NAIA taxis no longer required to run on LPG

Airport-accredited taxis may no longer need to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they will soon be required to install tracking devices and credit card payment systems.

On easing up in its LPG accreditation requirement, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) sees more taxis servicing passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado met on Friday with airport transport operators to inform them of changes in the requirements for NAIA accreditation based on a Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) order, which took effect in May.

Prior to the issuance of a DoTC order 2015-008 in April, airport taxis were required to run on LPG and had to seek an exemption from the department so they could be accredited even if they were powered by regular gasoline.

Airport taxi operators have been clamoring for the MIAA to ease up on the LPG accreditation requirement because of the scarcity of LPG refilling stations in Metro Manila.

In a statement, Honrado pointed out that the recent change in the requirements for taxi applications would eventually lead to more taxis for arrivals in the four NAIA terminals.

He said, “MIAA welcomes this recent move by the DoTC (Department of Transportation and Communications. Not only will operators find it easier now to process their applications but passengers can also expect more airport-accredited taxis in the terminals in the months to come.”

NAIA currently only has over 600 accredited taxis.

The MIAA previously attempted to fill the gap in the large volume of arrivals and actual number of available airport taxis by allowing regular taxis to enter the arrival areas of the NAIA terminals 2 and 3 during peak hours of passenger traffic.

The peak hours or window periods when unaccredited taxis are allowed to pick up passengers are: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at terminal 2; and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., at terminal 3.

The scheme provided more cabs for arrivals although Honrado acknowledged that even more taxis should operate at the terminals.

While optimistic that easing up on the LPG requirement would add cabs to the NAIA, Honrado, however, did not say how the installation of global positioning system (GPS) and onboard electronic taxi fare payment devices could affect the airport taxi operators.

Under the department issuance, airport taxis will have to be equipped with tracking devices and will have to be capable of receiving payment through credit or debit cards.

Likewise, airport taxi operators will have to set up an online system for booking and dispatching units accessible through a smartphone-based application.

Nevertheless, Honrado assured the public that airport taxis would be given sufficient time to install the newly required features on the vehicles.