AAP Supplement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

December 10, 2010

CONTENTS:

Gearing-up for a Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020

AAP Caravan explores Cavite and Batangas historical attractions

Scorching Track Action at the 2010 PTCC and PPCC Series and the Race of Champions

AAP Attends the Metro Manila Traffic and Transport Plan Entry Summit

The 2nd AAP INDI Tree Planting Project

Making Motoring Fun: Put a stop to illegal car license plates

AAP members get exclusive discounts on tires and car batteries

Anilao in Batangas: Drive and Dive

AAP Attends ABS-CBN’s “Salamat Dok” on Drunk Driving

AAP initiates payments through BPI Express Online

Gearing-up for a Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020

The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) in cooperation with the University of the

Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) and Toyota Motor Philippines

(TMP) as sponsor, held its 5th Road Safety Conference at the GT-Toyota Asian Center

Auditorium on November 18, 2010 with the theme “Gearing-Up for a Decade of Action for Road

Safety, 2011-2020.”

Attended by

representatives from the

government, private

sector, NGOs and

transport groups as well

as road safety experts

and advocates, the

conference supported

the initiatives of the

United Nations Decade

of Action for Road

Safety. In his opening

remarks, AAP president and concurrently Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP)

Chair Augusto Lagman said that the Decade of Action for Road Safety aims to save five million

lives by the year 2020 but its effectiveness cannot be measured unless we all act now. For his

part, TMP president Michinobu Sugata said, “Let us not just look at accidents and injuries as

numbers, but more importantly, lives that we can save because we have made the roads safer

for everyone”.

The conference was divided into three sessions: the first session tackled road safety

legislative initiatives the second focused on eco-driving, and the third covered the International

Road Assessment Program (iRAP).

Legislative Initiatives

. Pia Cariño-Santiano, chief of staff of Buhay Party List Rep. Irwin Tieng, explained the

three bills on road safety and their current status in the House of Representatives: (1) the Anti

Before the 5th AAP Road Safety Conference began, Krus na Ligas High

School students made a presentation depicting the young casualties and

fatalities of road crashes.

During the Krus na Ligas presentation, DOTC

Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin read the

explanatory notes of the Anti Texting While

Driving Bill, the Anti Drunk Driving Bill and the

Anti Reckless Driving Bill.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation President, Michinobu Sugata welcomed the conference

participants in his opening remarks.

Texting While Driving Bill, which is currently awaiting

deliberation in the Lower House, will penalize

motorists who text while driving, with suspension of

their driver’s license and a fine of up to P20, 000, (2)

the Anti Drunk Driving Bill will set a quantitative limit

for blood alcohol content at 0.06 percent and (3) the

Anti Reckless Driving Bill will criminalize dangerous

driving habits with jail sentences from one to 12

months, plus fines of P1,000 to P100,000. This bill

has already passed the first reading and is currently

pending in the committee for deliberation.

Department of Transportation and

Communications (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Dante

Lantin expressed support to the bills and affirmed

the Aquino Administration’s commitment to road

safety. On the other hand, Alberto Suansing of the

Safety Organization of the Philippines (SOPI) expressed his belief that the existing Republic Act

4136, a.k.a. the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, is sufficient to instill road discipline and

only needs strict implementation to reduce the number of traffic law violators. He asserted that

the only thing our country lacks is a specific benchmark for driving under the influence of liquor

or narcotics (DUI) that will help law enforcers in apprehending drunk drivers.

Dexter Cardenas of the Quezon City Department of

Public Order and Safety shared this view, saying that the

government should work on standardizing the road signs

and intelligently review their locations to maximize visibility

to motorists. Cardenas lamented that many road signs are

defaced with political propaganda or the logos of

commercial firms. Standardizing road signs would prevent

this so that road signs will serve their purpose, which is to

guide motorists and warn them of hazards.

Another issue brought up in the first panel

AAP President and concurrent

Philippine Global Road Safety

Partnership (PGRSP) Chair, Augusto

Lagman briefs the attendees on the

Decade of Action for Road Safety.

discussion was the proliferation of stick-on advertisements on the backs of public utility buses.

Johnny Angeles, AAP vice-president and road safety committee chairman, said that these

stickers have no “traffic redeeming value,” and therefore should not be tolerated because they

block the driver’s rear view.

