Mr. Normann Chiu, President of VPX, expressed his excitement during the ceremony, stating, “Today is not just about breaking ground; it’s about laying a foundation for reliability and quality in automotive service for the region. We are thrilled to bring VPX’s trusted service closer to our customers in Mindanao.”

The new VPX facility aims to address the growing demand for high-quality automotive services in the area. With a strategic location that is easily accessible for residents of Cagayan de Oro and nearby cities, VPX is poised to become a key player in the local automotive industry.

Mr. Mark Saberola, General Manager of VPX, highlighted the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, saying, “Our goal at VPX Cagayan de Oro is to provide top-notch service that meets the standards of major automotive brands. We want our customers to feel confident and valued each time they visit us.”

The establishment of VPX in Cagayan de Oro is also a boon for local employment. The new service center is looking to hire professionals across various roles, including Service Sales Advisor, Workshop Leadman, Parts & Admin Officer, Technicians, and Mechanics. This development is not only a testament to VPX’s investment in the community but also an opportunity for local talent to shine in a promising industry.

Mr. Macmod Muti, President of Markson Petrochem Inc., the franchisee of VPX Cagayan de Oro City, added, “We are committed to making VPX a beacon of excellence in automotive services in Northern Mindanao. This groundbreaking is the first step towards a future where quality car care is readily available to everyone in the region.”

The VPX Cagayan de Oro site is scheduled to open its doors in third quarter of 2024, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed by certified professionals ready to tackle various automotive needs.

This groundbreaking event is not just a celebration of a new business but a commitment to quality, accessibility, and community service. VPX Cagayan de Oro City is set to reinforce automotive care in Northern Mindanao, ensuring every vehicle owner receives the best possible service right in their backyard.

Stay tuned for more updates as VPX Cagayan de Oro gears up to serve the bustling community of Northern Mindanao, driving forward with dedication and excellence in every vehicle they service.

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Know what’s wrong

Most car owners are simple folks – when something bad happens to their car, they take it to a mechanic’s and let these people take care of things. Depending on how complex and big a problem you’re dealing with is, your visit to the mechanic might be quite costly and take a lot of time. But, if you took some time to learn a thing or two about car maintenance, you might save tons of time, money, energy, and patience. Being able to diagnose some of the most common car issues on your own is always a great idea, so engage your sense and learn how to see, feel, smell, and hear what’s wrong with your car.

Invest time in preventive maintenance

Maintaining your car is a yearlong process that doesn’t let you pay attention to your vehicle only in situations when something’s wrong. On the contrary, you should pay close attention to your car every single day, and investing time in preventive maintenance can go a long way. This will help your vehicle stay new for longer and remain as reliable as it was on the day you bought it. Some of the things you should do include checking the tire pressure, the fluids, the battery, the cabin air filter, and the wipers, and if you do these things at least once a month, your car will be very thankful and you won’t have to see the mechanic for a while!

Stick to high-quality parts only

One of the best ways to save tons of money and avoid visiting the mechanic is to buy spare parts on your own – but only if you invest in high-quality parts. Doing that online might be easier than you can imagine, especially with so many websites offering amazing spare parts at reasonable prices. Still, sticking to websites that offer parts that aren’t just affordable but also high-quality is a must, so be sure to check out those reliable Ford parts, for instance, right now. Doing that in advance means you’ll be ready for surprise breakdowns and issues, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Read the signs

You know all those lights on your dashboard that light up once you start your car? Well, they aren’t there just to annoy you and show you their beautiful colors, but they also serve a specific purpose. These warning lights are your car’s way to show you something might be wrong, and you need to react the moment you see these lights come on. Learn what these lights mean and what you can do to fix the problems they’re indicating, and you’ll be saving tons of money, time, and patience in the years to come. Even though most people ignore these lights and don’t value their input, keep in mind that this is the best way to maintain your car and keep it in perfect condition.

Saving money on car repairs might not be as hard as it seems, and it’s all about spicing up your knowledge and skills for the sake of your vehicle. Once you do that, your car and your wallet are going to be happier than you can imagine!

The post Learn More about Your Car and Save Money on Repairs appeared first on Village Connection PH | Village Connect PH.

Lamudi reinforced their support for building resilient and sustainable cities with the first panel discussion, Sustainability Efforts for the Philippines of NGOs and Private Organizations. NGOs, private organizations, and green developers were represented in the discussion, which tackled the roadblocks to green development in the Philippines and determined the efforts already in place to steer the country into a greener future. 

