LTFRB warns cabbies of penalties if they defy P10 rollback in flagdown rate

Taxi drivers and operators may face penalties harsher than a P5,000 penalty if they continue to defy the P10 decrease in the flag-down rate, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Tuesday.

 

In a post on its Twitter account, the LTFRB said it will also disallow drivers from being deployed if they do not honor the P10 adjustment.

 

"LTFRB to issue Show Cause Orders, ground taxi units and disallow drivers to be deployed for not honoring P10 rollback of taxi flag down rate," LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said on his Twitter account.

The LTFRB also gave stickers to taxi drivers to serve as notice of a P10 fare rollback.

 

Photos tweeted by the LTFRB showed the yellow stickers bore the message, "Total Fare Less P10.00."
 

On Monday, the LTFRB started implementing a P10 provisional decrease in taxi flag-down rates nationwide.

 

It warned violators of a P5,000 fine.

 

Ginez advised taxi drivers to be courteous instead of demanding extra fare if they want to make up for the "lost" P10.

 

Cebu, Iloilo

 

In Cebu, the local LTFRB similarly warned cabbies and operators against overcharging, GMA Cebu reported.

 

Commuters who encounter overpricing were urged to report to the LTFRB the taxi's body and plate numbers.

 

But in other areas such as Iloilo, drivers and operators lodged a motion for reconsideration to hold off the P10 rollback, GMA Iloilo reported.

 

"Minimum of 35 or 30, maximum of 40 passengers sa 24 hours. Now, kung babawasan mo ng P10, that is 400-350 ang mawawala sa ating taxi drivers. Malaking burden ito sa drivers," said local taxi operator and driver association president Benjamin Clavel. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA