ONE positive aspect arising from the extended various levels of lockdown in the metropolis is the pronounced reduction of netizen movement. That translates radically into less travels, cutting car emissions/pollution as vehicles remain grounded at home with their owners for most of the day.
Transport secretary Art Tugade took the occasion to also flaunt the merits of less human inactivity as he pointed out, very correctly, of course, that traffic flow at Edsa has improved tremendously.
He said restrictions on public transport operations and the widespread implementation of work-from-home platforms, distance learning generally adopted in education and crucial curbs on commercial/shopping thrusts have largely contributed to the easing of Edsa’s notorious jams.
“Travel time at Edsa from Caloocan to Pasay has now been reduced from nearly three hours to only around 45 minutes,” said Tugade, adding that the Edsa Busway project he implemented in June 2020 had helped reduce vehicle mobility.
The Edsa Busway putting buses in a single lane also mattered, with bus stops on the center island, or traffic median, boosting the system’s efficacy.
“From numerous plans, schemes, and proposals to decongest Edsa, having most of them either highly criticized or defied, the transformation of our main thoroughfares is well underway with the establishment of the Edsa Busway,” said Tugade, who also prides in having dismantled Edsa’s illegal bus terminals and eradicating the bus drivers’ habit of loading and unloading “anywhere they want.”
Further, Tugade said he will build in and outside Metro Manila “296 kilometers as protected bike lanes,” targeting by year’s end a total of “535 kilometers of bike lanes not only in the metropolis but also in the cities of Cebu and Davao.”
Does Tugade plan to team up with San Miguel Corp. chieftain Ramon S. Ang, his traffic-advocate counterpart in the private sector, in the frenetic fight to finally transform the Big City into a gridlock-free, superbly livable place soon?
That will be the day.
Nakamura speech
NICE to hear Honda Cars president Masahiko Nakamura say the industry is “on its road to recovery.” His speech during the recent launch of the City Hatchback:
“Good afternoon our dear friends from the media. Thank you for attending our event today.
“The Philippine Automotive Industry is now on its road to recovery from the impact of the pandemic. However, various economic factors and lockdowns have slowed down our growth, making 2021 another challenging year. Nevertheless, we at HCPI remain optimistic as we continue to navigate through these challenging times.
“To date, HCPI continues to be one of the Top 10 leaders in the automotive industry in 2020 with more than 11,700 units sold.
“Last October, HCPI introduced two new models, namely the New CR-V and All-New City. The All-New City has sold more than 1,700 units since its introduction. Today, as you have just witnessed, we are further expanding the City model line-up with the introduction of the All-New City Hatchback.
“The All-New City Hatchback is Honda’s newest offering in the B-Segment category. With its sporty hatchback body styling, advanced technology features and ULTRA versatility, we believe that the City hatch will be a worthy alternative to the iconic Honda Jazz, but moreover, it will be a model that will make its own mark in the automotive landscape.
“So once again, we are hoping for your continued support in helping us disseminate the introduction of the City Hatchback to the public. We are always grateful for your continued presence and support. I wish everyone good health and safety always. Maraming Salamat po!”
It uplifts the heart, always, to hear the captains of industry expressing hope and inspiring words amid the pandemic that has triggered near-crippling blows to the car world.
Speaking further of the All-New City Hatchback, the company just released its genuine Modulo Accessory to accentuate the new Hatch’s outlook.
From Colene Jalalon:
Modulo front under spoiler at P7,900; Modulo rear under spoiler P10,600; Modulo side under spoiler P13,000; Door visor P3,900; and, Cargo tray P2,600.
Available at all 38 Honda dealerships, customers may also purchase them at Honda’s LazMall Flagship at www.lazada.com.ph/honda-cars-philippines-inc.
PEE STOP The Tokyo Motor Show, held biennially, has been officially scrapped this year. Considered one of the world’s Top 4 motoring events that parades concept cars and futuristic vehicles, the Tokyo bash, which I had been covering 14 straight times since 1993, will be terribly missed. Unforgiving pandemic…Nadinne Capistrano sais Toyota’s “Sanitation Spin” on May 3 to 15 allows for 20 percent discount on BactaKlenz service, 20 percent on UV Lamp & Air purifier, and 10 percent UV Lamp on Air purifier if bought separately. Visit https://toyota.com.ph/promos/vehicle-sanitation.