Highlighting Resilience 

“Most of our coastal municipalities want to be cities eventually. How do we push them towards not just sustainability but also push them to also look at measures that will make them resilient as well?” Atty. Angela Ibay, Head of the Climate and Energy Program of the World Wide Fund for Nature, posed an important question at the roundtable, steering right into the thick of the important topic of sustainability and climate change. 

In a country that is dotted with high-rise mixed-use buildings and humble coastal homes, the effort to save the environment is tightly coupled with the measures developers can take to safeguard the value of their legacy. One solution, something as simple as planting trees, encourages the growth of foliage and relieves some of the urban heat island effect our cities are experiencing right now. However, it is not enough. 

“It’s not a question anymore of whether you can control climate change or not. It’s about adapting to the effects of climate change. It’s here. We are experiencing it now,” says Wesley Caballa, Senior Manager for Sustainability of Costa Del Hamilo Inc. According to Caballa, Hamilo is actively pursuing efforts to protect mangrove forests to do their part as a company.

Hamilo is one of many companies that have started making changes in keeping with a more climate-conscious business ethos. Climate change has not spared the Philippines with its onslaught, and with lives at stake, developers cannot sit around and wait. 

“We are already in an area of the world that is highly, highly susceptible to all these natural disasters, and climate change made us more vulnerable to that,” adds Justine Santos-Sugay, Director for Resource Development and Communications of Habitat for Humanity. 

Addressing Roadblocks to Sustainability 

The Philippines has not been remiss when it comes to sustainable efforts. One of the problems developers and real estate experts face, however, is misinformation or lack of dissemination at the grassroots. 

“When you ask a common fisherman, ‘What do you know about climate change?’ Sometimes they say it’s synonymous to disaster without knowing why,” adds Caballa. “It’s really important for them to know what is wrong, what climate change is all about.” 

Santos-Sugay weighs in: “When you think about it, when you look at the issue of climate change, climate change seems to exaggerate or re-highlight a lot of the already pre-existing social themes.” 

One issue all Filipinos will relate to, especially in the Philippine capital, is the water shortage. Despite the typhoons that visit the country and leave damage in low-lying areas, there is water shortage because the rainfall missed the dams that are meant to supply water to the majority of the city. Ferdz dela Cruz, former Chief Executive Officer of Manila Water Company, Inc., emphasizes the urgency of the matter: “It’s up to us to make hard choices for us to be resilient. There are no easy choices at this point. For us to make that, we need to have a constructive dialog and without the misinformation.” 

Dela Cruz also mentions the disparity in the supply and demand for water supply. According to him, “There are two issues on water–there’s the supply side and there’s the demand side. On the supply side, there is a roadmap of what needs to be done, but there are delays in the execution of the roadmap. There’s always opposition to a big water project.” 

Long-term solutions to water shortage and climate change are further hampered by the lack of initiative at the individual level. According to Dela Cruz, people forget about the problem once they have water, but it quickly resurfaces when another water shortage is felt. 

Sustainability in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors

Much of the effort real estate developers have put into sustainability can be seen in the commercial buildings they have strategically positioned in key cities. Jaime “JJ” Fernandez, Strategic Management Consultant of Menarco Development Corporation, mentions the savings Menarco Tower is able to pass on to its tenants through its sustainable design. According to Fernandez, “There is an estimate that the tenant will save about 20% in terms of energy consumption because the way the building is built is very efficient.”

Fernandez also highlights the human aspect of thinking sustainable. “Prospective tenants would rather pay a little bit more rent” when they know the building will take care of their employees.  

This, paired with Dela Cruz’s observation that people will be more responsible if the problem pinches their bill, makes the case for green developments: rather than lose money in inefficient designs, developers, tenants, and residents can save by prioritizing sustainability. 

The Philippines, which receives ample sunlight because of its equatorial location, can do more to utilize solar energy, one of the most efficient ways to be sustainable. James Buskowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Buskowitz Group, explains that projects harvesting solar energy come in levels: “Residential scale has always been the goal, but not in the beginning. Typically, when a country starts developing solar projects, it always starts with utility, then it goes to commercial-industrial rooftops, then it goes residential.” 

“If we combine all the roofs in the entire Metro Manila, we would have enough solar energy to power the entire Philippines,” Buskowitz shares. 

Trickling to the Residential Developments 

“What color is your roof?”

