PUV modernization taking firm shape

With the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) gets jumpstarted and now sees a greater chance of fruition.

The MOU calls for the DBP to provide the DOTr a P1.5 billion finance facility for the initial implementation of  the PUVMP, which does not only aim to modernize the PUV operations in the country but also to professionalize the public road transport sector.

The finance facility shall support the financing needs of transport corporations and cooperatives that would wish to acquire new and passenger-safe PUVs and to help design, develop  and implement an automatic fare collection system for the road transport sector.

Getting the money to finance government projects is just half of the total effort and challenges that usually come to see them through. Getting the suppliers of the projects’ requirements always gets to be the harder half of the equation. With the prevalence of sore losers in the various bidding processes, the usual “TROs galore” always turns out to be the biggest hurdle. 

Vios Cup 3rd leg this weekend

The third leg of the Toyota Vios Cup, which has established itself as an institutional racing event of the country being the most spectacular and the most participated in is happening this weekend, Sept. 15-16 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga.

Expect another carnival-like atmosphere as racing and car enthusiasts make the much awaited event a family affair watching thrilling races and other exciting activites like the return of the “Drift King” himself, Keiichi Tsuchiya with his daredevil drifting stunts.

The Vios Cup, which is part of Toyota’s waku-doki (heart-thumping exhileration) that aims to develop technologies and solutions for its global motorsports activities.   

Subaru launches the All-New Subaru XV Crossover

Motor Image Pilipinas, exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country launched last week the all-new Subaru XV.

The well-attended launch represents the first full model change since the original Subaru XV was introduced in 2012. It is also the second model to employ the revolutionary Subaru Global Platform.

Aside from the brand-new Subaru Global Platform that is presented to deliver less shake and less body toll, the all-new Subaru XV offers the following features: 2.0-liter Direct Injection Naturally Aspirated Boxer Engine that produces 156PS at 6000rpm, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive equipped with X-MODE and enhanced safety features such as High Beam Assist, Steering Responsive Headlights and Rear View Detection.

The all-new Subaru XV will be available in two variants, the Subaru XV 2.0i and the Subaru XV 2.0i-S

VWorld Weekend at Glorietta Activity Center

Volkswagen Philippines, will hold the VWorld Weekend on Sept. 16–17 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

For two days, VWorld Weekend offers Filipino motoring enthusiasts an easier way to own premium, German-branded, precision-engineered and designed Volkswagen at special purchase and financing packages.

On display at the VWorld Weekend will be the accessorized Beetle and the Polo Hatchback Club Edition. It will also showcase at the event the new Jetta, which will be sold starting P1.1 million (for the Comfortline). Additional variants for the Jetta are Highline, Business Edition and Business Edition +.

The VWorld Weekend will also be offering the Polo Hatchback starting at P858,000 and the iconic Beetle starting at P1.24 million. There will also be special financing packages courtesy of BPI Family Savings Bank, the event’s exclusive bank partner, and its BPI Auto Loans for faster loan processing.

VWorld Weekend also promises to be a fun family event for both adults and their children. During the two-day run, Volkswagen Philippines’ award-winning Child Safety Initiative (CSI) will offer the Junior Driving Course, which is aimed at introducing early childhood road safety awareness to children four to eight years old, while imparting important road safety habits to their parents.

People’s Choice Awards now closer to the people

This year’s staging of the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards for Automobile of the Year (Standard and Premium Luxury models) has been brought closer to the people by adding on-site voting to its traditional online public voting.

 Sunshine TV (STV), organizers of the annual recognition of the country’s most preferred car models in each vehicle category and the most popular automobile model with distinction between the Standard from the Premium/Luxury models, have partnered with Robinsons Malls to hold weekend on-site public voting within their malls in Metro Manila.

No less than Eunice Gonzales, the marketing director of Robinsons Malls, lined up the specific malls where voting kiosks would be put up. Auto Focus will also give away special merchandize to those who will cast their votes as to what cars models they like or aspire to have.

“This move to bring the polls closer to the people by putting up voting kiosks in highly populated places like Robinsons Malls would indeed make the awards more reflective of the people’s choice,” remarked Gonzales when the STV-Robinsons Malls partnership was sealed early this year.

With this year’s public voting extended up to the end of October to allow more voters to participate, the next public voting would be held this weekend, Sept. 16-17, at the ground floor of Robinsons Place Antipolo, between the Department Store and the Supermarket. T-shirts, coffee mugs, clocks and other items of value will be given free or raffled off to all those who would cast their votes. A couple of pretty usherettes would be on hand to assist you register your choices.

See you there!

In your office, at home or on your phone

That’s how convenient it is now to find out the latest transportation and traffic management news, vehicle maintenance and road safety tips, international motorsports events, together with all other varied facets of motoring just by clicking on www.motoringtoday.ph.

While for reviews of the latest automobile models as well as head-to-head comparisons of their features, car launches and test drive events, and anything and everything about the automobile and its industry there’s www.autofocus.com.ph.

Both websites are the online versions of the TV magazine shows Motoring Today and Auto Focus and they offer the best of both worlds to viewers—a choice of selective viewing of portions or watching the entire episode on its TV streaming page to include past episodes as well any time of the day.

Happy Motoring!!!

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