TAXI drivers and operators held a protest rally in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in East Avenue, Quezon City to oppose the P30 flag down rate imposed by the agency.
The protest caused significant traffic delays along the East Avenue.
On March 8, LTFRB made the nationwide P30 taxi flag down rate permanent, except in the Cordillera Administrative Region, starting March 19.
The agency also reduced the running time rate of P3.50 by lengthening the distance from 300 meters to 500 meters.
Flag down rate of airport taxi was also reduced to P60, from P70.
Jun Magno, president of the Stop and Go Coalition, said cutting the taxi flag down rate to P30 from P40 does not make sense since prices of petroleum products are shooting up again.
"Gaya nyan kahapon tumaas nanaman ang presyo ng gasoline ng more than a peso, so paano na ang mga taxi driver at mga operators? Kami ang magsusuffer," he said.
Magno said income of taxi drivers may be reduced by up to P1,000 per day if the LTFRB will not stop the implementation of the P30 flag down rate.
The protesters called for the resignation of LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez for his alleged failure to effectively do his job.
But Ginez said the agency considered the welfare of the riding public in its decision to cut the flag down rate.
"Prayoridad ng pamahalaan natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan. Dahil dito, masusing pinagaralan ng LTFRB na makatuwirang bawasan ang singil-pamasahe sa taxi at airport taxis sa buong bansa nang naaayon sa galaw ng gastusin sa transportasyon," he said.
Similar protests were also held in Davao and Cebu. (Sunnex)