A simple question sparked discussion in the roundtable’s second panel discussion, Design and Construction Trends in Real Estate to Build Sustainable and Resilient Cities in the Philippines. It is not a pointless question either, as the simple selection of a white roof can already help a household save energy. 

“A safe home, a resilient city, a safe community is at the heart of what we have to address to adapt to the changes in the climate,” mentions Santos-Sugay. 

To add, Lamudi’s CEO says climate change is not an isolated problem: “All of these inequalities that exist in the world today are getting heightened because of global warming.” 

We are not at a standstill when it comes to sustainable solutions, thankfully. Dela Cruz says, “The supply solutions will come many years from now, but everyone could start doing something on the demand side.”

One of the solutions proposed is a mirror of what other countries have already implemented: water tariffs. According to dela Cruz, “In other countries, what they’ve done quite successfully during periods of water shortage is to actually adjust the price of water–double or triple–during hot summer months basically to curtail the usage.”

Though this price adjustment has been discussed but not yet explored, companies such as Hamilo Coast have already implemented their own guidelines to conserve water and safeguard the environment from climate change. Hamilo Coast, which aims to be a “microcosm of what could be done,” practices a “top-down approach” on implementing sustainable policies. “The only way that we will see individuals actually follow the rules is if you put a system of checks, balances, and penalties.” 

To get to the finish line, where a more climate-resilient Philippines awaits, each individual has to make impactful changes, but at the forefront are the bigger organizations that can influence those in their respective industries as well. 

With miscommunication proving to be a big roadblock, the discussion needs to be sustained. This is one of the reasons for the creation of the roundtable, as Architect. Amado de Jesus, Vice Chairman of the Philippine Green Building Initiative, mentions, “If you have a bigger role, that’s a bigger responsibility.” 

“Lamudi is a giant brand. With all the buildings that are together, the organizations that you have a big influence on, you can create a big impact,” says de Jesus.

Panel A: Sustainability Efforts for the Philippines of NGOs and Private Organizations

Panel B: Design and Construction Trends in Real Estate to Build Sustainable and Resilient Cities in the Philippines

The post Lamudi Highlights Sustainability and Resiliency in the Philippine Setting appeared first on Village Connection PH | Village Connect PH.

Clean

It’s only a napkin. It’s just a gum wrapper. As time rolls on, small trash compiles in a car and soon you have a truly messy, even revolting interior of a vehicle that practically needs to be your home for a few days. Do not even consider going on a road trip before cleaning out all the trash, washing the seat covers and – do not forget this – car mats. Rinse everything out and leave all the car doors open for at least few hours in order to get all the stale odor out of it.

Check

Roughly a week before the trip, march straight to your car mechanic and let them check every moving part beneath the car hood. Tire integrity needs to be checked and all fluids need to be replaced. Some of these items on the checklist (like car fluid replacement) you can do by yourself and don’t forget to bring an extra pack of fluids for the trip just in case…

Get the car radio

Since the emergence of smartphones, car radios have become more and more obsolete, right? Wrong! Car radios are the intrinsic part of the road-trip experience, especially vintage models; though you should not limit yourself to a particular type. The choice of your car-radio brand will depend on the type of sound you prefer. For example, if you want the sound that punches through the roof as you rush down the empty section of the highway, look into the finest Pioneer car audio from Strathfield car radios for the most blood pumping audio experience.

Cash and card

Over the last decade or so, people have almost completely transitioned from cash to cards, and while you’ll want to have your trusty plastic in your pocket while you cover the distance, you should also keep some liquid cash in your wallet for tolls and ‘unexpected’ expenditures. For example, you might want to purchase a pack of beers in a cash-only rest stop for you and a group of friends you’ve made along the way.

Pack light

This may just be one of the most important road trip tips simply because people have a natural tendency to over-pack. Packing light will make more room in the car for your elbows and your knees, not to mention the sharp increase in comfort factor for the companions in the back seat. In addition, your car will remain more durable and well-functioning if you avoid overburdening it with useless stuff that you don’t even need for this trip.

Research

You need to know what awaits you on the road ahead, at least loosely. Do not do detailed research of your destinations beforehand – you’ll want to keep a few surprises in store for yourself and your companions.  However, some broad strokes – like the distance between the starting point and the finish line, a few crucial turns and the most effective route – need to be planned out for financial reasons. The fuel prices can be steep and you’ll want to stick to a reasonable schedule anyways.

