NAIA-3: Passengers discouraged, not banned, from taking regular taxis

NAIA Terminal 3 management has clarified that they discourage, but do not ban, passengers from taking regular metered taxis.

The clarification was issued after a group of passengers complained that guards had blocked the exit gate to the regular taxi loading bay on Sunday.

 

According to Engr. Octavio Lina, NAIA-3 general manager, they only discouraged passengers from riding regular metered taxis, as they received complaints of hold-ups and taxi drivers negotiating their fares.

 

"Kaya nga mayroon tayong accredited taxi rito kasi kung talagang open kamukha rito sa departure, talagang medyo mahihirapan talaga tayo magdisiplina ng mga driver na yun," Lina said in a report on GMA News TV's News to Go on Wednesday.

 

"At least kung accredited yan, kaya nating kaagad disiplinahin, ibato natin doon sa operator, o itong driver na ito marami na kaming nakuhang reklamo rito ito yung mga records namin," Lina continued.

 

Dakila Philippines member Nityalila Saulo said that upon arrival at Terminal 3 on July 28, airplane passengers discovered that guards had blocked the upper level exit gate. 

 

This was the only area where people could get to the the loading bay for regular metered taxis. With the exit blocked, passengers were forced to ride the more expensive airport taxis. 

 

The guards on duty said they were simply following orders to implement the new policy, which had been going on for three days. 

 

When Saulo arrived, some 20 to 30 people were speaking with the guard on duty, demanding an explanation for the policy.

 

"You have all the right, you have all the freedom to choose. Not all people can afford and not all people who took the plane are that rich enough to just close their eyes and pay the amount of the yellow taxi downstairs," said Dakila member Raymond Domingo, who had been waiting for about 25 minutes when he was interviewed in a video by Saulo. 
 

Domingo said the policy limited the options for people, who may not have enough money for the airport taxi.

 

After about an hour, the passengers signed a petition and filed a formal complaint against the Terminal 3 management. The passengers were then allowed to exit, and were able to ride regular metered taxis at the Departure Area Loading Bay. — Carmela G. Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News