MIAA, LTFRB also target errant airport taxi drivers

After catching three taxi drivers using fake dollar fare rate cards on Monday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) gave transport board officials the go-ahead to crack down on unscrupulous airport cabbies.

In a meeting between officials of the MIAA and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Tuesday, they agreed on the conduct of random taxi inspections starting today (Wednesday).

In a statement, MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said that neither the LTFRB nor the airport authority had approved any dollar rate card for airport-accredited taxis which all charge in pesos.

He stressed that the airport authority would never tolerate the overcharging of passengers among its transport concessionaires.

“The MIAA will not allow the airport to be a breeding ground of illegal activities. I will see to it that offenders are removed from the airport. More than anything, the welfare of passengers should always be the priority,” he stated.

Honrado was referring to the use by some airport taxi drivers of a fake dollar-based fare rate card. The lowest figure on the card is $25 (approximately P1,200) for a trip to Baclaran while the highest was at $140 (approximately over P6,600) for a ride to Olongapo City.

On Monday, three taxi drivers were caught using the fake dollar rate cards.  Last year, 35 cases of overcharging were reported to the MIAA which resulted in the imposition of fines ranging from P2,000 to P5,000 against erring drivers and the cancelation of their Naia access passes.