INDUSTRY performance continues to rebound as sales hit a whopping 26.8-percent increase last month. This can only be attributed again to the so-called “spending vengeance” car clients had been resorting to as the pandemic appears consistently to be on the wane.
The Covid-19’s two-year grip on the wallet is fast becoming history, triggering a buying binge as the treasured cash long-locked in the vault has started taking wings again.
“It’s now a fact that car customers are busy again scouting for new cars to acquire,” said an insider.
A friend of mine has asked for help to purchase his dream Lexus.
“Sad to say, Al San, that we are now swamped with orders,” said Lexus president Raymond T. Rodriguez. “The reservation has breached 100. And the waiting time is from six to eight months!”
And Raymond ends by saying, “But it’s a problem I love.”
June sales saw 28,601 units sold, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).
That’s a 26.8-percent growth from the 22,550 units sold in the same period in 2021.
“The automotive industry recovery is driven by the pent-up demand from consumers amid the less than ideal economic conditions recorded in the same period,” said Rommel Gutierrez, the lawyer-president of Campi.
Year-to-date, Campi-TMA sold 154,874 units, equivalent to 16.7-percent growth compared with the same period last year.
SMC clean-up drive
IN its continuing mission to clean the metropolis of river dirt in a bid to mitigate the flood menace and improve traffic flow, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has reached its goal of removing over 1 million metric tons of silt and solid waste from the length of the Tullahan River in Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area—ahead of the schedule drawn up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
SMC’s clean-up teams have rid the river of an estimated 1,029,257 metric tons of silt and waste, roughly equivalent to close to 70,000 dump trucks.
That contributes largely to floods subsiding quickly during a downpour, easing up traffic flow to the delight and comfort of motorists traversing mainly Camanava districts.
Having met its target, SMC’s team will next clean up rivers belonging to the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) in Bulacan.
“We thank the DENR for its trust and confidence in our ability to get the job done. Despite the pandemic that delayed and limited our clean-up operations, we were determined to accomplish our objectives, including increasing the river’s width and depth in shallow sections, improving navigability, and helping restore marine life,” SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
SMC started the P1-billion Tullahan program together with the DENR in February 2020, at no cost to the government or taxpayers.
Meanwhile, work to clean the MMORS in Bulacan has started in earnest last month. The initiative is part of its comprehensive flood mitigation measures for the province of Bulacan, which it committed together with its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) and Airport City projects costing P740 billion.
Singapore F1
THIS early, the stage is set for Singapore’s biggest party in three years, as the Formula 1 night race gets back on track from September 30 to October 2.
Singapore GP Pte Ltd. e-mailed to say the Singapore Grand Prix 2022 will feature acts from Marshmello, Westlife, and Green Day. Also in the line-up are Black Eyed Peas, The Kid LAROI, TLC, and Suede.
Black Eyed Peas is topbilled by apl.de.ap, a Filipino from Angeles City, Pampanga. The group has sold more than 35 million albums and 120 million singles worldwide and has won six Grammys.
The three-day race weekend now includes over 100 hours of entertainment throughout the Circuit Park, including 92 performances across nine stages, 79 roving acts as well as an array of art installations and activities to enthral crowds.
I was fortunate to be invited by Toyota to cover the Singapore F1 inaugurals in 2008, the race becoming the first night event in Formula One history.
To purchase tickets for this year’s edition, and for more information on the race weekend line-up, visit www.singaporegp.sg.
PEE STOP Congratulations on the recent 25th year anniversary of Isuzu Philippines Corp! More power!…My friend extends his heartfelt gratitude to Rey Oben for the quick, personalized delivery of the Fortuner to my friend’s beloved wife last weekend. Action agad mantra at work! Mabuhay ka, Pareng Rey!