BAGUIO CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) central office directed all regional offices to ensure that the taxi flag down rate of P30 will be effected in their respective areas of jurisdiction following a series of oil price rollbacks that warranted the reduction in public transport fare.
Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Abaya said the riding public will soon enjoy the reduced flag down rate of taxi cabs nationwide.
Already took effect even if taxi meters are not calibrated and re-sealed yet, Abaya added.
Calibration of taxi meters will start in April for plates ending in 2, 4 and 9. Plates ending in 5, 7 and 0 are scheduled in May. And the remaining plates are scheduled in June.
Taxi operators who fail to have their meters calibrated and sealed by accredited companies their taxi meters will be penalized P5, 000.00 and same amount to taxi units who will not follow the new approved rates.
From the original P3.50 per 120 seconds rate for waiting time, it will be down to P3.50 per 90 seconds. Ordinary cabs will still charge P3.50 for the first 500 meters. However, taxi fare has a P2.00 charge for the first 400 meters and P2.00 for every succeeding 200 meters and P2.00 per 90 seconds for waiting time.
Taxi operators and drivers claimed the order to reduce the flag down rate and increase the distance for every P2.00 will definitely affect their projected daily income, thus, the need for the LTFRB central office to review their decision and reconsider the same for the greater interest of the transport sector.
According to them, they were not able to enjoy the benefits of the successive oil price rollbacks since the oil companies have increased their prices several times thereby taking back what they have reduced over the past several months.
By JOFER ANGEL GARCIA