Since we live in the day and age when practically every corner of the globe is accessible for a tourist from any part of the world, many people are opting for faraway trips in the realms which previously appeared untenable. Of course, you cannot embark on a road trip to Bali if you live in Stockholm or Spokane, but it seems that tourists still opt to cover the distance via car as long as the trip is reasonable (in other words, it doesn’t take longer than two or three days to cover the distance). This means that the number of cars on the road and the number of trips have actually increased – while the trips themselves have become somewhat shorter. This bodes well for the future of road trips and the preservation of their appeal.

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A carport provides refuge for the car. Pets and people aren’t the only things which want shelter from the elements. Besides a home, a vehicle is usually thought of as one. A carport is a shield constructed from timber, metals or substances. It tends to select the place of a garage. Listed below are ten advantages to employing a carport.

• Protection from Weather

A carport can continue to keep your vehicle whether summer temperatures, winter snow, sleet or rain. A carport usually features a roof and sometimes sides. However, it is not enclosed.

• Usefulness for Singles

A carport can be supportive of individuals who live lonely. Carports typically sit adjacent to the home. Thus, dragging up and into a carport and parking nearer to the front door could be securer than parking in the street.

• Guard against Robbers

Talking of security, covering a car beneath the carport may also defend it from damage or other random attacks. Robbers or criminals may be less tending to enter a carport adjacent to the home.

• Extra Space

You can use carports as outside doorways if you want additional space.

• Other Vehicle Storage 

Moreover, you can use a carport as a shelter to snowmobiles, trailers, boats, ATVs, motorcycles and other means of conveyance if you do not have the area in your garage.

• Shade

You may use a carport as a playing zone for kids or covered space for adults.

• Organization

If you fit a carport with walls, it may also assist as an additional storing unit for gears, cases, and other stuff.

• Suitability

As most carports are exposed areas, they don’t have gates. Eventually, the absence of the door can be more suitable when you come home with grocery bags or other kinds of stuff you require to bring inside. Moreover, a carport can save on energy and power.

• Extra Home Worth

If your house doesn’t have a garage and you choose to sell it, purchasers might take it a drawback. At least with a carport, potential home seekers will see they can park their motorbike, car or boat on the parks instead of the street.

• No More Storage Units

A carport can save from having to lease a storage unit.

Most times you can construct a carport combine with the design of one’s house, make sure it or to resemble siding, bricks or wood. Before you choose to buy a carport, construct a carport by yourself and call in a specialist, consult your city or possessions institution to get ordinances or for what’s allowed at the locality. Some communities require evidence and licenses plans.

Why Should You Invest in Carports?

Carports are valuable for investment because of their appreciated flexibility.

Carports provide high-eminence, long-term, flexible use, making it an advanced and adaptable outside building. Not only do these practical structures stock, shade, and shield necessary gears and vehicles, but they offer attractive and relaxed shade nearly anywhere. Have a look at these explanations for spending in one:

• Shield your other investments.

Consider how much you spend on your vehicle, ship or tractor. These superior ticket items merit protection — and a more lasting carport may be an exceptional solution. Sun exposure fades car paint, rainfall increases rust, if it’s not shielded, and different damages undermine the value of your automobile. A carport gives an easy solution for security if your car or truck is always outside.

• Surge the aesthetics of your outside area.

Whether you utilize a carport for shielding vehicles or added shade on your property, a carport will only add to the aesthetics of any outdoor space. Place these open-style virtually anywhere and make spending time outdoors a little more enjoyable under relaxing shade. Their simple design and quality materials effortlessly complement any home, park, or community property.

• Control appeal

People usually consider carports as a few dreadful metal roofs covering the toilet, that one wouldn’t give two hoots around; however, the older lady won’t allow anyone to put “anything ugly” at the front of the home. These metal carports, nevertheless, really are an update from the older times. Each one the steel can be color matched to the house so that they do not be noticeable at anawkward metal building.

Mostly, people dislike throwing their hard-earned money away wiley-niley, almost as much as they hate “winter precipitation,” so these affordable metal carports seem like a great option.

Authors Note:

Coast to Coast Carports is one of the leading providers of Custom Metal Buildings such as Metal Carports, Steel Garages, Barns, Utility Carports and Workshops as per your requirements. You can customize any building and fix it at any level surface around your home, workshop, or site.

The post How Can a Carport Protect your Car from Damage and Why One Should Invest in One? appeared first on Village Connection PH | Village Connect PH.

