P30 taxi flag down rate ‘provisional’ again as LTFRB hears appeals

AFTER being met with protests from cab drivers and operators, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended the implementation of its March 8 order that permanently reduced the taxi flag down rate.

The LTFRB said it was deferring the order, which took effect nationwide on March 19, pending the resolution of the motions for reconsideration (MRs) filed by six transport organizations based in Metro Manila and key urban centers nationwide.

The LTFRB last month made permanent the “provisional” flag down rate of P30 and set at P3.50 the succeeding rates for every 500 meters and for every 90 seconds of waiting time.

But in an interview on Tuesday, LTFRB chair Winston Ginez clarified that the deferment of the March 8 order means that taxis would still be charging P30 since “we are only reverting back to the provisional order to [deduct] P10” from the earlier flag down rate of P40.

The difference between a provisional and permanent reduction, Ginez explained, is that taxi meters must be recalibrated to comply with the latter.

6 groups file MRs

Motions for reconsideration were filed by the following groups: Metro Davao Taxi Operators Association; Taxi Operators and Drivers in Cagayan De Oro City; Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association Inc.; Dumper Philippines Taxi Drivers Association Inc.; Association of United Taxi Operators in the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Angat Tsuper  Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization Transport Coalition (Stop & Go).

The board has set the hearing on the motions for April 12.

Under LTFRB rules, the “timely filing of an MR by any party adversely affected by the board’s decision, order or resolution stays the immediate execution or implementation of the assailed decision, order or resolution,” the board said in a statement on Tuesday.

“In the name of fair play and transparency, the board deemed it best to stay the implementation of our consolidated decision while we are diligently reviewing and evaluating the motions,” Ginez said. “The board’s objective is to study the impact of the fare adjustment and ensure that we will strike a balance that would be economically beneficial to the riding public and the operators and their drivers.”

Meanwhile, board member Ariel Inton said the rate for succeeding meters would remain at P3.50 every 300 meters, instead of 500, and also P3.50 for every two minutes of waiting time, instead of 90 seconds.