NOGRALES ASKS PAYUMO TO SHUT DOWN IMPORTATION OF USED- VEHICLES IN SUBIC

ADMINISTRATION Congressman Prospero Nograles today appealed to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Felicito Payumo to take the lead in shutting down the importation of used right-hand-drive vehicles   which are being sold through auction in various parts of the country.

            Nograles, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Communication said that the economic benefit that the country is getting from these importers is only microscopic compared to the potential danger that they cause to legitimate investors and to motorists.

            “ Tong is a dear friend but I simply cannot agree with his bias for these importers who are not supposed to be in Subic in the first place,” Nograles said as he expressed deep concern over the Subic Bay Freeport’s growing reputation as the haven of car smugglers.

            At the same time, Nograles asked Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Lastimoso to temporarily suspend the issuance of motor vehicle registration to all the vehicles imported through the Subic Freeport, particularly those that are being sold by auctioneers.

            All auctions should be also halted pending the result of the ongoing congressional inquiry on the issue and the finding of the special task force that was created by Trade Secretary Mar Roxas which is now studying the gray areas concerning the law on used-vehicle imports.

            Nograles said he is fully behind the move of Roxas to stop the importation of used vehicles through Subic because it is not healthy for the economy in the long-term.

            “I fully agree with Mar Roxas that the importation and sale of these used vehicles is not only patently illegal but is could also dampen our effort to stimulate the entry of investors who would put up their manufacturing plants here in the Philippines,” Nograles said.

            Nograles added that he has also received reports that these imported right-hand-drive vehicles are virtual road hazards because many of them have defective gear boxes and steering wheels which are a result of sloppy conversion to left-hand-drive.

            “Our local motor vehicle manufacturers could just move elsewhere and we’d find ourselves without a choice but to buy those right-hand-drive vehicles which I heard, are very dangerous to our health,” he said.

            Nograles said this question on the road worthiness of these right-hand-drive vehicles was the reason why the importation of right-hand-drive trucks was banned several years ago.

            “There were so many accidents in the past involving these right-hand-drive vehicles, including those which have been converted to left-hand-drive,” Nograles noted.

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