COMMUTERS who travel between the Ilocos Region and Manila can now look forward to comfort and good-quality transport from a major bus company that services the route.

This, after six Mercedes-Benz buses were turned over to Partas Transportation Co., the biggest bus transport company in the North, in a simple ceremony held on Monday at the CATS Motors Showroom in the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The six buses, which will immediately be deployed on the Manila to Vigan route, are part of the growing fleet of Partas buses, which now number at 193, according to Partas president Wilbert Lim.

During the ceremonial turnover, Lim said, “We are very happy with the delivery of these six buses, which will be an exciting addition to our fleet and greatly help us in our aim to serve our clients.”

He added that Partas Transportation’s initiative to enhance its existing fleet with brand-new Mercedes-Benz buses indicates its commitment to the improvement of public transportation and in elevating the standards of passenger comfort and safety. “Passengers taking the new Mercedes-Benz buses will not be charged additional fees,” assured Lim.

Also present during the turnover were CATS Motors chairman Greg Yu, CATS Motors president Felix Ang, DaimlerChrysler Southeast Asia Commercial Vehicles senior manager Samuel Yeo, other Partas officials and executives of PhilHino, Almazor Motor Works and Del Monte Motor Works.

Mercedes-Benz provided the chassis and engines that boast of new technology, high durability and high performance in the most severe Philippine road conditions aside from advanced fuel and braking systems. The 0 500 M 1725/59 chassis is Euro II-compliant and was developed for urban and chartering applications. One of its prime features is its full air suspension that provides outstanding Mercedes-Benz comfort and safety.

The Mercedes-Benz OM 906 LA six-cylinder engine, on the other hand, is fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler that produce superior driving performance.

Don Morales, executive vice president of Del Monte Motor Works, which provided the concept, as well as the interior and exterior work that earned the nod of Partas Transportation, presented an example of the bus to the media.

THE success of the Toyota Tamaraw FX and Revo from the 1990s to the early 2000s left mass-transit owners and operators wondering if Toyota could cook up an entry-level multipurpose vehicle that could be used as a for-hire public transport. Yes, there was the Innova, but that model was designed more as a family vehicle than as a better alternative to the Metro Rail Transit, the jeepney, the bus or the passenger car taxicab.  

BY now it’s all over the news that Subaru, through the Motor Image Rally Team, which is backed by Singapore-based Motor Image Enterprises, clinched the drivers’ title in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) through the fine efforts of defending champion Cody Crocker and his codriver Ben Atkinson, who are both from Australia.

Isuzu Challenge 2007 goes the distance

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THE Philippines’ first solar-powered car undertook its first public test, which was done during its official unveiling held on September 1 at the One Esplanade, SM Central Business Park, Pasay City.

COMMUTERS who travel between the Ilocos Region and Manila can now look forward to comfort and good-quality transport from a major bus company that services the route.

ONE may agree with the line of thinking of one Philippine senator regarding the very sensitive issue of Jpepa, the bilateral agreement between the Philippines and Japan, which is now being deliberated in the Senate.