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Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Taxi owners want P15 raise
A public hearing will be held on the P15 fare increase that a group of taxicab operators is seeking.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Legal Officer Jose Douglas Sanson said he sent notice to various sectors and persons to attend the hearing on Nov. 29.
Sanson said anyone who wants to join the public hearing must prepare material to support their position.
Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association (MCTOA) chairman Richard Cabucos said that if the increase is approved, the P15 would just be added to the total fare. This way, the taximeters do not need to be recalibrated.
For example, if the meter registers P60 upon reaching the destination, the passenger should pay P75, he said.
Cabucos said that under this system, operators can immediately implement it and at the same time avoid paying the calibration fee.
Old rates
The present taxi fares implemented by LTFRB early this year are P30 for the first 500 meters, P2.50 per succeeding 200 meters, and P2.50 per waiting time of two minutes. The old rates were P20 for the first 500 meters, P2 per succeeding 200 meters and P2 per two-minute waiting time.
The present rates took effect last January but the recalibration of meters ended only last March.
In 2002, MCTOA opposed the petition of the Manila taxi operators who asked for P40 in flagdown rate and P3 for every succeeding 200 meters. That time, the MCTOA only wanted the eradication of about 2,000 colorum taxi units.
Although there is no more illegal competition, the drivers’ income has sharply dropped because the price of fuel went up from 16 per liter for unleaded gasoline to P37.55 per liter, as of yesterday, Cabucos said.
Badly needed
Cabucos said the add-on P15 is badly needed by the taxi drivers who can hardly make both ends meet because of the high-priced fuel and the high cost of living.
“Some drivers can hardly pay the rental of the units they are driving after plying day and night,” Cabucos said.
Sanson said the result of the public hearing will be the basis of LTFRB 7’s decision. The LTFRB en banc, composed of Maria Elena Bautista as chairperson and Board Members Gerardo A. Pinili and Ma. Ellen Dirige-Cabatu, will still have to concur on the decision. (EOB)
(November 23, 2005 issue)
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