Eco-Safe Driving

The afternoon session resumed with a discussion

of Eco- Safe Driving presented by Leandro del Rosario of

Meralco’s South Distribution Services Fleet-Logistics.

Eco-Safe Driving is among the company’s initiatives to

reduce emissions so as to lower the production of the

“greenhouse effect” in the environment. It also promotes

road safety and energy efficiency as drivers are

encouraged to limit using the gas pedal and thereby

enjoy more relaxed motoring. Eco-Safe Driving manages

engine revolution so that upon acceleration and during

cruising, the engine will only reach around 2,000 rpm

maximum/.

With Eco-Safe Driving, Meralco urges the public

and private sectors to embark on a greener journey with

them for a safer and cleaner road environment.

iRAP

Aside from promoting green driving, the conference also tackled iRAP, a project that

aims to make roads safe through the identification, inspection and improvement of high-risk

road infrastructure. iRAP is a joint effort of AAP, DPWH, UP-NCTS and the Land Transportation

Office (LTO) whose representatives are members of the Inter-Agency Steering Committee

formed by DPWH to coordinate with the iRAP Project Team.

DPWH Assistant Secretary Maria Catalina Cabral reported that so far, the project has

accomplished the following goals: identifying black spots, conducting road safety audits,

collecting motor vehicle users charge (MVUC) to be used in funding road safety projects,

preparing and distributing manuals on road safety, and organizing road safety training seminars

for DPWH staff, and some of the local police and local government units.

DPWH Assistant Secretary for

Planning Maria Catalina E. Cabral

explained iRAP Philippines during

the afternoon session.

iRAP will focus on upgrading 30,000 km of national

roads to higher safety standards as data show that only 86

percent of our primary roads are paved and the rest are

still gravel., iRAP will construct more bridges, continue

capacity building among the public and private sectors,

continue detailed road audits of the rest of our national

roads, identify more black spots, and formulate affordable

programs of safety engineering that can decrease road

casualties.

The road conference ended with remarks by

Johnny Angeles who, on behalf of AAP, congratulated

and thanked the organizers and participants, especially

the speakers and reactors, for sharing their insights via

their presentations.

As a leading road safety advocate, AAP urges everyone to unite and participate in the

Decade of Action for Road Safety: 2011-2020 to reduce road casualties by 50 percent by the

year 2020. This United Nations resolution initiated by the FIA will be launched worldwide on

May 11, 2011, preceded by a pre-launch conference in every country including the Philippines.

“We hope to see everyone here again next year for this pre-event conference and keep helping

us to make our roads safe”, Angeles concluded.

AAP 5th Road Safety Conference panelists Dexter Cardenas of the Quezon City Department of Public Order

and Safety, Pia Cariño-Santiano, chief of staff of Buhay Party List Rep Irwin Tieng,. DOTC Assistant

Secretary Dante Lantin, and Alberto Suansing of SOPI.

2nd AAP Caravan explores Cavite and Batangas’ historical attractions

AAP members, families and friends explored the

historical and cultural attractions of Cavite and Batangas

during the 2nd AAP Caravan on November 27, 2010. It was

preceded by the first AAP Caravan last May to the

ecological and cultural sites in Clark and Subic.

Spearheaded by former Tourism Secretary Mina T. Gabor

who now chairs the AAP Tourism Committee as a member

of the board of directors, the AAP Caravans aim to

promote drive tourism of local tourist sites and at the same

time serve as a family-bonding weekend activity.

The 2nd AAP Caravan was powered by Petron

Blaze 100, the new ultra-high performance gasoline. After

registering at the Petron Blue wave service station on

Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City the participants in 26 cars with Aeromed, the official

ambulance provider, as sweep drove in convoy to destination points in Cavite and Batangas.

Upon crossing the Cavite border, the caravan was escorted by highway patrol motorcycle

officers assigned by the provincial government of Cavite.

Cavite, Cradle of the Philippine Revolution

Cavite is rich not only in scenic attractions and Filipino culture but also in historical

landmarks. Recognized as the Cradle of the Philippine Revolution, Cavite is home to some of

our country’s finest museums, among them the Museo De La Salle in Dasmariñas, where the

caravan made its first stop. Participants walked through the 19 th century “bahay na bato” -

inspired building that showcases the remarkable illustrado lifestyle of our ancestors. The two-

storey building contains collections of antique family heirlooms such as furniture, decorative

objects, and fine and applied art pieces donated by or on long-term loan from prominent

collectors.

