LTFRB-Davao: Flagdown rate now just P30

THE flagdown rate of P30 is now permanent and is in effect since Saturday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Davao Region announced on Tuesday.

"It means, P30 na lang ang atong flagdown rate bisan pa wala pa na calibrate ang mga taxicabs diri. It would be better kung ihapon nimo ang sukli sa driver kung sakto ba," LTFRB-Davao assistant director Edgar Violan said.

Drivers who fail to follow the regulation will have to face necessary consequences for their action and passengers are encouraged to report them to the LTFRB.

Violan said LTFRB personnel are now going around putting stickers on taxis about the reduced flagdown.

As to the calibration and resealing of the taxi meters, Violan said, this will start on April 1.

He added that the operators shoulder the calibration cost which is P250 per unit.

He said the calibration of the taxi meter for plates ending in 2, 4 and 9 will be in April, then plates ending in 0, 5 and 7 would come next in May, and plates ending in 1, 3, 6 and 8 will be in June.

"By July 1, all units should have been calibrated and resealed. The operators should follow the schedule because once di sila nakapa-calibrate on the scheduled month provided for them, we will arrest them," Violan said.

Violan said taxi operators who failed to calibrate and reseal their taxi meters will no longer be allowed to operate and will be penalized P5,000.

The taxicabs in the region will charge a P30 flagdown rate with P3.50 for every succeeding 500 meters and P3.50 for a waiting time per 90 seconds once it will be calibrated and resealed, Violan said.

Violan said the new rate for the succeeding meters and the waiting time will take effect upon the calibration and resealing of the taxi meter.