THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has warned all taxi drivers and operators that their units must have a dashboard camera, Wi-Fi, global positioning system (GPS) and speed limiter.
LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. said these are required by law for taxi operators who want to implement new fare rates.
“We cannot calibrate taxi fare meters without those gadgets because there is a video and pictorials during resealing and recalibration. Dash boardcamera, Wi-Fi, GPS and speed limiter are the requirements,” Montealto said.
The old taxi meter rates are P40 for flag down up to 500 meters, and P3.50 per 300 meters for succeeding distances. The new rates are P40 flag down, P2 per minute running time, and P13.50 per suceeding kilometer.
Some commuters have complained that the rate increases are almost double the previous rates and did not pass through a public hearing in Cebu.
Earlier, former LTFRB 7 director Ahmed Cuizon, who has been reassigned in Pampanga, said that once LTFRB approved a petition for new taxi fares in Manila, it will apply to the entire country. Montealto said the recalibration of fare meters is done every six months.
He said the overall aim is to implement the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program and to eliminate colorum vehicles.
He urged operators to wait for the land public transport route plan or they will be penalized.
“The franchise is free. Why gamble on this colorum operation?” Montealto said. (EOB)