Rights of taxi passengers under House Bill No. 7774
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill of rights for taxi passengers that will be the transportation service standards in the country.
With 204 affirmative votes and zero negative, the Lower House passed House Bill No.7774 or the Bill of Rights of Taxi, Tourist Car Transport Service, and Vehicle for Hire for Passengers.”
Rights of passengers
Catanduanes Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, said the measure prohibits drivers from refusing to transport a passenger after being flagged down or engaged.
Other rights of taxi passen-
gers include:
• To be served by a driver who is properly dressed and one who possesses an official identification card issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
• To be accorded courtesy and assistance, if requested.
• To be served by a driver who is not under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs.
• To be picked up and transported to their stated destination, regardless of length of journey or traffic condition.
• To pay the rate or fare exactly as posted in the meter or booking application.
• To be given the exact amount of change and issued printed electronic or digital official receipt required by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
• To direct the route toward the destination and be informed of the license plate number of the hired vehicle and emergency numbers for assistance by the Philippine National Police.
Penalties Erring drivers will be liable to a fine of 11,000 for the first offense and up to 15,000 for the third and succeeding offenses, aside from suspension of driver’s license from seven days to one year, said Sarmiento.
On the other hand, a fine ranging from 15,000 to 115,000 will be imposed on operators. Revocation of franchise to operate may also be imposed.
The LTFRB is directed to receive complaints on violations of the provisions of the measure and resolve them seven working days after mediation or adjudication.
Responsibilities of operators, drivers Under the measure, only persons with professional driver’s license and duly certified by the Driver’s Academy of the LTFRB will be authorized to operate cabs and other modes of transportation covered by the bill.
The bill also mandates operators and drivers of taxicabs using liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas to display the current Motor Vehicle Inspection Report of the vehicle and maintain its safe condition.
Further, operators are required to guarantee that all door locks are functioning and the central door locks are disabled.
HB 7774 consolidated three separate bills authored by Rep. Angelina Tan (NPC, Quezon) and former Rep. Emmeline Y. Aglipay-Villar, now justice undersecretary, among other filers.