NU12 #3 by E Uy Traffic and Parking: A Driver’s Nightmare

Traffic and Parking: A Driver's Nightmare

It is very stressful to drive around Metro Manila, especially if you are going to or passing by a Central Business District (CBD). Not only is the traffic paralyzing but finding a parking space in CBD's is like looking for a contact lens in the ocean.

Based on my careful observation, many people who use their car during weekdays and rush hours are alone in their car. Most of them are either on their way to or just came from work (you can see their corporate attires hanging on the windows of their car). People seldom practice carpooling. In Indonesia, driving a car alone during rush hour is prohibited to encourage carpooling. We do not have any laws or ordinances to encourage people to carpool. Riding a motorcycle instead might not be a good alternative due to high risk of getting into an accident plus the inconvenience of the hot weather and polluted air we have in the Metro. Owning and driving a car, then, is the most comfortable mode of transportation for those who can afford it. Below is a table summarizing the benefits and disadvantages of owning a car and a motorcycle:   (1 being the lowest and 5 the highest; red indicates inferiority)

	CAR   (sedan/ AUV)	MOTORCYCLE
Safety	5	1
Comfort	5	1
Luggage Space	4	1
Entertainment System	5	1
Stability (when driving)	5	1
Road/parking  Space Occupied	4	1
Ability to traverse through traffic	2	5
Fuel Consumption	4	1

                           

The One- Seater

Since both motorcycles and cars have their own advantages and disadvantages and many people here in Metro Manila use motorcycles and cars alone, it will be beneficial if a one-seater car will be introduced to the market. It will still have a proper seat, air conditioning and sound system. A decent luggage space which can also be converted into a small seat is available behind the driver's seat; it's a 1+1 seater car in this case. The same materials used in ultra-compact hatchback like the Mitsubishi Mirage will be used for the body of the car. A 400-600cc engine will be the power plant of the One-seater which will provide adequate power and low fuel consumption.

Upon my research, a one-seater concept has already been made into reality through the Carver One (http://www.examiner.com/article/world-s-coolest-car-the-carver-one).  The concept was promising. However, it was marketed more as a luxury toy than a functional vehicle. It had a turbocharged engine and retailed for 30,000 euros, same price as a Mercedez Benz C–class. The Smart Car for Two, on the other hand, is still a wide vehicle when compared to the one-seater concept since the two passengers are seated side-by-side as opposed to the one-seater's motorcycle layout seats. What I am proposing is to strip its luxurious features out. Only basic features of a car are appropriate for the practical One-seater car; same features you will find in ultra-compact 5-seater hatchbacks like the Mitsubishi Mirage, Hyundai Eon, Chevrolet Spark, Suzuki Alto and Chery QQ.

Retail prices for ultra-compact hatchbacks ranges from 379,000 to 600,000 depending on the variant. If the same materials are used, I believe it is safe to assume a SRP of 2/3 the price of ultra-compact hatchbacks or roughly around 250,000 pesos.

The One-seater will not only be marketed to car owners seeking smaller vehicle for easy parking and more practical option than full-sized cars but also to motorcycle owners who want to add security and comfort to their daily travelling needs. Here is table showing the benefits of all 3 types of vehicles: (1 being the lowest and 5 the highest)

	CAR   (sedan/ AUV)	MOTORCYCLE	One-Seater
Safety	5	1	4
Comfort	5	1	4
Luggage Space	4	1	3
Entertainment System	5	1	4
Stability (when driving)	5	1	4
Road/parking  Space Occupied	4	1	2
Ability to traverse through traffic	2	5	4
Fuel Consumption	4	1	2

With the practical one-seater, more parking and road spaces will be available in busy districts. Lower emissions, lower fuel consumption and lower motorcycle accident rate will also be evident.

