LTFRB to taxi drivers: Sport IDs by Jan. 15 or else

In a phone interview, lawyer Mary Ann Salada, LTFRB chief of staff to the chairman, said it will be the operators of the taxis whose drivers are found not displaying the new ID in their vehicles who will be fined.

“Actually, hindi naman talaga iyong mga taxi driver na mahuhuli ang pagmumultahin natin kundi ang mga operator ng taxi na minamaneho nila. Because the operator has the responsibility to issue this IDs to their drivers. Kasalanan nila kung pinapayagan nila na ang taxi nila ay i-drive ng isang taong hindi authorizado, meaning walang ID,” Salada said.

Salada said the driver who will be found not sporting the ID will be asked for the name of the operator of the vehicle he is driving.

“We will send a show cause order to the operators. If they fail to justify why their drivers still have no IDs, saka palang natin i-fifine yung operators,” Salada said.

LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2014-20 states that, “On or before January 15, 2015, all taxi operators in the Central Office and NCR are directed to issue a back-to-back Identification Cards (IDs) to all their authorized drivers... to be hanged in the rear view mirror of the taxi units.”

It added: “Failure of the taxi operators to comply with the foregoing provisions warrants imposition of fine against the erring taxi operator in the amount of P5,000 per violation.”

Salada said the implementation of the new ID policy is for monitoring and clearance purposes following the increasing number of crimes involving taxi drivers.

“With this new policy, we aim to curb crimes involving taxi drivers. Kasi dahil nga may ID na sila, magkakaroon na tayo sa LTFRB ng database ng mga taong nagmamaneho [ng taxi), mas madali natin sila matra-track, mas madali natin mamo-monitor kung sino yung laging kino-complain ng pasahero or kung sino yung madalas ma-involve sa crime,” she said. —Joel Locsin/KG/KBK, GMA News