The museum’s rooms such as the caida, sala

mayor, despacho, cuartos, oratorio, comedor and cocina

have the actual house furnishings during the Spanish and

American Colonial period. Outside is the traditional garden

planted with traditional botanical species.

Another famous museum in Cavite is the Geronimo

Berenguer delos Reyes Jr. (GBR) Museum. Founded by

the Geronimo Berenguer delos Reyes Jr Foundation in

General Trias. The museum depicts the Philippines’ rich

and glorious past via more than 3,000 vintage photographs

displayed in five air-conditioned pavilions representing

different historical eras. The museum also contains GBR’s

world aviation history exhibit

Batangas, Land of the Barakos

From Cavite, the caravan proceeded to Batangas where sumptuous Taal dishes were

served for lunch at the Taal Heritage Village headed by Dindo Montenegro. During the repast,

AAP conducted a raffle with AAP laptop bags, the famous “kapeng barako” of Cavite, and a one

night complimentary stay for two at a Microtel Hotel as prizes. Outside, enterprising

Batanguenos demonstrated their famous handicrafts, such as how the balisong is made.

Souvenir items, native delicacies and handicrafts were sold at special prices to the participants.

After visiting the basilica adjacent to the Heritage Village, the caravan participants departed for

the lakeside town of San Nicolas to look at the ruins of the Old Taal Church and view the

famous Taal Volcano standing in the center of Taal Lake. The caravan was welcomed by San

Nicolas Municipal Mayor Sandoval who spoke about the town’s history and tourist attractions as

well as his projects to promote local tourism.

As night fell, the caravan went to the last stop, the Batangas Provincial Capitol where

delicious refreshments and freshly brewed barako coffee were served by the staff of the

Batangas Tourism Office. Batangas. Provincial Tourism Officer Francisco Lardizabal welcomed

the caravan participants and presented five souvenir items to the winners of trivia games held

Cavite Tourism Office head Liberty

Herrera hands over to Mina Gabor

packets of Cavite’s famous ground

coffee for distribution to AAP

Caravan participants.

during the snack. Afterwards, the participants headed back to Manila, taking with them a new

perspective on and good impressions of the historical attractions of Cavite and Batangas.

For more information on AAP’s Drive Tours and Caravans, log in to www.aap.org.ph or

call Vanessa Mendoza at AAP hotline 723 0808. You can also log in to

www.facebook.com/automobileassociationphilippines to check out the photos of previous

caravans.

A Petron Corporation executive, AAP President Gus Lagman, AAP Director and Tourism Committee Chair

Mina Gabor and AAP Director Aida Sevilla-Mendoza send off the 2nd AAP Caravan at the Petron, Blue Wave.

AAP Caravan participants in the GBR Museum’ pavilion showcasing world aviation history.

AAP Caravan participants with Mina Gabor (with purple shawl) pause for refreshments at the Petron service

station in Tagaytay.

The salad bar in the Taal Heritage Village dining hall.

An AAP Caravan participant admires Taal’s embroidered products.

Scorching Track Action at the 2010 PTCC and PPCC Series and the

Race of Champions

The 2nd leg, rounds 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the 2010 Philippine Touring Car Championship

(PTCC) and the Philippine Production Car Championship (PPCC) series organized and

promoted by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), fired up the Batangas Racing Circuit

with scorching track action last November 20-21, 2010.

A total of 17 competitors raced toward the chequered flag to stamp their dominance on

the track. Taking the lead in round 5 of the PPCC series was the new driver Alvin Ng of the TRS

Team who debuted in the country’s only National status in circuit racing followed by his team

mate Singaporean Marcus Wong in second place and Cyrille Fontaine of the BRE/Chevy

Racing for the third place.

In the PTCC, Joey Pery stood on the top podium followed by Seaoil/Velocity Racing

Dennis Uy and Juny Binamira on the third. Pery maintained his lead and pulled away with an

almost one-second time difference between Uy and Binamira crossing the finish line.

Round 6 of the PPCC brought smoke as Arnel Carlos and Diane Montecillo clashed on

lap 1, forcing the deployment of the Safety Car and recovery of the two vehicles from the track.