Sample Photos of the one seater:

One-seatervs regular sedan

<a href="http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/user/zeusonline/media/Assignments/OnevsSedan_zpsfc20c343.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/zeusonline/Assignments/OnevsSedan_zpsfc20c343.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo OnevsSedan_zpsfc20c343.jpg"/></a>

*based on the Nissan Juke

Interior Shot

<a href="http://s1323.beta.photobucket.com/user/zeusonline/media/I2-dashboard_verlicht_zps0f329b52.jpg.html" target="_blank"><imgsrc="http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u584/zeusonline/I2-dashboard_verlicht_zps0f329b52.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo I2-dashboard_verlicht_zps0f329b52.jpg"/></a>

*based on Carver One interior

submitted by: E.U. 4

NU12 #1 Trash to Cash Material: Water Hyacinth

New Business Idea/ new product/ product improvement

Trash to Cash Material: Water Hyacinth

Last year, the news regarding the intense flood that devastated provinces in Mindanao was all over the headlines. Millions of families lost their homes and livelihoods because of the flooding in Rio Grande de Mindanao in Cotabato City (http://pnej.org/?p=377). Unlike here in Metro Manila where floods are caused by non-biodegradable trash like plastics, the flood in Cotabato was caused by tons and acres of Water Hyacinth in the river.

Water Hyacinths or simply known as water lilies clog water ways of the Rio Grande de Mindanao, Laguna Lake and other bodies of water here in the Philippines. There have been many attempts to address this issue. Even President Aquino himself announced a "war versus water hyacinth" because of the severe damages it caused (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/17217/aquino-leads-'war-vs-water-hyacinths' ). All these attention were not enough to solve the issue. Water hyacinths grow and multiply faster than the efforts of people and the government to extinguish those pests.

There have been efforts to turn these pests or trash materials into cash. Some corporate foundation and government agencies like TESDA have initiated livelihood programs to turn water hyacinth into workable materials. The methods they use are traditional. This is a good start but there are still lots of room for improvement.

Currently, Water Hyacinth are dried, weaved and then made into handicrafts like baskets, traditional slippers and bags. It is produced by locals from Laguna, Rizal and other provinces where water hyacinths are abundant. There are still a lot of in demand products, for the local market and for export, that can be made using dried water hyacinth.

My suggestion and idea is for the government to invest in necessary equipment and machines for production of dried and weaved water hyacinth. The private sector is also encouraged to invest here since it is really a viable business. The supply of water hyacinth is unending. This is to shift the production from a manual or traditional method to a automated or machine-assisted way. With the necessary equipment, our country can produce and also be a world leading supplier of dried and weaved raw material.

More Local Products

Here in the Philippines, we can really be proud of the talents and ingenuity of our people. The arts and design field is where we are one of the best in the world. We have world renowned fashion and furniture designers doing design works for the world's most elite. We also have local talented designers that are capable of making world-class designs.

My suggestion is to make in demand products using water hyacinth as its main material like furniture. Making handicrafts using water hyacinth is a good idea however, in my opinion, the demand for local handicrafts are not big enough. We have a lot of furniture designers that uses natural or green materials for their products. 

The world renowned Kenneth Cobonpue makes his designs for Hollywood stars and other big-time clients using green raw materials (see: http://www.kennethcobonpue.com/collection/grid )  unlike foreign designers who use artificial or not environmental-friendly raw materials. Furniture designers here are more inclined to use natural raw materials because it is most available here in our country and nature is their source of inspiration. They do not rely on sophisticated fabricating machines for their works but rather on pure design, creativity and hardwork. Bamboo and rattan are the most popular materials since way before. I suggest to make water hyacinth an addition to the most used raw material for furniture making because it is not only feasible but also helpful to many communities in our country. Furthermore, the application for this kind of material is most suited for furniture making; it is strong, durable and has a natural look to it. With a modern method of drying and weaving water hyacinth, we can achieve this. It can not only help unclog waterways and prevents flooding but also stir up our economy since the demand for Filipino furniture is in demand worldwide.  <DOST has such projects>  3

Instead of just throwing away water hyacinth which are currently considered as trash and pests, why not make it something that can be beneficial to our economy? We have the supply. Studies have shown and some small-time production have been started to show that water hyacinth can be converted into something useful. All we need to do is to modernize and commercialize it.

Submitted by: Evan Uy