Fearing passenger loss, taxi operators not heeding P50 flag-down rate hike

The new P50 flag-down rate for taxicabs in the Cordillera region, especially in Baguio where these are a major mode of transportation, is drawing mixed reactions from both the passengers and drivers. (File photo by JETHRO BRYAN ANDRADA)

MANILA, Philippines — A number of taxi operators are reportedly not raising their flag-down rates to P50 due to fear of losing passengers.

Mody Floranda, president of public transportation vehicle operators group Piston, on Monday revealed that some taxi operators will not recalibrate their meters again due to this reason.

Floranda said operators would rather controvert the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) order that mandated a new rate, a move made several months ago that went largely unnoticed.

READ: New P50 taxi flagdown rate in Cordillera draws mixed reactions

The LTFRB only allows taxis with resealed meters to charge a P50 flag-down rate.

The previous rate was P40 for taxis with meters that have never been recalibrated; and P45 for taxis that underwent previous recalibration.

“May nakakausap din tayong operator na ayaw din na magpa-resealing kasi ang iniisip nila, lalo silang mawawalan ng pasahero,” Floranda told INQUIRER.net over the phone.

(We have talked with [taxi] operators who don’t want to reseal their meters, because they’re thinking that they might lose more passengers.)

“Iyan ang isa sa pinakamalaki nilang nagiging problema diyan,” he added.

(That is one of their biggest problems regarding that.)

In an order dated March 18, the LTFRB board approved the petition of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Associations Inc. and other operators to increase the flag-down rate in Metro Manila and other regions from P45 to P50.

The directive, however, was made public by the LTFRB office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) only in August.

The P45 flag-down rate was imposed by 2023, but operators said then that the previous adjustment was not enough.

Taxis in the CAR—which had a P40 flag-down rate—also had their rates increased to P50.

However, this development was not widely publicized and escaped media attention, which is evident with lack of news articles pertaining to it.

Floranda noted the LTFRB should have made public announcements regarding the order since there were reports of many passengers being surprised with the more recent round of flag-down rate hike of taxis with resealed meters.

“Nagiging tendensya ng away ng pasahero at driver yan,” he said.

(There is a tendency of it causing arguments between passengers and drivers.)