IT happens that in a marathon, the champion also feels energy slipping away. And then, all too suddenly, he sharply senses a surge of new knee power. He picks up speed. Whizzes past his foes, slicing the wind nonstop, telling himself: “Win this race I must!”
I knew how to run before I learned how to drive. I had known about the “second wind” even before I could pronounce the phrase.
The North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) had that proverbial “second wind” long before it got embroiled in the recent brouhaha of toll booth congestion.
Thus, in a snap, that glitch was addressed, leading to a seamlessly smooth traffic flow from December 18 to January 4.
To their credit, the Nlex top brass had risen to the occasion. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due.
“We carried out fool-proof measures to help control the expected traffic spike at our toll plazas,” revealed Jose Luigi Bautista, the Nlex president. “We fielded 1,000 people more for instant assistance to motorists for every conceivable traffic concern.”
Bautista said they had fine-tuned their cashless transactions while adding more cash payment lanes.
“Turns out motorists preferred using RFID than paying in cash,” Bautista said.
After it had morphed from North Diversion Road to Nlex, this road marvel leans on a regimen called “continuous improvement,” said Bautista: “We always strive to get better and better till the end of time.”
Welcome back, Nlex!
2021 forecasts
TWO more gentlemen at bat:
Jose Maria Atienza, TMP Senior VP, Marketing Division
“THE start of 2021 brings with it a strong market momentum coming from the end of last year.
“Together with our partner-dealers and Toyota Financial Services, we look forward to another year of providing our best for our customers, mindful of everyone’s role in rebuilding the economy in a safe and responsible manner.
“While market indicators are getting better, the recent announcement related to Safeguard Duties however brings with it uncertainties. This has to be assessed fully in terms of its short to midterm impact on the market and we all must work together to set the best course forward for our customers and the automotive industry.”
Spencer Yu, President, SMC-BMW PHL
‘Aggressive Competition’
“As we do not expect the industry to recover quickly, we foresee a more intense competition across all segments, which will manifest into aggressive pricing and financing programs. With manufacturers fighting over market share, there will always be a race to keep consumers interested and attracted to automobiles that best fit their lifestyle with their given budgets.
‘Customer Centricity’
“With data and metrics being more accessible than ever, the tools to analyze information have provided manufacturers with ways to tailor fit programs and events to reach out to their target markets. This more focused push on trends and interests allow for a more efficient use of resources, which benefits not just the manufacturer, but the consumer, as well, thanks to more targeted experiences that will feel even more worthwhile.
‘The Shift to Digitalization’
“The global pandemic has not only taught us that health and safety are of utmost priority. The shift in markets has now accommodated a digital landscape in which many of our daily lives have now adopted a cashless or touch-free method. From the way we reach our customers, the way they interact with our vehicles, to the way our vehicles will interact with other cars and their drivers, we can expect even more reliance on systems that increase efficiency and ease of use. With even more mobile applications being adopted in car systems, we are truly seeing a new rise in connected lifestyles for the years to come.
“Ultimately, we at BMW will try our best to be prepared for these changes and the challenges that they bring, doing our utmost to be more adaptable than ever in order to serve our clientele only the best of our brand.”
PEE STOP Here’s a glass to Isuzu PHL for donating an Isuzu Mobile Kitchen to the Laguna Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross for pandemic-related operations. IPC President Hajime Koso handed the keys to Laguna Red Cross officer Frank Sorromero. Cheers!