Taxi operators on reduced flag-down rate: ‘Unfair’

Taxi operators are not amenable to reducing the flag-down rate despite the series of oil price rollbacks, a report on “24 Oras” said Friday.

In the report, Philippine National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay branded the recently filed petition calling for lower flag-down rate as “unfair.”

“It's so unfair sa mga taxi driver na limang taon nagtiis sa patuloy na pagtaas sa presyo ng gasolina. Nagtitiis sila na hindi sila binibigyan ng fare increase tapos ngayon na dadalawang buwan pa lang na bumaba [ang presyo ng langis], fare reduction na kaagad,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway filed a petition seeking to reduce the flag-down rate from P40 to P30 and to slice by P1 the additional P3.50 charge for every 300 meters.

For his part, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Winston Ginez said the petition has basis.

“Kailangan mayroon ding bawas ito. At kung magkano man doon sa hinihingi ng petitioner natin o higit pa doon ay 'yan ang dapat naming makita sa ginagawa naming pag aaral,” Ginez said.

Ginez pointed out that at least 60 percent of the population depend on public transportation, which includes taxis.

“Panawagan din namin sa lahat ng operators na makita nila na ito ay nakakapagbigay sa kanila ng malaking kabawasan sa operational cost nila” he said in the same “24 Oras” report.

The LTFRB is set to hear the petition for lower fares on taxis, buses and utility vehicles on January 9, 2015. —Andrei Medina/KBK, GMA News