Upon restart, the 8-lap race was controlled by team mates Marcus Wong and Sean Redpath of

the TRS making it a 1-2 finish for the team, followed by the Chevrolet Cruze of BRE/Chevy

Racing. In the PTCC, Joey Pery led the 12-lap race, with Juny Binamira and Dennis Uy finishing

second and third, respectively.

Rounds 7 and 8 of the PPCC were ruled by the BRE/Chevy Racing Team who got their

first pole position after entering the racing series this year, sending Marcus Wong to second

place and the newly repaired car of DKC Racing Arnel Carlos to third. The Cruze shone in both

rounds of the PPCC followed closely by Stefan Ramirez, the third generation racer form the

Ramirez’s racing clan and the son of the late racing guru, Kookie Ramirez and Dean Joson of

DKC Racing. Meanwhile, in round 7 of the PTCC, Joey Pery remained unbeatable as he

grabbed the top spot, making it a sweep in the last race of the second leg of the PTCC series.

“It was a fun and exciting weekend. All competitors showed and gave their best all the

way to the chequered flag. This is indeed another PTCC and PPCC racing season to mark in

the history of Philippine motorsports”. AAP Motorsports Committee Chair Mandy Eduque said.

The 2010 series is co-presented by Concept One Wheels, Nitto and Starfire tires, Seaoil

Extreme 97, Mako Lubes and powered by Aeromed Ambulance Transport, Cut and Paste

Digital Design, Velocity Motors and Six Fingers and media partners Chequered Flag, Turbo

Time and Power Wheels Magazine.

The Race of Champions

The 2nd leg of the Race of Champions matched the fierce battle of the 2nd leg, rounds 5,

6, 7 and 8 of the 2010 Philippine Touring Car Championship (PTCC) and the Philippine

Production Car Championship (PPCC) series as the country’s veteran race car drivers went

head-to-head in identical vehicles and relived their glory days.

Thirteen seasoned drivers competed in Time Attack Race style using two Hyundai

Genesis (3.8 V6) coupes producing 300HP and MINI Cooper S cars packing 184HP and shod

with Avon ZZ3 tires. Among the competitors were Georges Ramirez, Ivan Isada, Louis Ramirez,

Miguel Ramirez, Mike Anton, Paeng Nodalo, Mike Potenciano, Pepon Marave, Ardie Lopez,

Jason De La Cruz, Kevin Limjoco, Andy Sevilla, Ysa Potenciano, Ron Delos Reyes, Rocky

Marte and Mandy Eduque. Joining for the first time were Vip Isada, Gaby dela Merced, Tyson

Sy and Rikki Dy-Liacco who is now employed by the Zhuhai International Circuit as Operations

Director and came home just to join the ROC.

Tyson Sy baged the top spot of the first and second rounds of the long track race while

Kevin Limjoco won the slalom course. The event ended with a ceremonial lap in the Hyundai

Genesis driven by Menchie Ramirez in memory of her late husband.

The 3rd and Championship leg of the 2010 PTCC and PPCC series is all set for January

8-9, 2011 at the newly constructed 4.1 kilometer Clark International Speedway. For more

information, please contact Mark Desales of the AAP Motorsports Department at 723-08-08.

Round 5 Official Results (PPCC) November 20, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team

1st 12 Alvin Ng Tuason Racing School 2nd 10 Marcus Wong Tuason Racing School 3rd 4 Cyrille Fontaine BRE/Chevy Motorsports 4th 14 Manger Calderon Tuason Racing School 5th 41 Arnel Carlos DKC Racing Team 6th 96 Diane Montecillo Extreme97/Drakside Racing 7th 26 Dominic Uy Mighty/Seaoil/Velocity Racing 8th 31 Ramil Madriaga IRM/Velocity Racing 9th 8 Dean Joson DKC Racing Team 10th (DNF) 2 Stefan Ramirez SRA/Velocity Racing 11th (DNF) 6 Sean Redpath Tuason Racing School Round 5 Official Results (PTCC) November 20, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team 1st 5 Joey Pery SRA Racing 2nd 24 Dennis Uy Seaoil/Velocity Racing 3rd 7 Juny Binamira SRA Racing 4th 15 Joselu Romero Salas SRA Racing 5th 88 Jeff Borja Extreme97/Darkside Racing Round 6 Official Results (PPCC) November 20, 2010 BRC

