LTFRB grants Cordi taxi fare increase

BAGUIO CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has allowed operators of taxi cabs in Baguio City and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region to raise the minimum fare by P10 starting next month.

In a four-page decision dated June 16, 2011, LTFRB Board Members Manuel Iway and Samuel Garcia granted the fare hike petition of taxi operators in CAR mainly in consideration of the effect of price increase of basic goods, services and petroleum products in the earnings of the petitioners.

As such, taxi passengers will start paying P35 flag down rate for the first 400 meters, from the previous rate of P25, and additional P2 per succeeding 200 meters, from the previous rate of P1.50, come July 2, or fifteen days after the LTFRB decision to grant the fare hike petition was published in a national newspaper.

Iway said the petitioners actually asked for a P15 increase in the flag down rate but the LTFRB only consented to a P10-hike since taxi cabs in Baguio and CAR do not use air conditioners unlike in other areas.

“The cold weather in CAR does not really require the use of air conditioner while operating the taxi service in other cities and provinces where air conditioners in taxi services are always turned on for convenience. This factor indicates less gas consumption,” the LTFRB order reads.

But the LTFRB clarified that only taxi units with receipt-issuing meters that are tested and resealed by the LTFRB office in CAR will be allowed to implement the fare hike.

The LTFRB likewise warned taxi operators in CAR of being fined if their drivers will engage in overcharging, refusing to convey passengers and violating the required working attire prescribed by the agency.

“A taxi driver who fails to observe (what is prescribed by the LTFRB) shall be subject to a penalty of P2,500 per offense,” the order added.

Early this year, the LTFRB also allowed taxi operators nationwide, except for CAR, to implement a P10 fare increase. Since late January, taxi operators in Metro Manila and across the country started charging taxi patrons P40 flag down rate for the first 400 meters and additional P3.50 per succeeding 300-meters.