LTFRB probes viral video of overpriced taxi fare racket at airports

LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz II FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Monday that it is investigating a video that has been circulating online in which an airport taxi driver allegedly charges passengers as much as P11,000.

The video posted on Facebook showed that a man sitting beside the taxi driver pulled out a laminated card titled “airport-accredited regular taxi service meter rate,” which even included the Department of Tourism’s logo.

Based on the meter rate, the cost of going to Terminal 1 is P11,500 while going to Terminal 2 is P12,000, going to Terminal 3 costs P13,500 and going to Terminal 4 is P10,300.

The laminated card stating that it is an airport-accredited regular taxi service also charges passengers P10,300 if they are going to any hotels in Manila and P9,700 to all bus terminals in Metro Manila.

A laminated card titled “airport-accredited regular taxi service meter rate,” with the Department of Tourism’s logo, indicates the exorbitant cost of taxi fares going to Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals and other destinations within Metro Manila. (Photo courtesy of Iris Pai)

These amounts are charged per passenger.
A note saying, “Follow airport policy. Disobeying airport policy is punishable by Philippine law (good as original receipts),” was even indicated on the bottom part of the card.

The video was originally from a Facebook group for Taiwanese tourists, the poster of the video said.

The netizen explained that a security guard told the two passengers that there was no shuttle bus going to Terminal 4 and then directed them to the driver seen on the video.

The driver allegedly asked them to pay P10,000 each and even locked the taxi until the driver gets paid, the poster said.

According to the netizen, the driver eventually settled for P5,000 after the passengers told him that it was the only cash they had in hand.

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LTFRB Spokesperson Celine Pialago said that the board is now checking the authenticity of the video.

“We take such matters seriously and are committed to ensuring the integrity and fairness of taxi services. Our priority is to uphold the standards of service and protect the rights of passengers,” she said in a press release.

Pialago added that LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III is encouraging those who may have additional information or have experienced similar incidents to report it to the LTFRB.

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She added that appropriate measures will be taken to make sure that operators and taxi drivers who are proven accountable will be sanctioned.

“Chair Guadiz assures the public that the LTFRB remains dedicated to addressing any violations promptly and implementing necessary actions to maintain the quality of public transportation services,” said Pialago.

“The LTFRB remains committed to fostering a safe, reliable, and fair transportation environment for all passengers,” she added.