Position # Driver Team 1st 10 Marcus Wong Tuason Racing School 2nd 6 Sean Redpath Tuason Racing School 3rd 4 Cyrille Fontaine BRE/Chevy Motorsports 4th 14 Manger Calderon Tuason Racing School 5th 8 Dean Joson DKC Racing Team 6th 26 Dominic Uy Mighty/Seaoil/Velocity Racing 7th 12 Alvin Ng Tuason Racing School 8th 96 Diane Montecillo Extreme97/Drakside Racing 9th 31 Ramil Madriaga IRM/Velocity Racing Round 6 Official Results (PTCC) November 20, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team 1st 5 Joey Pery SRA Racing

2nd 7 Juny Binamira SRA Racing 3rd 24 Dennis Uy Seaoil/Velocity Racing 4th 15 Joselu Romero Salas SRA Racing 5th 88 Jeff Borja Extreme97/Darkside Racing Round 7 Official Results (PPCC) November 21, 2010 BRC

Position # Driver Team

1st 4 Cyrille Fontaine BRE/Chevy Motorsports 2nd 2 Stefan Ramirez SRA/Velocity Racing 3rd 12 Bobby Horrigan Tuason Racing School 4th 6 Sean Redpath Tuason Racing School 5th 26 Dominic Uy Mighty/Seaoil/Velocity Racing 6th 96 Diane Montecillo Extreme97/Drakside Racing 7th 31 Ramil Madriaga IRM/Velocity Racing 8th 41 Arnel Carlos DKC Racing Team 9th 14 Manger Calderon Tuason Racing School 10th (DNF) 8 Dean Joson DKC Racing Team 11th (DNF) 10 Marcus Wong Tuason Racing School Round 7 Official Results (PTCC) November 21, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team

1st 5 Joey Pery SRA Racing 2nd 88 Jeff Borja Extreme97/Darkside Racing 3rd 15 Joselu Romero Salas SRA Racing 4th 7 Juny Binamira SRA Racing 5th 24 Dennis Uy Seaoil/Velocity Racing 6th 75 Jonmark Ong Round 8 Official Results (PPCC) November 21, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team

1st 4 Cyrille Fontaine BRE/Chevy Motorsports 2nd 8 Dean Joson DKC Racing Team 3rd 2 Stefan Ramirez SRA/Velocity Racing 4th 10 Marcus Wong Tuason Racing School 5th 6 Sean Redpath Tuason Racing School 6th 12 Bobby Horrigan Tuason Racing School 7th 14 Manger Calderon Tuason Racing School 8th 26 Dominic Uy Mighty/Seaoil/Velocity Racing 9th 96 Diane Montecillo Extreme97/Drakside Racing

10th 31 Ramil Madriaga IRM/Velocity Racing 11th (DQ) 41 Arnel Carlos DKC Racing Team Round 8 Official Results (PTCC) November 21, 2010 BRC Position # Driver Team

1st 5 Joey Pery SRA Racing 2nd 88 Jeff Borja Extreme97/Darkside Racing 3rd 15 Joselu Romero Salas SRA Racing 4th 24 Dennis Uy Seaoil/Velocity Racing 5th 75 Jonmark Ong Ethanworx/Repsol Racing 6th 7 Juny Binamira SRA Racing

The Race of Champions 2nd leg competitors (standing from left to right) Paeng Madalo, Vip Isada, Edgen Dy-

Liacco, Menchie Ramirez, Georges Ramirez, Mini Reps, Sam Liuson, Gaby dela Merced, Pepon Marave, Ricky

Dy-Liacco, Mandy Eduque, (sitting from left to right) Ivan Isada, Tyson Sy, Mike Potenciano, Louis Ramirez,

and Mike Anton. Also in the photo is a Mini Cooper S used in the ROC.

The ROC Hyundai Genesis Cup-Media Edition winners (from left to right) 2ND place winner, Ardie Lopez, 1st

place winner Kevin Limjoco, 3rd place winner Andy Sevilla and Sammy Liuson of Concept One, a major

sponsor of the ROC.

AAP Attends the Metro Manila Traffic and Transport Plan Entry Summit

The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) attended the Metro Manila Traffic and

Transport Plan Entry Summit organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

(MMDA) on December 3, 2010 at the Philippine Social Science Center in Quezon City after

participating in a series of preparatory workshops in October and November led by Inter-Agency

Technical Working Teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO),

MMDA, Department of Health (DOH) and AAP. The workshops identified and discussed current

Metro Manila traffic and transport problems, issues and concerns for the purpose of preparing

immediate, short-term and medium-term doable action plans.

