P40 taxi flagdown rate effective today

Starting today, taxi riders nationwide, including those in Metro Manila, will have to pay a flagdown rate of P40 after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved the provisional increase.

Although the rate for the first 500 meters will go up by P10, the fare for the succeeding meters and waiting time will remain the same.

In the same order signed on Friday, the LTFRB said the flagdown rate for the Cordillera region would be P35 for the first 400 meters.

The transport board earlier approved the petition filed by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA). It cited rising fuel prices, the same reason behind the P1 provisional jeepney fare hike implemented last week.

In March 2016, the taxi flagdown rate was slashed by P10 when pump prices ranged from P29 to P37 for gasoline. By January this year, prices stood at P42 to P45 per liter.

The LTFRB said it would later address the PNTOA petition to raise the taxi fare per succeeding 300 meters and two minutes waiting time to P5.50 from the current P3.50.