THE safety of motorists has always been the passion of the top honchos at the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC)—yes, the builder and concessionaire of the Nlex (North Luzon Expressway). In fact, the Nlex is a paragon of safe road travel, which has become the mantra of the guys on the forefront of the world-class expressway. Over there, the immortal code words are: “Motorist safety is our priority.”
It evolved from this: “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko.” I was there when this was launched, led by the epitome of energy and charm, Marlene Ochoa.
I then told my kababayan, Dante Velasco, that his phrase, “Safety Mo, Sagot Ko [SMSK],” would be more straightforward. Dante, the almost unerring Nlex consultant since Day One, smiled and would next readily agree.
SMSK to Nlexcellence
WHAT would be adopted next was the NLEXcellence Awards (NA), a brainchild by MNTC’s Marketing Department, headed by Vice President Renie Ticzon. The NA is MNTC’s way of propagating a culture of safety at Nlex, targeting all motorists, in general, and in particular, the buses and trucks who daily ply MNTC’s tollways. Admittedly, these awards have great motivational value.
As a rule, the MNTC makes sure that truck and bus firms keep their vehicles in tip-top shape when they leave their terminals, and their drivers in superb mental/physical condition, as well. In short, “pilot or driver error” is a no-no and, yes, no “rolling coffins,” please?
As my friend, MNTC President Rod Franco, said: “While MNTC has provided all the safety features along Nlex, we expect motorists, particularly truck and bus drivers, to do their part for road safety. For us, safety is from sunrise to sundown.”
By the way, my congratulations to my pareng Rod who has been named recently top honcho also of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the flagship company of Metro Pacific’s tollway group, which includes Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Cavite Expressway and Calamba-Laguna-Quezon Expressway.
Powerful motivational force
SO these NA Safety Awards should, henceforth, become a powerful motivational force for both drivers and employees of transport companies to deliver no lower than excellence on the job at all times.
“An NLEXcellence Award winner is singled out as a role model when it comes to best practices in company operations and road safety,” Ticzon said.
As “toast of the town” stuff, the winning companies are enjoined to keep their vehicles well-maintained all yearlong, and their drivers on their toes in following the highest standards of safety.
Thus, the NA have become the “Seal of Road Safety”, a great addition to SMSK!
So, guys and girls, when you take that trip to the world-famed Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan, via my hometown Mangatarem, or even bypass it on your way to Baguio from good ‘ol Manila, you have the assurance that both Nlex and SCTEx have now developed an “emergent culture of safety.” Add, of course, the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway [TPLEx], the end-tip partner of Nlex/SCTEx on your way up North.
In these expressways, you are assured of expert engineers and patrol crews marshalling every kilometer of your travel, making sure that the bus/truck beside you is a committed advocate and practitioner of safety.
Hall of Fame awardee
AMONG the 16 bus and truck owners honored, EUG Freight Services stands 10 feet tall over the rest for its Hall of Fame plum for excellence in all three categories: Company Operational Excellence, Vehicle Quality and Driver’s Professionalism.
The other awardees:
- Company Operational Excellence category—Luzon Cisco Transport Inc., AAI Worldwide Logistics Inc., GTyCoon Logistics Corp., Victor del Rosario Rice Mill Corp. and YM Cargo Transport Corp.
- Vehicle Quality—Gapuzan Movers Inc., Remore Corp., RnE Trucking Services, Stellar Cargo Movers and Viron Transit.
- Driver’s Professionalism—Baliwag Transit Inc., Fil-Em Transport Services Co. Inc., Giga RSB Trucking Services, J&J Midtrans Corp. and RVL Movers Corp.
To all the winners, congratulations! May your awards rub on our safety-conscious motorists that constantly use Nlex as a starting point, for the sheer delight of traveling in comfort, while, likewise, enjoying nature’s soothing balm offered by the expressway’s magnificent scenery of majestic mountain ranges reaching out to luminous clouds up in the sky.
Ah, to travel, indeed, is to broaden one’s horizons. And at Nlex/SCTEx—OK, include TPLEx, please—your sense of safety is never illusory. It is as real as the steering wheel in your hands.
PEE STOP. Congratulations to Rene So, the president of Toyota Dealers Association (TDA), for his successful hosting of TDA’s 25th anniversary last week that had Satoru Suzuki, the new Toyota Motor Philippines president, as guest of honor and who was accompanied by Toyota bigwigs Yohei Murase, Jose Ariel Arias and Raymond Rodriguez, among others. Rene said he could not have done the hosting right without Cosco Oben, Rey Oben’s heir apparent, by his side. “Cosco has always been my No. 1 ally here at TDA,” said Rene, who owns Toyota dealerships in Dagupan, La Union and Baguio City. Cheers!