Facilitated by the University of the Asia and Pacific, the entry summit resulted in the

creation of the Joint Technical Secretariat Committee composed of representatives from the

MMDA, DPWH, DOTC, and AAP and the signing of a joint resolution that signifies the

commitment of all concerned government organizations to fully support the crafting of the Metro

Manila Traffic and Transport Action Plan.

Among those who pledged their organizations’ support were DPWH Secretary Rogelio L.

Singson), DOTC Secretary Jose P. de Jesus, MMDA Chair Francis N. Tolentino, DOH

Secretary Enrique T. Ona and. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Secretary Ramon J. Paje

The proposed Traffic and Transport Action Plan is a list of projects and managing

documents derived from previous discussions on the traffic situation by the concerned groups

prior to the summit and insights from the presentations during the summit itself. These collected

inputs became a Declaration and Resolutions handed over by MMDA Chair Tolentino to Rep.

Roger G. Mercado of the House committee on transportation and Rep. Tobias M. Tiangco of the

House committee on Metro Manila development.

According to MMDA Chair Tolentino, the submission of the proposed plan to Congress is

just the beginning. Two more summits and workshops will be kicked off next year to hold

consultations among various stakeholders and agencies for the finalization of the plan.

The Action Plan has identified five immediate priorities: (1) vehicle road worthiness

campaign; (2) rapid vehicular clearing and resolution; (3) authorized vehicles on authorized

routes; (4) no plate, no travel policy; (5) no-contact apprehension policy plus eight focal areas:

engineering; education; enforcement; enactment; enabling initiatives; ethics; engagement of

stakeholders and environment, to enhance Metro Manila traffic flow.

As the National Auto Club, AAP expressed its full support to the Metro Manila Traffic and

Transport Action Plan and encourages other concerned organizations to participate in perfecting

this Plan for the benefit of all Filipino motorists and future generations.

2nd AAP INDI Tree Planting Project

As part of its “Make Cars Green” campaign, the Automobile Association Philippines

(AAP), in cooperation with the University of the Philippines Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor

for Community Affairs conducted the 2nd AAP INDI Tree Planting Project at Betaway and Roces

Avenue in UP Diliman on November 15, 2010 with Transportation and Communications

Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin (holding a shovel) as the guest of honor. Flanking him are (left

to right) AAP vice president Johnny Angeles, AAP president Gus Lagman, AAP treasurer

Jacinto Mantaring and UP Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Grace Gregorio. Philippine

native tree seedlings such as the anubing, balingasay, batino, betis, broad-winged apitong, dita,

duclitan, kalimutain, lamio, lingo, malapapaya, pagsanhingin, panau, subiang, tagatoi and yakal

kaliot were planted.

AAP officers, employees and UP executives with DOTC Assistant Secretary Lantin and Alberto Suansing of

the Safety Organization of the Philippines after the tree planting activity.

MAKING MOTORING FUN

Put a stop to illegal car license plates

By Gus Lagman, AAP President

The falsification of car license plates, mass production and selling of unauthorized car

tags, usage of stolen plates, illegal use of diplomatic and foreign license plates, interchanging

car plates between or among different vehicles, and the cloning of license plates are violations

committed by criminal elements and those who want to avoid registering their cars at the Land

Transportation Office (LTO).

In R.A. 4136, Article II, Section 31, the LTO states that “No person shall make or use or

attempt to make or use a driver's license, badge, certificate of registration, number plate, tag, or

permit in imitation or similitude of those issued under this Act, or intended to be used as or for a

legal license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit, or with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of

the same to another. No person shall falsely or fraudulently represent as valid and in force any

driver's license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit issued under this Act which is delinquent

or which has been revoked or suspended.”

In Europe and other countries like the, United States, Malaysia and Taiwan, a system called the

“License Plate Recognition” ( LPR) is used by traff ic law enforcers to track down stolen cars,

unregistered vehicles, fake plate numbers and criminals. Even though the LPR system already

exists in the Philippines, it is used only to collect toll and parking fees, not for law enforcement.

