Taxi fare bid shelved amid lower fuel prices

INQUIRER file photo

Amid lower fuel prices, taxi operators have asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to defer any decision on the proposed increase in “flag down” rates for passengers.

The LTFRB on Thursday revealed that taxi operator groups, representing the bulk of the nationwide industry, asked the regulator to “archive” their petition to increase the flag down rate to P50 from the current P40.

This refers to the initial fee charged from taxi passengers. The current flag down rate of P40 is good for the first half kilometer of any taxi trip.

“The main reason was that fuel prices have gone down so the urgency of having higher rates no longer exists,” LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said. Paolo G. Montecillo