LTFRB welcomes planned resolution on taxi fares

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Davao Region welcomed the bid of the Davao City Council to pass a resolution seeking to hold the increase in taxi rates and hold a public hearing on the adjustment.

LTFRB-Davao director lawyer Teresita dela Peña-Yñiguez, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao, said the region has no control on the order. She added that once there is a resolution, they will submit it to the central office for it to resolve.

In the new rate, there is no more waiting time rate, which used to be P3.50 every two minutes of waiting. Instead, the meter will charge P2 per minute. The fare would be P13.50 per kilometer from the P3.50 for per 300 meters traveled.

"The passengers will only pay the new rate if the unit is already recalibrated. Actually, I understand the concern of the public on this matter. We will accept the resolution and forward it to the LTFRB central office in Manila," Yñiguez said.

As of the moment, there are about 500 taxi

units here left for recalibration, Yñiguez said, adding that the office must recalibrate all the 5,500 taxi units in the region.

Yñiguez said the increase on the taxi rates was decided last October, but the implementation was delayed and moved just this February because they were waiting for the LTFRB central office in Manila to issue guidelines on the matter.

She said the increase on taxi rate was implemented following the approved petition earlier filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA) before the LTFRB central office, due to the gasoline price hike last year.

"Aside from the gasoline price hike, the board also recognized the need for the taxi operators to install booking apps, closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, dash-cam, GPS, and even wifi in their units for better services," Yñiguez said.

In an LTFRB memorandum circular, the board said all regional offices except for the National Capital Region (NCR), shall be responsible for the scheduling of the calibration and sealing/resealing of taxi meters within their jurisdiction.

The memorandum also noted that all taxi operators must abide by the guidelines of the board to avoid imposition of penalties prescribed by LTFRB, Yñiguez said, adding that operators are expected to instruct the drivers on the matter.