Businesses That Last - Planters Development Bank

SME
Cover Story
Generation Dealership –
“Be a part of the family that cares”
By Reynard Ong
business foretelling the bright future it had
before it. Industrial & Transport Equipment,
Inc. or simply INTECO was born in 1965.
INTECO was established at a time when things
had seemingly gone awry. The memory of
that gory episode when the Japanese took
over the country was still fresh. Many were
apprehensive about patronizing Japanese
products. The key players then were Ford,
Mercedes, and International Harvester. The
chances of penetrating the industry with a
lesser known brand were pretty slim.
L-R: Ryan, Tony, and Ray Jarina. A family that cares, the Jarinas make sure that they service their
customers the best and most efficient way possible.
Mission Statement
It is not a question of how many vehicles
an automotive dealership sells as much
as the number of accomplished missions.
Most, if not all successful businesses, owe
their triumphs to their faithfulness toward
their mission statements. Prof. Luis Cruz III,
a former instructor at the Asian Institute of
Management, said that it may be likened
to a road map giving directions, as well as
instructions as to how one should steer
the wheel. As for Industrial and Transport
Equipment Inc. (INTECO Group of Isuzu
Dealerships) and ARK Diversified and Auto
Motors Inc. T/A Chevrolet Commonwealth, the
mission is clear:
“It is our mission to professionally, effectively,
and continuously respond and satisfy our
customers, adequately develop and train our
people, change and grow with opportunities,
adhere to the needs of our society, and
operate in an ethical manner, which results
in maximizing our profits and return on
investment.”
Test of Time
Far East Motor Corp (FEMCOR), the
forerunner of INTECO, was organized
by a group of businessmen engaged in
transportation, construction, logging, feeds
milling, and trading—HR Lopez Company,
Villa Rey Transit, Victory Liner, De Dios
Transit, Cotabato Bus Company, Vita Rich
Manufacturing Co. and Vic Lumber—became
the first users of Isuzu buses and cargo dump
trucks. With terrible road conditions, poor
handling, and harsh economic conditions, the
operations of FEMCOR were badly damaged
and discontinued operations. Tony Jarina
gambled his stakes nevertheless and turned
adversity into an opportunity. He revived the
While it is true that there was indeed difficulty
in earning the trust of the consumers, certain
situations would compel truck users to try a
new product if the need arose. INTECO entered
the scene at the time when a shortage of
supply for commercial vehicles was greatly
felt and the prices of American and European
brands continued to go up, causing a good
number of haulers to try the Isuzu brand.
Business began to pick up and Isuzu was slowly
considered and recognized by the market.
Isuzu, after all, is known for engine reliability,
fuel efficiency and high resale value. INTECO
would soon after pioneer the distribution and
servicing of Isuzu vehicles in the Philippines.
The departure of General Motors Philippines
in 1986 was marked by economic turmoil as
many companies withdrew from the country
because of political instability as well as the
growing distrust and uneasiness of the Filipinos
to the Martial Law regime. Tony Jarina never
lost heart and persisted amid trying times. He
continued to provide parts and other services
to keep Isuzu customers loyal to the brand.
And the company survived. By 1989, when
the market finally improved, Isuzu Motors
Japan and INTECO brought in a new batch of
vehicles, and the Isuzu pickups in particular
became very popular even to retail customers.
With the resurgent local demand, Isuzu
Philippines Corporation was established in
1996. With this came an influx of legendary
vehicles such as the Hilander, Fuego, the
Trooper, and the N-series four to six wheeler
trucks. From 1997 to 2012, the Crosswind,
DMAX, Alterra, and F-series trucks were added
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