Naia cracks down on abusive cabbies

Authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) have begun a crackdown on abusive or unauthorized drivers of public utility vehicles picking up passengers at the complex.

Connie Bungag, media affairs chief of the Manila International Airport Authority, said a total of 290 taxi drivers had been apprehended for various offenses.

Among them were drivers of Naia-accredited vehicles. At least seven were caught driving “colorum” taxis.

Other drivers were caught using license plates that were “improvised” or taken from other vehicles, overcharging their passengers, driving with expired license, ignoring the dress code or not wearing seatbelts.

A joint team from Miaa, airport police, the Land Transportation Office and the Metro Manila Development Authority conducted random checks that led to the apprehensions.

“We receive numerous complaints from passengers and other commuters relating to overcharging, extortion, contracting passengers, tampered meters commonly known as batingting, and other abusive acts committed by these ‘enterprising’ taxi drivers,” said Miaa General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.

“The first few days of this campaign have been a success … (with) cases already filed against erring taxicab drivers. We are very happy with the turnout and we envision this to be a continuing partnership,” Honrado added. Tina G. Santos