But before we even consider adopting this kind of system on a large scale, especially because a

thorough study must first be done, followed by a series of consultation meetings with concerned

groups, there are a few things that we can immediately do today in order to put some order in

the control of car plates. Here are two of them:

First, the LTO should apprehend all vehicles without official car plates or with only one official

car plate. Those “For Registration”, “Break-In”, “No car plates available”, and other similar

substitutes should not be allowed. Aside from being illegal, owners of such vehicles are able to

escape “coding” restrictions. It is obviously important, however, that the LTO be prepared to

issue, within 24 hours from the time of application, fresh car plates to all those who claim to

have lost their plates. Car owners should not have a reason for not being able to comply with

this requirement.

Second, LTO must require that car plates be riveted, instead of simply screwed, to the

designated spot within the body of the car, such that they can’t be easily removed without

destroying the car plate or the body of the car. After all, the plate number of a vehicle is

supposed to be permanently assigned to said vehicle.

Thus, the switching of car plates on a day-to-day basis that is practiced by some public utility

vehicle operators to avoid “coding” would be minimized, if not completely eliminated. Stealing

car plates would practically be eliminated. Carnapping would also be reduced somehow,

because it won’t be as easy to change a vehicle’s car plates.

The same policy should apply to motorcycles; and they, like cars, should have two plates - one

for the front fender and one for the rear.

The riveting should be standardized. Different car makes and models may require different

standards. Only LTO, LTO-authorized establishments, and perhaps, car dealers, should be

allowed to install (or rivet) the car plates.

And by the way, this idea is not new. We’ve seen this in Malaysia and we’re pretty sure there

are other countries that have adopted this scheme.

AAP members get exclusive discounts on tires and car batteries

AAP club members can now buy Yokohama tires and Motolite batteries at special

members’ prices. The tires are available for pick-up at the Motorpool Area in the AAPlingkod

Service Building across the AAP main office. For free mounting and balancing, club members

may proceed to F.B. Ladao Sales, Inc., 73 Timog Ave., and Q.C. or at Yokohama, B14

Commonwealth Ave., and Q.C. (opposite Toyota Commonwealth). The Motolite batteries are

available for pick-up at the same place. They will soon be available in Cebu and Davao satellite

offices.

For more information, contact the AAP Hotline 723-0808 or 0917-8480191. Save money

on car repairs and insurance to hotel accommodations and other products and services through

the AAP Partnership Program. Visit www.aap.org.ph for a complete list of discount partners.

ANILAO IN BATANGAS: DRIVE AND DIVE by Louie Jose Marquez, AAPlakbay

Diving is popular in the Philippines, but many regard it as hard adventure that requires investing in costly equipment or as a chic out-of-town, party-fun social gig among friends in a faraway island. Serious divers, instructors and scientific expeditions have to pass through a battery of certification tests on safety standards. However, if you have kids above 10 years old, diving can be the centerpiece of an alternative family holiday. It’s fun. It’s educational. It’s cool. And it’s near. Yes, near because Anilao is just four hours away from Manila and its coral reefs are just across a resort. Even your teenager won’t mind being with you on this trip. With many resorts offering basic diving facilities inclusive of equipment and instruction, all you need is to take the dip. Far yet near enough

Tucked away farther south from the noisier part of Anilao is an inlet bounded by nature. A quaint resort sits quietly at the end of the road that zigzags its way to the coral coast. Here, you can hear an occasional bossa nova playing in the air as you savor grilled seafood, or as you sip wine at the deck while watching the sun slowly set on the horizon. We find Mayumi Resort in Anilao ideal for a family dive experience. Yet the dive—an hour a day, perhaps—is but a fraction of the entire weekend. Sooner or later you’ll enjoy spending quiet quality time with your wife and kids, sharing with them the thrill of the dive and the remoteness .of the place. Not the least of Mayumi Resort’s attractions is the savory Filipino cuisine of its restaurant, Hayahay, which means a stress-free Saturday afternoon lunch in Cebuano. First Dive

Learning to dive is not hard. As with most dive resorts now, Mayumi has complete dive equipment and the instructors have undergone certification. The seasoned dive instructor will teach you how to float, dive, move underwater, breathe, clear your mask and, really, how to enjoy time below sea level. Children 10 years old and above can join you in the introductory dive, a quick mix of lessons and actual dive. For kids below the age limit, snorkeling is an equally fun alternative to see aquatic life. The first dive is often uneventful. But not in Anilao, and certainly not in Mayumi. The reef in front of the resort is home to myriad fish species and marine life that you only see in pictures. After an hour, the dive ends. But the story about the dive lingers into the night, as you and your family exchange excited descriptions of the fish, the corals and more, in between bites of delicious Filipino food, while the cicadas and crickets and the waves sing in unison under the starry sky in Anilao. (Anilao can be accessed via STAR Tollway. Better yet, pass through Tagaytay and Taal Heritage Village for a side trip. Mayumi Resort is at the south end of Anilao. For inquiries call +639189211168 +6325438683 ).