• Full freedom of choice

The first thing you need to understand about using a car as your main mean of commute is the fact that you get full freedom of choice, not only when it comes to the destination but the timetable, as well. This means that you can stay in a certain location for 5, 10 or 30 minutes longer if you choose to do so without fears of missing a bus or a train. Second, you get to customize the itinerary and stop whenever you feel like it, even if it’s something you’ve decided to do just to stretch your legs a bit. One hidden perk of this is the fact that your commute suddenly requires a lot less planning.

• Less money on food and accommodation

When traveling by car, especially if we’re talking about a road trip and long-distance traveling, you get the freedom to explore ideal campsites and live in camps. Of course, this has a downside, as well, seeing as how in metropolitan areas you’ll have to deal with the issue of parking. You also get to prepare your own food in these campsites, which means that you can avoid expensive fees in diners, restaurants and gas stops. Just make sure that you clean up the site before leaving in order to avoid causing a wildfire or, at least, contributing to an ecological disaster.

• A car that suits your needs

When talking about traveling by car, it’s important that we mention that the overall experience depends on the properties of the vehicle. This means that the size of the car, the size of the trunk, the performance and the comfort of the cabin may make all the difference in the world. In other words, what you need is a car that suits your needs. Other than this, the vehicle in question also needs to fit your budget and the best way to ensure this is to make up your mind on the model you like and find a platform for new car pricing. This will give you a basic idea on what you’re up against.

• More space for luggage

Depending on if you’re heading out on your own, you might have the entirety of the car to use as luggage space. Even if the car is full, the trunk alone is usually big enough for you to pack more items than you would otherwise be able to take. Other than this, you also have an option of installing a roof rack or a rooftop carrier, which could further add to the total amount of space that you have on disposal. Being able to carry more to your voyage is definitely a huge plus.

• Better cost for group trips

Even though some extra weight may boost the vehicle’s fuel consumption, thus making your MPG somewhat worse, you still get to make your trip much more frugal. You see, if you were to take another person with you, you might have to pay slightly more for the gas but the price wouldn’t double. On the other hand, if the two of you decided to travel by bus, train, ship or plane each would have to pay for a separate ticket which would double your price of transportation. In other words, the more people you take on the trip, the more frugal it gets.

• It’s much safer

Finally, your vehicle is your own fortress and getting locked inside may keep you safer than you think. Strangers, bypassers, people sitting next to you on the plane and unfriendly people are a much greater hazard than you now realize. The ability to lock yourself inside of your vehicle may be a life-saving factor. In fact, just knowing that you have this option available may make you feel more confident and more at ease. This is why choosing a car means choosing a safe commute.

In conclusion

In the end, you need to understand that there’s also the subjective factor in all of this. Sometimes, you may decide to travel by car in order to make the journey into a family-bonding activity. Sometimes, you’ll just enjoy the calmness of the open road and many opportunities that come ahead. Regardless of which of these subjective reasons sways you the most, it’s reassuring to know that there are so many objective advantages to choosing car as your means of commute.

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Growing faster than the Philippine Automotive Industry, Honda’s growth of 37 percent was able to surpass the Total Industry’s growth of 18 percent based on official statements by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA). And with the successful closing of the year sales last December 2017, Honda was able to beat its own record by posting the highest sales results of the brand’s history in the Philippines with 4,961 vehicles sold, a 77 percent growth compared to December 2016. The primary contributors to Honda’s strong sales performance were the City, BR-V, and Civic. And the successful launch of the All-New    CR-V further solidified Honda’s growth with its introduction last August 2017.

The City posted a 6 percent growth and remains to be Honda’s best-selling model with 9,430 vehicles released in 2017. The BR-V, 7-seater gasoline SUV, enjoyed a successful first full year in the Philippine Market and was the brand’s second highest selling model with 7,212 vehicles sold. The Civic meanwhile, achieved a record full-year performance with sales of 4,146 rising to 66 percent compared to 2016.

The award-winning All-New CR-V, on the other hand, recorded a high of 2,799 vehicles since its launch. The well-received Diesel Turbo 7-seater SUV was strongly and positively accepted by the Philippine Market and has claimed numerous car awards and was proclaimed as the Car of the Year for 2017 by the Car Awards Group, Incorporated.

“On behalf of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our customers for continuously making Honda their preferred brand. We are fully committed to continuing our dedication to putting our customers first and in delivering high-quality products and services in partnership with our Dealerships. We look forward to serving and satisfying more Filipino Customers this year and making their dreams of owning a Honda come true.” said Noriyuki Takakura, President and General Manager of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.

For more information on Honda’s latest news, products and events, visit www.hondaphil.com

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