WHO is the lone Filipino patriot today that truly cares about the comfort of the motorist in particular and the nation’s riding public in general? He’s none other than Ramon S. Ang (RSA), who was recently promoted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
As if he needed a new posting.
With his long-standing stature as SMC’s top honcho—brilliantly transforming the food-and-beverage outfit into the country’s biggest conglomerate today—RSA doesn’t need new badges on his chest, anymore. With what he’s achieved—and been achieving, and accomplishing, at an undiluted frenetic pace—for the common good, RSA is likewise beyond any position of meaning. He’s been in a pedestal for so long for his numerous thrusts in the name of public service so that I can’t blame many of our compatriots for saying he’s been performing at a level almost equal that of American president Joe Biden.
“He is not only the Skyway King of the Philippines,” said Ed “EdPam” Pamintuan, the former mayor of Angeles City who is now chair of the Clark Development Corp. “He is the food czar, the power-fuel chief, and the infrastructure vanguard rolled into one.”
How true. And, as Skyway King, RSA is not stopping and is coming up with another innovation: the country’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
Function like trains
WITH the elevated Skyway Stage 3 now in full harness, the BRT system on the elevated expressway will radically improve commuting while it supports sustainable transportation.
The BRT will utilize the Skyway for buses that will function like trains, ferrying large numbers of passengers and stopping only at designated stations at set intervals. The system may also resemble a high-capacity, point-to-point (P2P) bus system.
“As early as 2017, we had already been considering the BRT,” RSA said. “It is another way to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.”
The first target is from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa to Balintawak, proceeding towards the North Luzon Expressway.
RSA said that Skyway 3 and all the expressway projects are designed primarily to divert and take away a significant number of vehicles from major roads like Edsa and C-5, to include the Skyway’s at-grade levels in the equation.
“Lessening the vehicles competing for road space is how elevated expressways will ease traffic—as we have seen now on Edsa,” RSA said.
He said the expressways and skyways are not just for motorists but also serve as platforms for efficient mass transport scheme.
With the BRT, Ang said he sees many motorists will soon prefer for the public transport over their cars, contributing to a healthier environment due to less vehicle emissions.
“Our population and our economy are growing,” he said. “We can’t afford not to act now, and we can’t make do with temporary or inadequate fixes anymore.”
How many of our leaders think the way RSA thinks?
Honorable Honda
IN a gallant move, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is recalling 10,863 units with a factory defect.
The company will replace fuel pumps of select 2018-2021 models of Accord, BR-V, City, Civic, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Jazz and Mobilio for possible defective impellers.
Below is the list of models for immediate recall:
This proactive effort of HCPI aims to ensure the safety of customers and address potential fuel pump related vehicle concerns such as inability to start-up or being inoperative.
All the 38 Honda Cars dealerships nationwide will replace parts and perform work free of charge over a maximum of two-hour servicing.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notice of recall. Customers may also verify if their vehicle is affected through encoding its 17-digit Chassis Number or Vehicle Identification Number at the Chassis/VIN search tool, which may be found at the recall information webpage at www.hondaphil.com/recall.
E-mail update@hondaphil.com for further assistance.
PEE STOP Racing fans will see the return of the Toyota GR GT Cup via e-motorsports from today to May 1. Some 200 racers are in to include media and celebrity personalities, with 17-and-below enthusiasts accepted in the Junior Class. “We can’t wait to crown this year’s champions,” said Elijah-won Marcial, Toyota’s VP for marketing services…The latest Lexus ES model has been unraveled, boasting its usual “omotenashi” and “takumi” mantras designed chiefly for the brand’s luxury sedans. Jade Sison commands us to check it out at Lexus Manila on BGC in Taguig City…Renewing his company’s anti-virus pledge in 2018, Isuzu Philippines president Hajime Koso handed recently the iconic D-MAX LS A/T to GMA Kapuso Foundation, on top of PPEs and other protective gears in Isuzu’s continuing support for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Kampai, Koso-san!