Digging in

Initially, I was wary of the so-called C.A.R.S program or the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy because the suspicion back then was it was the brainchild of a major brand that would be the only beneficiary. To make matters worse no one could manage to provide me a copy of the program in writing. Everyone I spoke with had snap shots or glib summaries and even the guys from the automotive manufacturers side did not sound convinced that the idea would fly much less come to life.

That was three years ago, and now there are two if not three major brands that are on board and actively participating in a program where local parts manufacturers will link up with the car manufacturers and the DTI in order to revitalize if not completely rebuild the automotive parts manufacturing in the country.

The general idea is that the carmakers will line up three models each and will sponsor or endorse a specific parts manufacturer or a combined group who in turn will commit to produce the dedicated parts assigned to them. In order to make the sizeable investment and equipment upgrades worth it, the program requires that both sides are committed to approximately 200,000 / two hundred thousand units or pieces per part per car.

According to CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez, Toyota has started to study which models to submit for the program and will be assisting the parts maker in setting up shop. Ideally, the parts manufacturer will link up with a Japanese supplier or an international manufacturer that can assist the Filipinos in the needed re-tooling or upgrade.  

Aside from giving local parts manufacturer a much-needed boost and incentive, the major benefit from the program would be the projected three hundred thousand jobs (300,000) that would begin to firm up in a 6-year period. Aside from this, the CARS program is said to be the first serious step towards the Philippines actually producing a true first Filipino car. While we’re not out of the woods yet, the vision is to raise our level of participation in car manufacturing in ASEAN, increase manufacturing activity, and create a healthy balance between imported CBUs (Completely Built Up Units) versus SKDs (Semi Knocked Down units) assembled in the Philippines.

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A slight hiccup in the form of the alleged SUA has not scared Mitsubishi Motors Corporation from digging their heels in, in the Philippines. I just learned over the weekend that no less than Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko is coming to the Philippines this week to make their intentions known.

It seems MMC has decided to jump the gun and their chairman is personally leading a 15 to 20-man contingent from Japan composed of company presidents, CEO or owners of companies that manufacture or produce automotive parts.

The band of potential or probable investors will be in town to meet with President Benigno Aquino III to formally express their interest in participating in the CARS program or the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry under Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. After meeting with the President, the Japanese executives will subsequently meet with local counterparts as well as host a formal press conference with members of media.

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I don’t know exactly how things will turn out, but Ferdinand  “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be appearing before a group of Columnists at the Philippine Star today. I don’t know if he intentionally chose to do lunch on Chinese New Year or he was banking on the possibility that there will be a smaller crowd because it’s a holiday, or if he happens to be another one of those Feng Shui practitioners. I would wager that today’s event will be more of a training and learning session where I can pick up material for my classes on communication.

After learning that Bongbong Marcos was going to be the guest or “main course” for lunch, I started asking around about the issues surrounding his candidacy, Martial Law and the demand of his harshest critics that he should apologize. The most interesting and thought provoking reaction I got will certainly turn heads and actually made me think a lot.

“All these people who demand that Bongbong apologize for what his father did during Martial Law seem to disregard the fact that parents can tell off their children or correct them when they are wrong. Pero naka kita ka na ba ng anak na puedeng murahin o pagalitan ang magulang sa Pilipinas?” (Have you seen a situation where it is the child that curses or chastises the parent in the Philippines)

You ask Bongbong to apologize. But what about Ping Lacson why did we make him #1 or #2 Senator now? He was with Colonel Abadilla in Malacañang. What about Senator Enrile, he even became Senate President. He was the architect of Martial Law? What about Fidel Ramos? He implemented Martial Law under the PC (Philippine Constabulary) and yet we elected him President. What about the business people who used their connections to enrich themselves and are today’s Taipans and rich socialites? Yes, Bongbong lived in Malacañang and was the son of Marcos, but there are certainly more evil people out there. Why aren’t you persecuting them?”

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Last week, I commented that our traffic jams are a result of LGU’s prioritizing their areas and their interests, which result in anarchy. Last week, Facebook featured a bunch of THUGS in traffic enforcer uniforms who Tazed or used an electrocution device on a person for not obeying their commands. Last week an ASBUSADO (Arrogant Anti Smoke belching unit) operating along Shaw Boulevard between Pioneer Street and Sheridan practically jumped in front of a new delivery truck to force it to undergo smoke testing in a threatening manner.

Add to that groups of men riding shotgun on MMDA-ACCREDITED Tow Trucks for the purpose of applying the “Kuyog” or intimidation tactics on vehicle owners. Meanwhile, more and more “wang-wang escorts, counter-flow” violations are observed by people in Metro Manila.

Can we ask DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento if he could step outside his office a little more or perhaps to get his people to do the rounds and focus on how the LGUs are conducting themselves as if they were a country or state of their own. It’s supposed to be Tuwid na Daan and not Patayan sa Daan!