Solon seeks passage of Bill of Rights for Taxi Passengers

With the holiday season fast approaching, a lawmaker has renewed his push for the passage of a proposed “Bill of Rights for Taxi Passengers” to protect them from abusive and picky cab drivers.

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, author of House Bill 3681, said he was prompted to propose a bill of rights for commuters who take taxis following complaints he received from his constituents and friends about negligent and errant drivers who take advantage of their passengers.

“They pick passengers on their own terms, refuse carriage for some destinations, force you to pay an extra amount on top of the meter bill, are discourteous and trick most passengers on circuitous routes to earn extra money. Most of the tourists who come to our country have fallen victims to these enterprising cab drivers,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note.

Under H.B. 3681, every cab passenger is entitled to:

1. The right to a licensed driver who is properly dressed, courteous, and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
2. The right to ride in a clean, safe, and smoke-free taxi;
3. The right to be transported to their stated destination;
4.  The right to view the metered fare and to request a receipt using a taxi meter calibrated and sealed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB);
5.  The right to be given the exact amount of change, and;
6.  The right to ride a substitute taxi or be aided to get a new one in case of engine trouble or similar instances, in which payment for the flag-down taxi rate will be waived.

Taxi drivers or operators, meanwhile, are expected to perform the following duties and obligations:

1. Display his/her taxi driver’s license visibly to all passengers;
2. Indicate the taxi’s plate number, operator’s name, place of business, and contact number on the inside doors of the cab;
3. Display clearly the taxi passengers’ rights, the process of complaint-filing, and the contact details of the LTFRB;
4. Accept all trips regardless of length;
5. Avoid violating any law or traffic regulation;
6. Refrain from using a cellular phone while in transit;
7. Provide a clean, safe, smoke-free taxi;
8. Protect a passenger’s health or safety;
9. Refrain from soliciting or requiring passengers to pay more than the displayed meter fare, and;
10. Know the major routes and destinations.

Under the proposed measure, taxi drivers and the operators of the franchise will both be liable for the violation of their passenger’s rights.

They will face a fine of at P500 to P2,000 for the first offense; at least P1,000 to P5,000 for the second offense and a minimum of P3,000 up to P10,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.

The driver’s license and/or certificate of public convenience of the taxi will also be suspended for one week when a cab operator is found violating the law for the third and subsequent times.

HB 3681 has been pending with the House Committee on Transportation since January 2014. — Xianne Arcangel/KBK, GMA News