Authorities seem to be taking advantage of the pandemic to implement some of their pet projects. At least that is how it looks to some observers.
One case in point is the implementation of the modified provincial bus routes beginning September 30.
Authorities have long been moving to stop provincial buses from entering Metro Manila and instead use the integrated transport terminals being established in the periphery of the metropolis.
Of the 12 modified routes to be opened, 11 are for buses from south of the metro with the final stop at the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
One route for buses from San Fernando in Pampanga will stop at the Araneta Center in Cubao.
The southern bus routes start at Batangas City Lemery, Lipa City, Nasugbu in Batangas; Indang, Mendez, Tagaytay City, Ternate in Cavite; and Calamba City, Siniloan, and Sta. Cruz in Laguna.
Passengers however must have the following: Travel authority/pass from PNP at origin, Valid ID, written consent to undergo Covid-19 testing and/or quarantine if required by LGU at destination.
Passengers can only go down at designated stopover points along the route and at the end terminal.
Buses must also have a global navigation satellite system so they can be monitored in operation.
This could be a good thing to continue even after the pandemic, except for need of the passes or social distancing on buses, of course.
E-Scooter rules
It had to happen.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is moving to regulate use of the e-scooter, which is being used by more and more people desperate to find an affordable mode of transport under community quarantine restrictions.
Already draft guidelines for the regulation of e-scooters are now subject of a review by the Road Sector division, Legal Affairs and the Office of Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Among the proposed regulations are mandatory registration of e-scooters and the need for permits and licenses to use them on public roads.
In media interviews, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade indicated he was not in favor of e-scooter registration, at least while the pandemic remains.
Still, Tugade said he would listen with open mind to proponents of e-scooter regulation and the stakeholders.
Stonic buzz
Kia Motors Philippines has generated a buzz around the arrival of the Stonic, a stylish subcompact crossover targetted at the young.
For weeks, Kia has been keeping the Stonic abuzz on social media and motoring publications. A picture here, a factoid there, a discussion on reasons for buying the Stonic everywhere.
That may have kept would-be buyers of entry-level vehicles curious about the Stonic, enough to wait for its official launch.
Kia finally gave media a preview of the Stonic it will offer locally, its variants and trim levels, powertrain and, more importantly, the pricing.
The Kia Stonic to be officially launched on October 15 will be powered by a 1.4-liter Dual-CVVT gasoline engine that generates 95hp and 132Nm of torque.
There will be two trim levels, the LX and the EX, with the LX offered wih a 5-speed manual transmission and 6-speed automatic. The EX is offered only with the automatic.
The Stonic comes standard with a lot of features usually found in top-end models. One is an infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen display compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and playing through six speakers.
Those who reserve a Stonic on or before October 15 will get the pre-launch discounted price of Php675k for the LX MT, Php785k for the LX AT, and Php875k for the EX AT.
FX4 goes 4×4
Ford Philippines has finally brought in a 4×4 variant of the Ranger FX4.
“The Ford Ranger FX4 4×4 is an exciting addition to our Ranger lineup as we continue to complement and enable a diverse range of customer needs and lifestyles,” said PK Umashankar, Ford Philippines managing director, in a press statement.
“It is a fully-loaded truck with a competitive pricing that will strengthen our position in the 4×4 pickup segment,” Umashankar said, adding: “With this new 4×4 variant for the FX4, we are able to cater to customers who need a truck that can take off-road surfaces, challenging terrains, and extreme road conditions.”
Powered by a 2.2L Duratorq diesel engine delivering 160ps and 385Nm of torque, the Ranger FX4 4×4 is priced at Php1.356 million for the manual and Php1.416 million for the automatic.
A cash discount of P50,000 will be given cash buyers.
Happy Motoring!!!
For comments & inquiries email [email protected] or visit www.motoringtoday.ph.