Thursday, November 13, 2008 Scrapping of taxi's P10 add-on opposed
A TAXI operators group on Wednesday objected to the move by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to scrap the P10 add-on to the regular taxi fare.
Quezon City Councilor Jesus Suntay, president of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA), said scrapping the P10 add-on is not proper at this time as taxi operators and drivers have a hard time getting enough income.
"With the indulgence of LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion, I think the board will consider and study carefully the situation of the pricing of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) as well as the other matters before they would scrap the P10 added to regular taxi fare," Suntay said.
Citing their record, Suntay said pump prices of LPG on that time was P17 per liter while the gasoline was P25 per liter.
He added that as the president of the biggest group of taxi in the country with 12,000 members, he will definitely appeal to the LTFRB to reconsider its pronouncement to scrap the P10 add-on.
On Tuesday, Lantion announced that the LTFRB is favoring the scrapping of the P10 add-on to the regular taxi fare.
Considering that the prices of LPG are going down, he said it is about time for the taxi drivers and operators to scrap the P10 added to the regular taxi fare.
The LTFRB official added that the P10 add-on meter rate of taxis is only temporary and it could be scrapped by the agency when gasoline and LPG prices go down significantly.
Last week, the transport agency ordered a fare rollback to P8 from P8.50 for the first four kilometers for public utility jeepney. The first five kilometers for ordinary bus rides will now be P0.50 lower, while fares will go down by P1 for air-conditioned buses. (AH/Sunnex)
