LTO launches campaign vs. abusive taxi drivers

Selective taxi drivers beware: Personnel from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are out to get you.

On Monday, the LTO launched “Oplan Isnabero,” a program against abusive taxi drivers who will take advantage of the holiday season where merry shoppers are expected to flock to the malls and other commercial centers.

“Iniikot natin ‘yung different malls in Metro Manila, ‘yung mga commercial area, at ‘yung lahat na may pampublikong sasakyan, taxi man yan bus, jeep o FX para mabigyan ng proteksyon yung ating mananakay laban sa mga [taxi na] hindi nagpapasakay at umiiwas sa pasahero,” said Mohammad Yusoph Lamping, director at LTO’s law enforcement service, in a report on GMA News TV’s “News To Go” on Monday.

Lamping noted that the number taxi drivers who refused or select passengers surges every December.

“Apela natin sa mga taxi driver at sa mga transport operator na ‘wag mamili ng pasahero. Pag nasa taxi bay na po iyan ay pasakayin na ‘yung mga nakapila na mga tao,” he said.

“Sa observation natin ngayon, mukhang kulang din ‘yung mga taxi lalo na pag sa hapon at gabi especially around rush hour mga 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” Lamping added.

According to Lamping, drivers who refuse passengers and those who forge a contract with passengers may be fined with P1,700 plus a 45-day revocation of the driver’s license.

To report such abusive taxi drivers or operators, the public is encouraged to contact LTO hotline 927-1851 or text 0998-9768-273. Information such as the taxi’s plate number and details of the incident (time, date, and area) should be relayed.

“Oplan Isnabero” is done in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Metro Manila Development Authority, and in partnership with the Automobile Association of the Philippines. — Rouchelle Dinglasan/KBK, GMA News