Narrower ‘right-hand’ drive ban to run over truck, bus imports?

Importation of used trucks and buses would be more difficult under the proposed guidelines of the Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Development Program (CMVDP), which bans the entry of originally right-hand drive vehicles. A Board of Investments (BOI) source said tighter rules would be put in place not only to boost domestic assembly but also to ensure road safety. The source said the CMVDP guidelines on second-hand vehicle imports would ban originally right-hand drive vehicles, which means even right-hand drive vehicles that were converted to left-hand drive before entering the country would likewise be banned. Imported right-hand drive vehicles are banned but can enter the country through freeports, where they are converted into left-hand drive. Many trucks and buses plying our roads are originally right-hand drive, imported mostly from Japan. Laws banning ‘right-hand’ steering vehicles Malacañang issued Executive Order 877 in April last year, laying down the CMVDP. The formulation of the EO’s implementing rules was supported by the Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council, Inc. (PACCI) which counts as members the Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, as well as car makers Ford Motor Co. Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc., Isuzu Philippines Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., and Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (See: New vehicle program seen boosting industry edge) An existing law enacted in 1998, Republic Act (RA) 8506, bans the registration and operation of vehicles with right-hand steering wheels in any private or public street, road or highway. The BOI has sought the opinion of the Department of Justice, which said RA 8506 has the intension of covering all right-hand drive vehicles, including those converted into left-hand drive.– MRT, GMANews.TV