TO OPERATORS and drivers, it’s a welcome development, but for commuters, it’s just another burden.
Baguio operators and taxi drivers over the week welcomed the scrapping of the P5 deduction which took effect February 13.
Atty. Arvin Andaya of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the removal of the P5 deduction will be temporary following the petition filed by the National Taxi Operators for the increase of fare.
"Habang dinidinig yung consolidated petition, naglabas ang LTFRB ng order na binigyan ang mga taxi operators ng provisional authority na magdagdag ng P5.00 sa kanilang rate for Cordillera region, parang binalik lang yung dati, the succeeding rate for the next kilometer ay the same pa rin," Andaya said.
Andaya added the LTFRB understands the current situation of taxi operators and drivers and at the same time takes a look at the effect of fare increase to commuters.
"Unang - una ay tumataas ang presyo ng krudo at gasolina so ang LTFRB ay ina-addrese din nila ang concerns at sa tingin ko naman ay balanse naman kasi hindi ganun kalaki ang pagtaas," quipped Andaya.
A taxi driver for five years Danilo Corodo said the removal of P5.00 deduction is helpful.
"Mabuti naman at naalis na, sayang din yun na kikitaain namin sa araw – araw,” Corodo added.