AAP Attends ABS-CBN’s “Salamat Dok” on Drunk Driving

Selected Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) employees attended ABS-CBN’s

“Salamat Dok” live telecast program on October 30, 2010 as audience guests when it focused

on the dangers of driving while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs.

Resource speaker Dr. Alfonso Villaroman, an addiction specialist and currently the

Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Health (DOH) Rehabilitation and Treatment Center,

explained the most common effects of alcohol on the driver such as imbalance, poor

concentration and slow reflexes. According to Dr. Villaroman, a driver who has drunk two bottles

of beer will most likely be involved in an accident since his blood alcohol content (BAC) level will

impair his senses and concentration.

Another resource speaker, Dr. Orlando Ocampo of the Philippine College of Surgeons,

said that with the breath analyzer device donated by AAP, they were able to collate data on the

number of patients in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) who had high BAC levels. Their

report shows that 72 percent of those involved in motorcycle accidents that were brought to the

PGH were intoxicated while 37 percent of automobile casualty victims were also found with high

BAC levels.

Dr. Ocampo pointed out that because the Philippines has no implementable Drunk

Driving Law nor a BAC level standard establishing DUI, police officers and doctors are unable

to determine whether drivers are DUI. So even if a motorist is found with a high BAC level, he

cannot be charged with DUI.

AAP supports the call of Dr. Ocampo and other individuals and organizations for the

passage of an implementable Drunk Driving Law in our country. AAP vice-president and road

safety committee chairman Johnny Angeles says, “The AAP has been lobbying for the issuance

of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) relating to Republic Act 4136 [The Land

Transportation and Traffic Code], Article V Sec. 53 on Driving Under the Influence of liquor or

narcotic drugs. Without the IRR, there is no legal basis for pronouncing whether a person is

driving under the influence or not”.

Corollary to this, AAP is donating digital alcohol breath analyzers to government

agencies tasked with traffic law enforcement. To date, AAP has donated breath analyzer

devices to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) and the PGH

Trauma Section.

AAP employees with Salamat Dok host Bernadette Sembrano-Aguinaldo (center) after the live telecast

discussion on driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and drugs.

The AAP employees with the production staff of ABS-CBN show “Salamat Dok”.

AAP initiates payments through BPI Express Online

The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) is offering its members a more

convenient way to pay their membership dues through BPI Express Online's Bills Payment

Facility. By enrolling in BPI Express Online, there is no need to personally visit an AAP office or

bank branch to make a payment. Payments can now be made wherever they are, whenever

they want as this service is available 24/7.

AAP members also have the option to schedule their one-time or recurring payments in

advance so that they never miss a due date. They can also get rewarded for qualified bills

payments through the Pay Bills, Reload Phone, and Get Real Thrills promotion. Clients who use

BPI Express Online to pay for their bills, including their AAP membership dues, or reload their

Globe or Touch Mobile prepaid accounts can earn credits which they can exchange for grocery

packages at Robinson’s Supermarket.

Aside from paying bills, AAP members who enroll in BPI Express Online can also do

other banking transactions easily. They can view real-time balances and download their

statements of account, do real-time funds transfers to their own or enrolled third party accounts,

reload prepaid accounts, and do a multitude of other financial and auxiliary transactions.

For AAP members who are always on the road and have no Internet access, BPI offers

a solution. By purchasing the BPI 24/7 Globe Tattoo Broadband Stick, club members can get

free access to BPI Express Online without using up their prepaid load, wherever they are in the

Philippines. The stick, which is specially-priced at P995 for BPI clients, can be purchased

through selected Globe Stores or through BPI Express Online.

To enroll and learn more about BPI Express Online, visit www.bpiexpressonline.com.