Climate change and schedule of events

We recently concluded the 2009 Auto Focus Automobile of the Year-People’s Choice Awards and the 5th Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo. For the ‘Automobile of the Year Awards’, you can check out our Auto Focus website www.autofocus.com.ph for the full listing of this year’s winners. Or just check out the press releases or print ads of the proud winners who are currently cashing in on the bragging rights.

 To all the vehicle manufacturers and distributors and all the allied industries in the automotive sector, our sincerest thanks for the staunch support they have given all these years, five years and still counting. And to the major sponsors of this year’s tandem of events, Caltex Philippines, BDO Auto Loan and Goodyear Philippines, our sincerest thanks for the confidence you have reposed on us, the organizers of these twin yearly events. To all the winners in the various categories, CONGRATULATIONS! You all deserve it. To the big winner, Hyundai’s STAREX, who has the bragging rights as the 2009-2010 Automobile of the Year-People’s Choice, CONGRATULATIONS! The public has spoken in this yearly endeavor, the only recognized consumer sounding board in the automobile industry.

Next year, voting may start early, as early as April perhaps. Blame it on climate change! Since the Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo tail ends the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, we deemed it best to hold both events before the rains start and when the rains historically end-but then again there’s climate change so we’ll be spending more time at the drawing boards before we firm this up. Whatever and whenever, don’t fail to cast your vote as a consumer. It is not only our right to be heard, it is also a valuable tool for our local vehicle manufacturers and assemblers to know the consumer’s likes and dislikes. This way, they can continually improve on their ever-changing models and we as consumers contribute to a vibrant, dynamic automotive industry.

As for the 5th Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo, the four-day event held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig ended last Sunday, Nov. 8. We were heartened by the full support of the industry as all major manufacturers and distributors of note were there in their pitched tents full of their latest vehicle models. It was, indeed, a one-stop shop for vehicle and accessories needs.

BDO Auto Loan, a major sponsor of the event, also had quite a busy tent during the four days. They graciously offered attractive interest rates on auto loans, processed auto loans on the spot, and had their staff’s hands full with the inquiries they received. A very timely and essential component of the motor show indeed.

The crowd that poured in for the 5th Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo proves that, in the Philippines, buying automobiles is very much a family undertaking. We saw families walking around from booth to booth, Dads test driving the vehicles with the brood enjoying the ride inside the secured perimeter. Obviously, their inputs were valuable in the decision-making. 

What was heart-warming was that it turned out into a family affair, some sort of a festive fair that was to be enjoyed on a sun-drenched weekend. Families even brought their pets, walking them around on leashes as they made the rounds of the booths. The weather, thankfully, cooperated after several gloomy days of rain. The downpour miraculously stopped on the afternoon of the first day of the motor show, and the good weather held for the rest of the long weekend. Thank you Lord for the glorious sun.

Incidentally, the motor show was not only an assemblage of vehicle manufacturers and distributors. The support industries were there, led by the aftermarket group who brought in their goods and wares at fantastically low prices, in support of the event and perhaps as their way of showing their thanks to their faithful buyers for the support they have earned from the motoring public as trustworthy suppliers. They have been with the annual event from the beginning.

A newcomer to this year’s motor show is Armscor together with one of their principals, STI. They had their own booth in the auto fair where they displayed their latest gun models as well. Some may wonder at the relevance, but over-all, very few eyebrows were raised at the connection. Vehicle and gun enthusiasts share the same passion for the big toys. We believe it’s the same market. Next year, expect more from this sector.

Wonder who blinks first?

As of this writing, the Department of Energy and the Consumer Oil Price Watch led by staunch consumer advocate Raul Concepcion are still engaged in a war of words. The Palace has set its foot down on an oil price freeze for Luzon, though there are indicators that it may downsize the area to exclude other parts of Luzon. Consumers in the Visayas and Mindanao areas are left fuming.

 Still, the question begs to be answered: is an oil price freeze a wise economic move, despite the oil deregulation law we have effected several years ago? Our leading economists say no, but the defiant clamor of the various drivers’ associations and the persistence of the Consumer Oil Price Watch seem to drown out the administration’s vehement protestations and defense of their stance. I cannot claim to be an authority on the oil issue, but my brother Rey, who retired from Shell as a top executive after rendering 32 years of service, has a wealth of knowledge on the inside of the industry. He fully supports the setting of pricing benchmarks for importers without refineries which should be the Singapore trading prices and for refiners like Shell and Petron, the Dubai crude. His column last Friday, Oct. 30 in this paper is an intelligent analysis of the oil issue here at home.

What could be a much bigger issue than the oil price freeze are the renewed apprehensions of the residents of Pandacan amid reports of conflagrations caused by oil depot explosions that recently occurred, not in one country but in two-Puerto Rico and India one after another.

The oil depot in Pandacan reportedly has a combined 313 million liters of highly volatile gasoline and diesel, petroleum and liquefied gas, kerosene and even aviation gas, in the midst of a busy residential community that is Pandacan. In the light of the recent oil depot explosion in Puerto Rico which resulted in a huge blast and conflagration and endangered life and property in nearby communities, the Pandacan oil depots continue to pose serious threats, despite the assurances we receive from the oil companies. In Puerto Rico as well as in India, the outlying communities were said to be located in a safe distance away from the depots, which spared many lives, though there was some damage to property as the blast had the magnitude of a rather powerful earthquake. In Pandacan, the oil depots are right smack in the midst of a busy and congested community.

It is presumed that the oil companies at the Pandacan depot have taken all the necessary precautions and security measures to preclude future accidents, as is also presumed the Caribbean Petroleum Corporation had, prior to the Puerto Rican explosion and similarly the oil companies in India, but then the unexpected, though very well prepared for, happened. And one after the other at that. Hard to think as isolated cases, though. So, where is the Pandaca depot in the midst of all these? How about the residents who live so close to it?

Concerned relatives and friends of residents and especially the residents themselves now ask, “Apart from the verbal assurances, what guarantees do these Pandacan families have, in case of a similar accident?” Only unconditional guarantees to these residents can hold these oil companies to these verbal assurances, guarantees that they are willing to undertake to make sure the affected communities are indeed indemnified against fortuitous events. Should anything happen to them, shouldn’t these oil companies be willing to answer for all the damages to life and property, and this should be in writing, no less?

I don’t have an answer to this question. Perhaps the oil companies involved should. 

Maybe the City Government of Manila should take it from here?

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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