its equally amazing siblings, the Volvo XC60 compact SUV and the stately Volvo S90 sedan. All three models are available as plug-in hybrids.
“Volvo’s IntelliSafe suite of driver assistance features comes standard, including Collision Avoidance by City Safety, Pilot Assist with Adaptive Cruise Control and Distance Alert, Oncoming Lane Mitigation with Steering Assist, Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Alert with Autobrake.
“Our members were undeniably impressed with the Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription at the Texas Truck Rodeo,” said Kristin Shaw, TAWA vice president of events. “Volvo consistently represents the one-two punch of luxury and safety, and the attention to detail is clear in features like the crystal gearshift and upscale materials. Yes, it’s beautiful inside and out, but the XC90 is also hardy enough to manage tough terrain.”
“Being recognized again by TAWA journalists is very special,” said Anders Gustafsson, senior vice president Americas-region, and president and CEO of Volvo Car USA Llc. “It makes us proud, and we hope it gives Texans the confidence to buy something a little friendlier to the environment.”
Do I see the Covenant’s Albert Arcilla smiling from ear to ear?
PEE STOP Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! With 2019 proving to be the “rebound year” of the local auto world, following back-to-back “stormy weather” in 2017 and 2018 in the aftermath of legislated jacked up excise taxes to boost revenues for the “Build, Build, Build!” platform, the coming year should prove to be the stabilizer to gun up growth in the billion-peso industry. The CARS program, alone, that saw the Toyota Vios leading the way to prop up manufacturing targets is now rolling smoothly. Here’s looking at you kid, in 2020!